When using a bow to hunt turkeys, you need to use a different strategy than when using a shotgun. You have to practice various hunting styles to improve your performance in the field. However, make sure to practice in an archery range and use enough arrows to help build muscle memory; never dry fire your bow!

Shotgun hunting relies on shock and trauma to kill the turkey. Bowhunting aims for severe blood loss, eventually leading to the turkey’s death. You should use wider broadheads like these Rage Extreme Turkey Broadheads.

Unlike hunting with a shotgun, bow hunting is not likely to kill an animal instantly. Unless you want to track a fast-moving turkey, you’ll want to make sure it stays put after the shot. To avoid chasing after an injured bird, you’ll want to anchor or pin it down.

To anchor him down, aim above his beard or his anus when he’s strutting away. Side shots are very effective, but they are also the hardest to master.

What’s the Best Turkey Shot Placement?

After looking at where turkey hunters aim for their prey, you can understand why it is so important to be precise. The turkey vitals is very small, so any mistakes in your shot can mean a missed opportunity. Turkeys are also very sensitive to movement, so even the slightest motion can scare them away.

If you want to shoot a turkey, you will need to adjust your position depending on what the turkey is doing. There are a few good spots to shoot a turkey to die quickly.

Shooting A Turkeys Broadside

If you’re not a veteran turkey hunter, you might not know where to shoot a turkey. Most people think they should shoot the turkey in the front, but that’s actually too far forward. I would suggest getting a 3D turkey target to help you learn where to shoot the turkey. I’ve been shooting with the Rinehart Tom Turkey Target, which would be perfect if kill zones were included.

The vital organs are positioned much higher than most people realize. If you want to kill the turkey, you need to shoot right where the wing connects to the body. If you hit that spot, your Broadhead should pierce both wings and the heart and lungs. If the arrow doesn’t pass through all those organs, the bird shouldn’t be able to fly.

A spine shot can instantly immobilize the bird, but it’s a difficult shot to execute. The turkey will die fast if the vitals and bone structure are broken, but whether or not you should take it depends on the situation. The only time you can get a good shot of him is when he’s standing erect and facing you. To strike the spine, simply aim high and center.

The major drawback to getting a spine shot is that you can’t do it while the birds are eating. You can either wait or call his attention if he’s in the feeding position/walking with his head down. His wings will be in motion when he’s out of position, making for an unethical shot.

Many hunters do not like to shoot turkeys that are facing them. But this can be a very easy shot. If you hit the center of the turkey, it will most likely die. The shot will either kill the heart, lungs, or spine. Just make sure you don’t aim too low and hit the breast because that will injure the turkey.

When a tom turkey is staring at you, it’s hard to shoot him. You may be unable to fire the shot silently. So wait until he looks away and then shoots four inches below his neck.

Shooting a turkey can be difficult, but it is easiest to hit the vital zone if you use the neck and legs as a reference point. Aim above the far leg, in line with the neck, and a couple inches below the shoulder.

Aiming high on a bird is almost always better than aiming low. Shooting the turkey’s lungs and heart is the best way to kill it, but shooting the spine is just as effective.

It is simple to shoot a turkey that is walking away from you. The nicest aspect of shooting a turkey from behind is that the fowl will be unable to see you. If you’re lucky, his fan will obstruct his vision and provide you a clean shot on his anus. The G5 Montec Broadhead is a good choice because it has a deep penetrating broadhead.

The best way to kill a bird is to shoot it in the head or neck. This will almost always ensure that the bird dies instantly. However, this can be difficult to do when the bird moves around.

To get ahead or take a neck shot:

1. Wait until the bird is almost fully still.
2. Bring him up near to you and fire your arrow.
3. Just keep in mind that turkeys bounce and wobble more than drunk people, making this a difficult shot.

1. Try Reducing Your Draw Weight

Many hunters prefer to use a turkey bow with the reduced draw weight. This will help prevent the arrow from passing all the way through the turkey if it hits it. When an arrow is stuck in the side of the bird, it will be much harder for it to escape.

2. Avoid Shooting a Strutting Bird

When you are turkey hunting, you should not shoot a bird strutting. You want to wait until he is standing or stretching his neck. If you do that, then the bird will have a bigger target, and it will be easier to shoot him when he stands up and stretches his neck. One way to make the bird stand up and stretch his neck is by clicking on your call when he starts to strut. This Primos Magnetic Box Call should make your target stand in seconds.

3. Learn to Estimate Distance

The wild turkey is a strong bird, so make sure you are accurate when you shoot. If you don’t know how far away the turkey is, you might wound it instead of killing it. Most people miss when they shoot turkeys because they guess how far away the bird is, and they are usually wrong. It will be hard to use a range finder when you are excited.

To help figure out what range you like, you can set up a 3d target that is realistic and then visually verify the distance. Additionally, you can estimate a distance and pace it out to determine whether you are close. After a little while, you should guess with pretty good accuracy.

4. Be Patient

Everything worth doing requires patience. Before launching the arrow, take your time and be certain of your target. Always attempt the best shot possible, and keep in mind that if the turkey does not present an excellent opportunity, simply let him walk away. Turkeys are a creature of habit, and they will almost certainly return sooner than later.

To learn more tips about bowhunting a turkey, click here.