shot placement when using a bow on Turkeys

[alex1]

Ok guys adn gals, I got drawn for turkeys and want to try with a bow this year. Just not sure where the shot placement is supposed to be.

I've seen on hunting shows they shoot for the wing joint, is there any other good spots?

should I reduce the poundage? I shoot 70# with a 29 1/2" draw.

one more question, I shoot rage 3-blade broadheads, can I still use these for turkeys?

[StillwaterAaron]

Yes on the broadheads.

Even better is the largest cutting diameter expanding broadhead. I use a Hammer I think by primos? I have never lost a turkey with those. If you hit them in the wing they can't go really far easily but you want the arrow to stay in. I would suggest pounding down so you can hold it for a minute easily. Sometimes the turkeys give you a short window. I am 4 for 5 seasons with my bow and it is awesome. I always aim high! If you miss they will often just look around while you knock another arrow. If you hit them in the spine they drop like a rock.

Good luck they are fun with a bow!

[DonBo]

Any broadhead you might use for big game hunting will kill a turkey but there are a few that really stand out. Unlike deer where a complete pass-through is always prefered, keeping the arrow in the bird is a real plus. In the first place it adds some shock to the hit, sometimes enough so that the bird will go right down. The arrow will also often times help a bird from getting into some heavy cover to hide. I've also found a few dead birds with the aid of my bright colored fletch sticking up from tall grass. Far and away the best type of head to achive this IMO is a larger (2") mechanical type head.

There are also a couple of new heads out that are designed to be shot at the head/neck area of the bird. These have large fixed blades that supposedly will take the head right off a turkey. I'm not going to say I'm against this type, but I've never seen a turkey stand still long enough for me to hit that small of a target on a moving bird.

There are a couple trains of thought as to where to shoot a turkey. We've hit on the head shot, but as for the body shot there are two spots that would be considered vital on a turkey, both have their proponents. Personally, I'm going to aim high. From the wingbutt up towards the base of the neck. The heart/lung area is no bigger than your fist and is situated at the base of the wing. The spine, windpipe and jugular all go from this spot up into the neck and an arrow placed anywhere along that route will result in a quick, clean kill.

The other spot that many try to hit is just above the hip. The thinking here is that a turkey needs to jump to get airborn and it just can't be done without the use of it's legs. It is also obvious that he can't run when hit here. There is also a huge artery that runs into the turkey legs at this point, so this shot should kill a bird in quick order too.

The biggest asset to a hunter using archery tackle on turkeys is a pop-up blind. Your biggest obstacle with the bow is getting drawn. A blind will let you do that unseen. I like to place my decoys just 10 yards from the blind to ensure a close shot.

[Dave S]

Here are some pics from the MN DNR presentation for arrow shot placement:

[alex1]

Thanks a ton guys, what should I back my poundage down to so I wont have a complete pass through? I would have to check my specs on the bow, but if I remeber correctly it only goes down to 55 or 60#.

[DonBo]

Don't get too crazy, your arrows still need to fly good. Placement is way more important than stopping pass throughs. Your choice of broadheads is a good one.

[Dave S]

Thanks a ton guys, what should I back my poundage down to so I wont have a complete pass through? I would have to check my specs on the bow, but if I remeber correctly it only goes down to 55 or 60#.

You're well above the minimum poundage at 55 lbs. I know deer were changed down to 30 lbs draw weight a couple years ago. It used to be 40 and I know the year they changed the deer reg's, turkeys did not change. They might have changed them down to 30 by now, but I don't know for sure. If it didn't change yet for turkeys, then it would still be 40 lbs minimum.

[sticknstring]

It is now 30# minimum draw weight.

[Dave S]

Thanks SNS.

[no bait nate]

go for the texas heart shot shown in the last picture there. great opportunity to draw back when the turkey is in strut facing away. the fan blocks all movement to the bird and gives you the bullseye affect.

a few years back i had a muzzy bounce right off a relaxed walking bird due to low shot placement. the shot glanced right off even at 11 yds.

this year i'll definitely be waiting for a strutting, still bird.