Dust off the bow this spring with one of these spring archery hunts and throw some spice into your bowhunting life.

[caption id="attachment_6129" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Spring archery hunts can really be a great way to knock the rust off both you and your archery gear.[/caption] Fall is well past and winter's snow is receding in most parts of the country. If the longer days aren't signal enough, the geese and cranes have returned to herald spring. Not only does this mean old man winter has succumbed once again, but also that spring archery season is upon us. Hunting tends to flare up in the fall with many folks pushing hard to nail a crafty whitetail. The hectic fall months are followed by winter months when archery gear can tend to collect some dust. Like our gear, we can tend to rust a bit over the winter as well. Spring hunts are a great time to knock the rust off and get back in the game. Here are 3 spring archery hunts everyone should book at least once.

Turkey

Turkey are the most popular spring species to hunt bar none. Not only have turkeys rebounded to incredible numbers, but hunting them can be an absolute blast. Spring turkey hunts coincide with gobbler's mating cycle so calling can really increase your odds at success. The thunderous response of a lovestruck tom can really put a smile on your face after a long winter. Lots of folks talk about hunting slams, or the taking of every species of an animal. The deer slam and sheep slam seem to be the most mentioned and pursued of all the slams in North America. Turkey have their own slam, and this slam will take you to some very different parts of the country. The 4 species of eastern, merriam, osceola, and Rio Grande turkey all inhabit a variety of terrain and can pose a challenging hunt. Some archers opt for specialized turkey broadheads in order to take down these animals with tiny vital zones.

Bear

Another of the spring archery hunts that is tremendously popular in parts of the country is bear hunting. Black bear hunting is legal in at least 27 states and numerous Canadian provinces. This map does an excellent job displaying where bear are living and should give you an idea of states that would allow hunting. As you can see after viewing the map, bears tend to hang in the northern parts of the country. State's laws vary widely as to legal practices. Some states allow baiting and others allow hounds. In certain states neither are allowed and spot and stalk in the method hunters must utilize. Whatever method you choose, bear hunting should be on your bucket list of spring archery hunts.

Hogs

Northern states may have the advantage when it comes to bear, but southern states definitely take the cake when it comes to hogs. Hogs are notoriously prolific in many southern states, and hog hunting has really caught on in the past few decades. Hog hunts can be archery friendly in that hunters typically hunt over a bait site and wait in treestands or groundblinds. Sitting over a bait might sound easy, but, as a friend of mine who recently went on a hog hunt in east Texas found out, it is anything but. Hogs are tremendously smart and understand the dangers while approaching a feeder. Additionally, they might be numerous, but they can sure be hard to find. Hammer one of these crafty animals with a bow and you have done something. All three of these hunts come at a great time of year in the archery business. Go on a few of these hunts and soon you will no doubt make double sure to plan them just as sure as your fall hunts. Not only will they add a fun change up to your routine, but they will knock the rust off as well. NEXT: DO IT YOURSELF; PLANNING A DESTINATION HUNT