Bowhunt or Die

In this episode of Bowhunt or Die, Tim and Troy head to northwest Illinois with just one evening to scout and one morning to hunt. After using trail camera intel and a sunset observation to pinpoint a gobbler's movements, the plan comes together exactly as drawn up when a big tom walks into range on the final day of the Illinois turkey season.

But that's only half the story.

We also rewind to youth season, where Drake battles nerves, overcomes his fear of the shotgun, and makes a perfect shot on his turkey with Dad right by his side. It's a special hunt filled with family, encouragement, and a memory they'll never forget.

After days of getting outplayed by call-shy gobblers, changing blind locations, dealing with storms, silent birds, and frustrating close calls… it finally all came together.

This episode follows two different turkey hunts and two hunters grinding through the chaos of spring turkey season. From birds hanging up across the water to split-second encounters inside bow range, nothing came easy.

Week two of Wisconsin turkey season turns into an absolute grind. Rainy mornings, silent gobblers, pressured birds, blown opportunities, and long sits in the blind had us questioning everything... until a subtle move finally paid off.

After struggling on heavily pressured birds the hunt shifts north to Chippewa County where the gobblers barely make a sound. With cold mornings, frosty ridges, and “deer hunting for turkeys” tactics, patience finally leads to an unforgettable encounter.

One tag left.
A long hike into a swampy willow bottom.
And a decoy placed where it shouldn’t work.

After passing solid bucks and fighting shifting wind, patience finally pays off when a mature Wyoming buck makes a fatal mistake. What follows is one of those bowhunting moments you replay in your head long after the season ends.

Would you take the risk of hunting over a decoy this late in the season?