Where to shoot a turkey with a bow

If you find spring turkey hunting less of a challenge each year, maybe it's time to step up to the next level and try to harvest a gobbler with the stick and string.  For a beginner, archery turkey hunting is best out of a ground blind to conceal the movement required to draw your bow.   Everyone knows with a shotgun the most vital hit for a turkey is a headshot, but with a bow where should you aim?  

A head shot with a bow and arrow is an extremely difficult shot some people do use a specialized broadhead to increase the odds, but your best chance is to aim where wing connects to the body.  Do your best to wait for the turkey to stop broadside. The vitals on a turkey are smaller than a deer and this will present your best opportunity to make a clean harvest.  If the gobbler is facing right at you place the shot at the bottom of the neck.  If he is facing away from you and fanning, thank him for the bullseye and aim right for the rectum then let the shot fly.  A well-placed shot will often flip the bird on its back and make for an easy retrieve. Sometimes no matter where you hit them they will run off and head for cover.  Just like deer hunting, make a good mark on the last known location and give them a little bit of time to expire.  

Hunting turkeys with a bow and arrow is a great way to make your hunts more enjoyable and improve your skills as an archer.  Harvesting a turkey is a great experience no matter how it's accomplished but with a bow and arrow it makes for a true trophy.  Good luck this year and for all your turkey hunting gear come into Presleys Outdoors or shop online at www.presleysoutdoors.com

"Grip It"

Showing different aspects of the shot from top archers in our sport. This footage was gathered at the ASA in AL last week. Watch how long each shot process takes , grip location and pressure as well as bow movement before the shot."

Note several Hamskeas, but mostly blade rests.

Note the similarities in grip...thumb positioning, finger positioning, anchor. SOME of them actually "creep" and then get it back, creep and get it back.  Lots to watch and see if you pay close attention.  LOTS of very close similarities, too!  Not many "renegade" or odd ball quirks; at least not in this video!

NEW 2015 Bows are in stock: Hoyt, Matthews, Elite, Bowtech, Mission

Come in to Presleys Outdoors and see our archery department for the best line up of new bows on the market We carry the leading names like Hoyt, Matthews, Elite Archery, Bowtech and Mission bows.  Be sure to ask our knowledgeable staff  what bow is right for you and try them out on our 30 yard indoor range.

Hoyt is offering new the Carbon Spyder ZT and the Hoyt Nitrum
Check out Aaron unbox and set up his own Hoyt Carbon Spyder

Matthews has brought 2 new bows in 2015 starting with the NEW Z2 and the unique NO CAM.
Check out Aaron as he gives a quick run down on the all new design of the No Cam.

Elite Archery is now offering the Synergy, a design defined by "Shootability." Delivering an unparalleled shooting experience.

Bowtect newest bow is called the Prodigy and it marks the beginning of a new era with the introduction of PowerShift Technology.

Mission by Matthews has the Craze is one of the most adjustable bows on the market.   The Craze’s advanced dual cam system allows you to go from 15 to 70 lbs of draw weight and 19 to 30 inches of draw length, all with the comfort of up to 80% let off.

Film your own deer hunt with the Muddy Outfitter Camera Tree Arm

       Film your own hunt! Muddy Outfitter Camera Tree Arm  -  NOW IN STOCK!  $119.99

These days it dosen't take much to get set up to film your own deer hunt, and just about any decent camcorder will take good video in the woods.  The key is a soild camera arm that will allow for a wide range of smooth movement.   Trust me when I tell you the Muddy Outfitter treestand camera arm is dollar for dollar the best on the market.   

This tree arm has a built in bubble level and adjusts in 2 directions after it's installed on the tree for smooth but solid panning and positioning.   It comes with hardware to mount just about any tripod head, and you can even mount directly to the arm.    

Come in to the store and check them out but this order won't last long.   Capture that big buck on video this year and who knows maybe even the shot!  

2014 NFAA Outdoor National Champion, Mike Flier

Mike Flier of Pekin, Illinois won the 2014 NFAA Outdoor National Championship while competing in the Senior Men’s Freestyle Division. This was Mike’s 5th NFAA National Title and goes along with numerous Local, Regional, State, Sectional and World titles over his archery career that spans nearly 5 decades.

Mike won his first NFAA National Title at Aurora, Illinois in 1970. He competed in the Young Adult Male Barebow Division. That was the first of 4 National Championships in a row for Mike. The next three consecutive NFAA Outdoor National Championships were in the Adult Barebow Division. In addition to these National Titles, Mike also won the International Field Archery Association’s (IFAA) World Outdoor Championships in York, England in 1973, and won the IFAA World Outdoor Championships again in 1975 at Jay Peak, Vermont.

This year, Mike competed at the NFAA Outdoor National Tournament held in Yankton, South Dakota. He competed in the Senior Men’s Freestyle Division, and after being behind after the first day’s competition, he put things after that to win the National Title by a single point over fellow Illinois competitor, Steven Stover. Mike has won the National Outdoor Titles in 3 age groups: Young Adult, Adult, and Senior.

- His last National Outdoor title was in 1974 and his recent 2014 National Outdoor Championship title was 40 years later.

Mike’s Setup that he used to win the 2014 NFAA Senior Men’s Freestyle Outdoor National Championship includes

Bow: PSE Freak SP. 55 pounds peak weight, 18 pounds holding weight.

Draw Length: 29 ¾” AMO

Arrows: Easton X-10 carbon arrows, 29 inches long, with 100 Grains of point weight

Bow sight: CBE

Scope: CBE, with a 0.75 diopter (6 power) lens and a pink dot (for outdoors).

Peep Site: Specialty Peep with a small aperture and no clarifier.

Release aid: Tru-Ball Ultra HT 4-finger.

Stabilization: Fivics main stabilizer, 30 inches long, with 3 Oz tip weight. Back stabilizer is a Fivics 12 inches long with 8 oz of back weight.

Quiver: Easton Sport Hip Quiver.

Optics: Vortex Razor 10 x 42 power.

Mike is a long-time member of USA Archery (formerly National Archery Association), the National Field Archery Association (NFAA), the Illinois Archery Association, and Pekin Archers Incorporated. Mike is directly involved in teaching archery to youngsters during the summer at the Pekin Archers outdoor range. He also shoots at Presleys Outdoors in Bartonville, Illinois and has been a contributor to the successful Midwest Open Archery Tournament for the past 6 years.

--by Tom Dorigatti, November, 2014

Local Archer Wins 2014 NFAA Indoor National Championship

Kathy Pindell of Galesburg, Illinois won the 2014 NFAA Indoor National Championship while competing in the Senior Women’s Freestyle Division. This was Kathy’s 4th National Title and goes along with numerous Local, Regional, State and Sectional titles over her archery career that spans nearly 5 decades.

Kathy won her first NFAA National Title at Ludlow, Massachusetts in 1972. She competed in the Young Adult Female Freestyle Division. That was the first of 3 National Championships in a row for Kathy. She won her second National Championship in 1973 at Aurora, IL moving up from the Young Adult division and competing instead in the Adult Female Freestyle Division. In 1974, Kathy went out to Golden, Colorado, and won her third consecutive NFAA National Field Championship, once again in the Adult Female Freestyle Division. Then at the age of 18, Kathy made the jump to the Professional Division. At that time, she was the youngest Archer to turn professional.

Kathy shot professional for several years, and eventually put archery on the back burner in order to have a family and start her career. She came back into the sport many years later, taking time to dedicate toward the sport she loved. Always a real competitor, Kathy continued to work her way back and has won several more Local, Regional, State, and Sectional titles in the Women’s Freestyle Division.

This year, Kathy competed at the NFAA Indoor National Tournament held in Louisville, Kentucky. She competed in the Senior Women’s Freestyle Division, and after being behind after the first day’s competition, she put things together on the second day of the event to win her 4th NFAA National title. What is most interesting and rewarding are the following:

- Kathy has won National Titles in 3 age groups: Young Adult, Adult (twice moving up an age level and still winning the title), and Senior.

- Her last National title was in 1974 and her recent 2014 National Indoor Championship title was 40 years later.

Kathy’s Setup that she used to win the 2014 Senior Women’s Freestyle National Championship includes:

Bow: Barnsdale Classic X with Tri-Star cams. 46 pounds peak weight, 17 pounds holding weight.

Draw Length: 24 3/4” AMO

Arrows: Gold Tip UltraLite Pro Series 22, 23 inches long, with 90 Grains of point weight

Bow sight: Sur-Loc Supreme

Scope: Sur-Loc scope 38 mm Diameter, with a 1.0 diopter (8power) lens and a circle/dot combination.

Peep Site: Speciality Peep with 3/64 clarifier

Release aid: Carter Target 4

Stabilizaton: Shrewd main stabilizer, 30 inches long, with 3 Oz tip weight. Back stabilizer is a Shrewd 6 inches long with 6 oz of back weight.

Quiver: Easton Sport Quiver

Optics: Brunton Eterna 11x 42 power

Kathy is a long-time member of the National Field Archery Association (NFAA), the Illinois Archery Association, Pekin Archers Incorporated, and the Galesburg Archery Club. In addition Kathy spends time teaching new archers and promoting the sport. She also shoots at Presleys Outdoors in Bartonville, Illinois and has been a huge contributor to the successful Midwest Open Archery Tournament for the past 6 years.

--by Tom Dorigatti, November, 2014

Intro to Archery Classes at Presleys Outdoors.

Preregistration: $50 per archer (prior to 9-29-14 or prior to first class)

Registration: $60 per archer (night of the 29th and after)

Classes start at 5:30pm and run till 6:45pm every Monday night.

Call Robbie at 309-338-7580

or

Ask for more information in the Archery Dept.