Turkey shot placement....

[catman529]

I'd post this in the turkey forum but it doesn't get much traffic at this time of year...

Where do you aim on a turkey with a bow? I hear of people shooting them and watching them run or fly off. Happened to me today. Lost the arrow and watched the bird run off. I dont know if the arrow went through or stayed in the bird, but all I found was blood. I aimed for the crop. Can't say exactly where the arrow hit but I figured the crop gets you near the neck/spine with a good margin for error... maybe next time, aim for the shoulder? What shots put down the birds quicker? I feel bad that there is one limping around with a huge gash in it, and might die slowly. Good meat gone to waste.

 

[Anonymous]

Had same quetion the other day. Google" turkey shot placement" for great pics

 

[Southern Sportsman]

It changes depending on how the bird is facing. If it's broadside, aim for where the wing meats the body. If you hit where your aiming you'll break the wing and he can't fly off and you'll get the vitals so he won't run far. If he is facing you, aim just below where the beard is (or would be if shooting a hen). Much lower and you run the risk of hitting the breast bone and deflecting your arrow. If facing away from you, 1/3 up the body and dead center. If you hit where you're aiming you'll get the spine (easy recovery). Aiming at the craw, you're somewhat close the the spine, but you have zero margin for error as nothing else in that area is vital. Some people who are really proficient at killing turkeys with a bow shoot them through the thighs while broadside. Without their legs they cant jump (and thus can't take off flying) and they can't run, so you just walk up and step on their head. I would not recommend the leg shot, however because a slight miss will result in a wounded and lost turkey. All of this changes somewhat when shooting from a deer stand. A turkey's vitals are about the size of a softball. If you're going to shoot a turkey, learn where they are and aim for them. Don't just send an arrow assuming you'll kill it if you hit it. Turkey's are tough as hell, and just like a deer you have to hit them in the right spot or you're just reducing a great animal to coyote food.

 

[catman529]

thanks for the advice. I would hate to shoot one in the beard or thighs, as I like to keep the beard and thighs are great when you boil them for a while.... I think a broadside shoulder shot is my best option or if the bird is facing me I will just aim low if it's a hen or jake... not gonna risk the beard on a tom, I want to get me a fall tom this year and keep the beard and spurs at the very least.

the more I think of it the worse I feel, about shooting and losing that bird. I hope the next shot hits its mark well. It was a good flock of turkeys too, tons of poults and hens, a few jakes and I think I even saw long beards in the mix.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=661127

This link has some good pictures and good advice. Yall have plenty of turkeys over in the Franklin area, maybe you'll get one next time. Just remember, most of what you see on a turkey is not vital. Pick a small spot (the right spot) and focus on that spot.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

or if the bird is facing me I will just aim low if it's a hen or jake

Don't aim low, especially if you're in a stand. Think of the area between the vitals and the thighs on a turkey like the area between the lungs and the spine on a deer. It's better to err low on a deer because that's where the vitals are. It's better to err high on a turkey because that's where the vitals are. If it's a gobbler, just wait until he turns if you don't want to hit the beard.

 

[catman529]

ok, hope next bird gets stuck in the right spot. wish I had a turkey hunting spot around Franklin, other than my backyard which only occasionally gets a couple turkeys passing through. Lots of them in Maury co on public land though! Shouldn't be hard to limit out with a shotgun and maybe take one or two with a bow if I am in the right places. They are in big fall flocks. when I shot at that one that got away, they didn't all run or fly off and I was able to shoot at another one but the arrow ricocheted.