Archery turkey hunting question (update with bird down)

[jrebel]

What broadheads are you guys using for your archery turkey hunts?  I was planning on using my slick tricks I use for deer but just curious if there are better options.  Also any other advise for a first time archery turkey hunt.  We have killed them with shotguns and I have archery hunted for many a year.....but never archery turkey.  My kids will also be taking some birds with their bows this year so I am getting excited.   

[KFhunter]

.22 rimfire



J/K lol




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[JKEEN33]

Turkey’s are the toughest thing to kill with a bow in my opinion. I’ve killed a few and lost a few. I went back to the shotgun. I always used my regular broadheads.

[jrebel]

Turkey’s are the toughest thing to kill with a bow in my opinion. I’ve killed a few and lost a few. I went back to the shotgun. I always used my regular broadheads.

What makes them tough to kill (small target / vitals, always moving or fly away with your arrow in them tough??).  We will be hunting from a blind and our shots will be 20 yards or less.  we are practicing with a 3d turkey target and shooting mid body where the target indicates.  Any suggestions on shot placement would be helpful also.  I really don't want a turkey flying off with an arrow in it. 

Hope these aren't dumb questions...but I want to make sure we do it right if we are gonna do it.  My kids have been practicing daily and are deadly at the ranges we will be shooting them at.  They have also been practicing shooting out of the blind to simulate the exact scenario minus the live bird. 

[KFhunter]

Asking about increasing your chances of getting ethical clean kills is never dumb.



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[JKEEN33]

Turkey’s are the toughest thing to kill with a bow in my opinion. I’ve killed a few and lost a few. I went back to the shotgun. I always used my regular broadheads.

What makes them tough to kill (small target / vitals, always moving or fly away with your arrow in them tough??).  We will be hunting from a blind and our shots will be 20 yards or less.  we are practicing with a 3d turkey target and shooting mid body where the target indicates.  Any suggestions on shot placement would be helpful also.  I really don't want a turkey flying off with an arrow in it. 

Hope these aren't dumb questions...but I want to make sure we do it right if we are gonna do it.  My kids have been practicing daily and are deadly at the ranges we will be shooting them at.  They have also been practicing shooting out of the blind to simulate the exact scenario minus the live bird.

Small vital area on a profile shot. Arrows will pass through easy enough, they are just tough birds. The quickest kill I have had was from behind while it was squaring off with my decoy. I shot him at the base of the neck. I was told to shoot them in the hips to try and break the hip so they can’t run or jump to fly, but I personally didn’t think that was a shot I wanted to take. I’ve always heard Turkey and Coyotes with a bow are a trophy. I would agree. Good luck, it’s a lot of fun trying.

[Yelper Guy]

An arrow to the mid-back of a turkey will take out the lungs, or do some serious damage!

[Emptyhanded]

I’ve only killed one and it was a broadside shot with a mechanical. I shot for the butt of the wing and it rocked that turkey. It’s a big bone and close the the vitals from what I could tell. It flopped for a bit but didn’t go anywhere. I’d take that shot again without question.


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[TheStovePipeKid]

I poked two last fall for my first ever turkey archery hunt. They both escaped my clutches. I was using mechanical Broadheads. One was 30 yards the other 20. The one I smashed at 20 yards fell 8 feet off a shed and still ran off. They are tough. I made it home with all my arrows but not for a lack of trying to lose them. It sucked not downing one but I had such a blast you and your son's will love it. I practiced daily at 20 and 30 yards and felt like a champ. I can tell you when it was a real turkey I jumped the shark on several shots so remind yourself and the kiddos to take deep breaths and move slow and steady. Good luck!

[dilleytech]

I would just plan on shooting them in the head. The target is about the same size as as the vitals. And you either miss or kill them. The hey are dumb you will probably get a second shot. Whatever the largest dia fixed head you can tune your bow to shoot well would be best.

[zwickeyman]

The hard part for me with out a blind is getting a shot with out being caught. Especially with a stick bow.
I like to use a Guillotine  and shoot for the head. I have never used a blind but have buddies that do and it really helps hide the movement of the draw etc. Good luck and have fun

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

I roll with the gobstoppers by NAP that you can find on camofire things are nasty with their blunt tips and big blades

Originally I rolled with the Grim Reaper 2" whitetail.

Havent messes with the guillotine broadhead because I was told once you want to take your poundage way way down for them.

Lots of guys go for the side shot...google shot placement but you've done that by now. I'd tell you the better shot to take is the bullseye of there brown eye when they are strutting away.... nothing to interfere with entry, no string jump, and cant see you behind their fan. Or the top of the beard when facing you....

[jnordwell]

Rage turkey broadhead. Son shot his 3rd bird first Rio with his elk setup. 478 gr arrow 62 lbs of draw. 18 yards no pass through bird ran 16 yards ... I’m a believer..

[jrebel]

Hoping I get to hunt next weekend.  Have to get my daughter her second bird then it is dads turn.   

[Britt-dog]

I have killed a pile of them with a bow, most were with a Rage two blade, but a few with slick tricks. As usual its more important to know where you should be shooting them and to be accurate. Study up and practice. No turkey shot through the heart and lungs with a good sharp broadhead will be lost.

[TheStovePipeKid]

I might try to poke one in central washington if I don't fill my tags in the NE. Using the RAGE turkey broadhead.

[tgomez]

I've shot 3 turkey with a bow, all with 100 grain 3 blade Muzzy broadheads. The distances were 40, 41 and 41 yards. Two went right down, the last made it about 5 yards.

[NiteHawk]

A few years back I decapitate a turkey with a magnus bullhead shot out of my longbow. Those flew really nicely out of the long bow but max distance was 15 yards.

This season I switch to hunting turkeys with my compound tipped with 100gr schwackers with a 2"cut. I got two OR birds with this set up. One was broadside and I had a clean pass through. The other was facing away. It would have been a clean pass through but it redirected through the body cavity and impacted the ground. That one was a heart shot and the bird jumped up, folded it's wings, and expired very quickly.

I was all about the head shot but with some practice I think the increased yardage and consistency of the schwackers is the way to go!

[The Gobble-stopper]

Just arrowed. My third bird yesterday to complete the Wa single season mini slam. I chose the Cabelas Killmor turkey broadheads. 1 1/2 expandable blades. Shoot exactly like my practice tips. They also have drag blades, so they put all the energy into the bird. And even with a not so good hit, since the vitals are so small, the arrow remains in the bird,so he cannot fly. And if you miss the drag blades do not penetrate the harder ground making it easy to find the arrow and reuse it. All that is needed is a small o ring.

[phildobaggins]

Got my first archery turkey this year. Used an NAP Killzone Maxx broadhead. Didn't go 5 ft.

[jrebel]

Well it was dads turn to hunt and the bow went to the blind with me.  All went well except I need to aim a bit higher.  I aimed to center punch it (broadside) and it turns out that is a little low.  The rage ripped a gaping hole it and I’m sure it was gonna die.....but after gimping away about 15-20 feet, I finished it with the 12 gauge.  Lesson learned....  second bird was gonna be a bow bird but he wouldn’t cooperate so I smoked him with the 12 gauge. Two birds down in about 30 minutes.   

The birds were very responsive to calls Saturday!! 

[MtnMuley]

Look at all those turkey nuggets gone

Congrats on the pair

[jrebel]

Look at all those turkey nuggets gone

Congrats on the pair

My thought exactly.....better off whacking them in the head with a shotgun!!   

With that said, they cleaned up very nice and I barely lost any meat. 

[MtnMuley]

Yep. A guy cleans up the blood and soaks in light salt water overnight and the loss won't even be noticeable. Had fritters the last couple nights from 2019 birds in the freezer and they're still superior to chicken.

[jrebel]

Here is one more pic.  Beautiful bird.