Arrow type for turkeys

[walleyeking19]

I was able to find land that holds lots of turkeys. I know cause i saw them all deer season, it made me kind of antsy for the spring. But if i want to bow hunt for them would you suggest using broadheads and aim for the hip? or buy those turkey guillotines and shoot them in the head? I've seen both on TV but i don't know which is more humane or efffective.

[Archerysniper]

I like to use retractables like the nap spitfire or the rocket arrow heads. I try to shoot them were the wing connects to the boady but have shot one quartering away through the hip and out the wing and that one didn't even twitch. If you shoot the in the wings the cant fly shoot them through the hips and they cant run or fly.

[Powerstroke]

Depends on you. The best shot is the one you're most comfortable with. The "lop off the head" types need a heavier arrow with helical fleth to stabilize them. Practice enough and they are the most deadly. Either you miss or you hit them. If you hit the body, there is no damage, if you hit the head/neck, then you have a dead tom.

Shooting a conventional head gives you more shot options, but you have a greater chance of wounding the animal. A well placed shot nearly eliminates this, but not like the headshots.

So, you need to invest some money to go the headshot route, but it would be more lethal and offer the least amount of risk for wounding.

If you go the regular broadhead route you get more options and you can use the equipment you already own and practice with for deer. Just make sure you learn the anatomy of the turkey and where the shot placement is. You should be able to hit a 3" circle consistently.

[NWBuck]

First question I'd ask is if you are hunting out of a pop up blind (like a double bull) with a shoot through net on the window(s). If so, I'd highly recommend a fixed blade head, as the expandables can catch on the screen if the shot is even slightly angled.

As for shot placement, try to visualize where the hips would be and take them out on the high side. If you get a front on shot, an aiming point right where the beard comes out of their chest will break their back and they'll not take another step. Good luck!

[rbs]

Great post! This is exactly what I am looking into for this season. I have another broadhead for you tho. The Magnus Bullhead! This is a 3 bladed head unlike the guillotine which has 4 blades but has the same or close to the same cutting radius. All the reviews that I have read seem to say that the Bullhead flies better then the guillotine.

I am wondering for those that bowhunt for turkeys with the bullhead or guillotine if they bring their regular broadheads with as well? I am wondering if that would be an option if you knew where your point of impact was for both heads.

[DonBo]

Couple things I'd like to add here. First is, I can't recommend to anyone that you aim for the hip of a turkey. There are no vitals in the hip. It is our responsibility as a hunter to strive for a quick, humane kill. Aiming at a VITAL area is the only way we can do this. My advice is use a large expandable head and aim for the wing butt area. This is where the heart/lung area is and in my opinion is the only shot that should be taken while using standard type broadheads.

I have no personal experience with the guillotine or bullhead type head-shot heads so I won't get into that. Again, in my opinion the head on a turkey rarely stays still and I can't imagine trying to hit it with archery tackle.

As far as shooting through the screen of a ground blind. Turkeys do not care if the screen is on or not. Take them out and you don't have worry about what kind of head you shoot. I have a blind where the screens are sewn in. I cut a few well placed 3"-4" wide verticle strips out of the screen so I can shoot through those.

Turkeys with a bow is tough. If you're up for the challenge it's also among the most rewarding things you can do.

Good luck! (you'll need it)

[NWBuck]

Borrowed these photos from another site, because I know posting a link to them is a no-no. If you look at the skeletal anatomy of a turkey, you'll see that a high hip shot will render the bird both unable to run, as well as take out the lungs. Miss high, you spine them. Low, take out the legs; forward, heart and lungs, etc. It is the highest percentage shot on a turkey with archery gear.

Here are a couple more pictures of solid aiming points on a live turkey