Jbirdtitan
New Member
I am considering trying to kill a Turkey this spring with my crossbow. Any advice on a broadhead that will work with a crossbow bolt? Should I just use the same broadheads I would use for deer hunting or other big game?
Archery Longbeards
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Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
Ive shot 3 gobblers with my crossbow but only recovered one!!I shot these birds with a fixed blade broadheads,dont make that mistake,use a 2 inch mechanical head or NAP makes a blunt tipped head with mechanical blades.This broadhead will stay in the bird so it wont flyoff to never be found!Hit the bird where the wing is connected to the body and it will anchor him,good luck!
Buzzard Breath
Well-Known Member
A large, 3 blade expandable.
If your gonna archery hunt them, please study anatomy pics from every angle, they are easy to kill but also easy to lose if your off just a couple inches
I'm 1/1 with my now years ago. Three Toms strutted in and at 18 yards I shot him he jumped straight up and never took another step. The other two put on a show and came over and started wearing him out!! I think I'll keep my 100% kill rate and keep using my shotgun. Haha
Harold Money jr
Well-Known Member
I've killed 3 and lost 1 with a bow. The one I lost was shot sideways through the breast where you'd think you should shoot one without knowing where.
The other 3 were shot straight in the center walking toward and straight away. I broke their backs and they went down fast. Their legs don't work when the backbone is broke.
The other 3 were shot straight in the center walking toward and straight away. I broke their backs and they went down fast. Their legs don't work when the backbone is broke.
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
I don't mean this to sound derisive, I promise. But why do you want to shoot one with a crossbow in the spring? I get shooting a fall turkey with one if that's what you are deer hunting with, but why in the spring when you're exclusively turkey hunting? The range is similar to a shotgun. The shooting process (hold, aim, shoot) is essentially the same as with a shotgun. The x-bow is quiet, which is a plus, but a b*tch to lug around. Otherwise, the only practical difference I can think of is that the x-bow is far more likely to result in a wounded/lost turkey.
@fulldraw
Well-Known Member
Aim about 2" above where the leg enters the body. On a broadside turkey it's about the middle of the line between feathers. See yellow dot in pic. The only other shot that's highly efficient is the Texas bullseye. I've killed many gobblers with the bow and these two shots are the best to take.
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Grizzly Johnson
Well-Known Member
@fulldraw
Well-Known Member
So not true. Sorry. I've hit one just above middle and watched it walk off. Killed it two weeks later with my broadhead hole through him. Hit them low and usually you break the hip or leg and they are retrievable. Have to stay in line with the leg.
Jbirdtitan
New Member
Thanks for the advice, I know the anatomy and am an experienced hunter so the most important thing for me is hitting the spot I am aiming. I will do some broadhead research and let y'all know what I end up purchasing. I normally use a fixed head broadhead and have never had issues losing a deer with this particular broadhead. Turkeys are a different animal. I will probably try for one with the crossbow this season and maybe the compound next season.
Jbirdtitan
New Member
I mainly want to try something new. Same as the guy that uses traditional archery equipment for deer/big game hunting. FYI- My range is 20 and under for turkey if I have archery equipment so it is definitely more of a challenge in my case. Thanks for the comment and nice buck in your profile pic!
MidTennFisher
Well-Known Member
I did this in 2018 and my conclusion was this - turkey hunting is a shotgun sport. 
But using a crossbow does make it easier since you don't have to get away with any more movement than you would with a shotgun.
My setup was a compound bow and I don't like hunting in blinds so I was sitting against cover like if I was shotgunning. But I had to have a bit more open areas that I could shoot an arrow through so I was getting spotted a lot and it got frustrating.
Eventually I caved and used a decoy, a hen. One came in strutting and as he turned his back to me in full strut I gave him the old Texas heart shot and it worked! That's the perfect scenario because his sight of you is fully blocked. I shot it at like 7 yds.
Good luck with it. I did it that one season just because, like you said, trying something new to see if I could do it. I have never attempted it since then and don't think I would again.
But using a crossbow does make it easier since you don't have to get away with any more movement than you would with a shotgun.
My setup was a compound bow and I don't like hunting in blinds so I was sitting against cover like if I was shotgunning. But I had to have a bit more open areas that I could shoot an arrow through so I was getting spotted a lot and it got frustrating.
Eventually I caved and used a decoy, a hen. One came in strutting and as he turned his back to me in full strut I gave him the old Texas heart shot and it worked! That's the perfect scenario because his sight of you is fully blocked. I shot it at like 7 yds.
Good luck with it. I did it that one season just because, like you said, trying something new to see if I could do it. I have never attempted it since then and don't think I would again.
Over the years I shot 1 hen in bow season back when and hit at the base of the neck, she jumped up and flipped and was done, the other 3 were 2 gobblers and a bearded hen all hit about the same way and they just wing beat and flopped around. I've been real lucky.
Don'tDrinkTinks
Well-Known Member
I killed one last year with my bow. 2 blade rage right above the hips. Flop city.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Killed 2 that someone else had shot thru the breast earlier with a broadhead. I lost about a quarter of the breast meat due to slimy green discoloration.
Killed another 3 with .22 rounds in their breast. Didn't lose much meat on those.
Killed another 3 with .22 rounds in their breast. Didn't lose much meat on those.
I've never bow hunted them and probably never will but remember seeing this years ago. Fast forward to 1:35.
I guess it don't matter, dead is dead but those broadheads sorta mix turkey hunting with the French revolution......kinda gives me the willies.
100 Gobblers With A Bow!
It was Thursday morning before opening day of the 2023 season. I stood in the pre-dawn darkness in anticipation of the first gobble of the season. I did not have to wait long as the horizon started to lighten and a barred owl awakened the woods followed by the first gobble of the season. After…
gon.com
Wooden Arrow
Well-Known Member
there are folks that can kill turkeys with a bow...but i aint one of them. i'm 0 for 13 nowadays.I did this in 2018 and my conclusion was this - turkey hunting is a shotgun sport.
but i enjoy trying...
