Looking to up your turkey hunting game with a bow?
Knowing where to aim is crucial for a clean and ethical harvest. In this article, we will explain the best spots to shoot a turkey with your bow, ensuring a successful and humane hunt every time.
So, without wasting any further time, let’s get started.
Where to Shoot a Turkey with a Bow: Head-On
When a turkey is facing directly towards you, it’s important to aim for a specific spot to ensure a clean and ethical kill. The ideal target in this scenario is the turkey’s neck, just above the beard.
By aiming for this area, you’re targeting vital organs such as the heart and lungs, which are located in the upper chest cavity. A well-placed shot here will result in a quick and humane harvest, minimizing suffering for the bird.
Where to Shoot a Turkey With a Bow: Broadside
A broadside shot occurs when the turkey presents its side to you, offering a clear view of its body. In this situation, aim for the center of the turkey’s body just above the wing.
This area provides a good target for your arrow, ensuring that it hits vital organs such as the heart and lungs. By targeting this spot, you increase the likelihood of a clean kill, reducing the risk of the bird suffering unnecessarily.
Where to Shoot a Turkey With a Bow: Quartering To
When a turkey is quartering towards you, it presents a slightly angled target. To make an effective shot in this scenario, aim for the center of the turkey’s body, slightly forward towards the opposite shoulder.
This angle allows your arrow to penetrate the turkey’s vital organs while minimizing the risk of the arrow being deflected by bones. By aiming for this spot, you ensure a swift and humane kill, preserving the integrity of the meat for consumption.
Where to Shoot a Turkey With a Bow: Head/Neck
Targeting the head and neck area of a turkey requires precision and skill, making it a preferred shot for experienced archers.
For this shot, aim for the base of the turkey’s neck where it meets the body, or alternatively, aim for the base of the skull.
A well-placed shot in this area will sever the spinal cord or disrupt vital blood vessels, resulting in an instant and humane kill. However, this shot requires careful aim to avoid injuring the bird without killing it outright.
Where to Shoot a Turkey With a Bow: Facing Away
When a turkey is facing away from you, it presents a different set of challenges for making a clean kill. In this situation, aim for the base of the spine, just above the tail feathers.
A shot in this area will disrupt the turkey’s nervous system, quickly incapacitating it and minimizing suffering. However, it’s essential to ensure that your shot is accurate to avoid injuring the bird without rendering it unconscious.
With proper aim and technique, a shot to the base of the spine can result in a swift and humane harvest.
Best Setup for Bow Shots at Turkeys
Bowhunting turkeys require careful planning and execution to ensure a clean and ethical harvest.
Here’s what the perfect setup for bow shots at turkeys seems like:
Wait for Your Shot
Waiting for your shot is perhaps the most crucial aspect of turkey hunting with a bow. Turkeys are notorious for being wary and easily spooked, so patience is essential.
Avoid the temptation to rush your shot or take a shot at a turkey that is out of range. Instead, wait for the turkey to present a clear and ethical shot opportunity. This might mean waiting for the turkey to move into a better position or waiting for it to raise its head or fan its tail.
By exercising patience and waiting for the right moment, you increase your chances of making a clean and accurate shot.
Best Broadhead Choice for Bowhunting Turkeys
Selecting the right broadhead is crucial for bowhunting turkeys. Unlike larger game animals, turkeys have relatively small vital areas, so a sharp and accurate broadhead is essential for a clean and humane kill.
Consider using broadheads specifically designed for turkey hunting, such as mechanical or fixed-blade broadheads with a wide cutting diameter.
These broadheads are designed to create a large wound channel and maximize tissue damage, increasing the likelihood of a quick and ethical kill. Before heading into the field, ensure that your broadheads are sharp and properly aligned to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Where to Shoot a Turkey with a Shotgun
When hunting turkeys with a shotgun, shot placement is crucial for a clean and ethical kill. Unlike larger game animals, turkeys have relatively small vital areas, so it’s essential to aim for the head and neck for the most effective shot.
The head and neck area offer a larger target and contain vital organs, including the brain and spinal cord. A well-placed shot to the head or neck will quickly incapacitate the turkey, resulting in a swift and humane kill.
Avoid shooting at the body, as it may result in a non-lethal shot or a wounded bird that can be difficult to recover.
Turkey Shooting Tips
Mastering the art of turkey shooting requires practice, patience, and skill.
To improve your chances of success in the field, consider the following tips:
Don’t Shoot at a Turkey That’s in Full Strut
When a turkey is in full strut, it’s displaying its dominance or trying to attract a mate. Shooting at a strutting turkey can be risky as its body is positioned differently, making it harder to hit vital organs.
Also, the bird’s feathers are fluffed out, potentially deflecting arrows or bullets. It’s best to wait until the turkey exits the strut position and presents a clearer target.
Pattern Your Gun
Patterning your gun involves testing different loads and choke combinations to determine the most effective shot pattern at various distances.
This helps ensure that when you take a shot at a turkey, your pellets will be concentrated enough to effectively harvest the bird without causing unnecessary suffering.
Experiment with different loads and chokes to find the combination that works best for your hunting situation.
Identify Your Target and Know What’s Beyond It
Before taking a shot, always positively identify your target as a legal turkey and be aware of what is beyond it. Make sure there are no other hunters, buildings, or people in the line of fire.
Safety is paramount when hunting and taking a shot without knowing what’s beyond your target can have serious consequences. Take the time to assess your surroundings and ensure a safe shot.
Get Comfortable Shooting Offhand
In hunting situations, you may not always have the opportunity to take a shot from a comfortable, supported position.
Practice shooting offhand (without support) to improve your accuracy and confidence in various hunting scenarios.
This skill will come in handy when you encounter a turkey in the field and need to take a quick, accurate shot from an unorthodox position.
Consider Adding a Red Dot to Your Turkey Rig
Adding a red dot sight to your turkey hunting setup can improve your accuracy and target acquisition, especially in low-light conditions or when shooting at longer distances.
Red dot sights provide a clear aiming point without the need to align front and rear sights, allowing for faster and more precise shots. Consider adding a red dot sight to your turkey rig to enhance your hunting experience and increase your chances of success.
Final Thoughts:
In short, knowing where to shoot a turkey with a bow is crucial for a successful and humane hunt. By targeting the vital areas and practicing proper shooting techniques, hunters can ensure a swift and ethical harvest.
Make sure to prioritize your safety, and responsible hunting practices.