What do you guys think about using big boy broadheads for turkey? The biggest that come to mind off the top of my head are

1 Simmons tree sharks

2 Big Jim 3 blade made by vpa

3 4 blade zwickey delta (or magnus 1 if you can find them)

4 single bevel Kodiaks

Would you choose one of these big "shock and awe" heads for birds or something smaller for more chance of penetrating through the feathers and hollow bones?

Depends on your bow and arrow weight. I've had great luck with Centuar's Big game head and Simmons Tree Shark with a 60 pound bow and 700 gr. Arrow.

I have a mixed quiver myself, I will most likely shoot whichever arrow I pull out first but I am interested in hearing the preference of some more experienced bird busters.

Good point Slayer

I am using a 47# bow and arrows around 520-550 grains.

i'm thinking some of those 2" Chinese rage heads would be killer on turkey

Snuffers have been my go to head but I've used others including small 2 blades. I think big is a good idea, lots of poor places to hit a turkey.

My wife shoots about 42 # with about a 600 grain arrow and has had penetration issues on turkey. A solid butt of the wing bone hit will cause her arrows to bounce right off. Of all the animals I've killed, Turkey are the most difficult to get good consistent penetration.

I've never had penetration issues on turkey but I've read that many have. I have actually got a pass through on every bird that I shot. My issue has been keeping the bird down with a body hit. It's funny that I've hated those mechanical BH's since the day they were invented until I tried one on a turkey, now that's all I use for turkey. I hunted one season with 3 blade WW heads and only took head/neck shots.....missed quite a few before connecting on one but that dropped him in his tracks. My theory was either clean miss or sure kill.

Slayer is correct, I shot a tom two years ago at 10 yards with a 48# Centaur shooting a large three blade head, razor sharp.

Solid hit on the wing butt rolled the bird completely over. He got up and ran like hell. I went and picked up my arrow and only had a little blood 1/4" down the point.

The birds are so much lighter in physical weight as compared to the energy the arrow is carrying that it pushes/rolls the bird away rather than going right through them, not always of course. I've shot a fair amount of squirrels and bunnys, I rarely get through them either. Again, they are so light the arrows pushes or rolls them away absorbing energy all along.

All that said, give me a slim 2 blade for turkey, it lessens the resistance and hopefully penetrates nicely.

Look at is this way. If you shot at a rug hanging between 2 trees fastened only at the top corners, you will probably bounce off, or just poke it. If fastened at all four corners tightly, your arrow flies right through most often.

160 Snuffers, or some big old Sharks. I never want a pass through but I want penetration, turkeys are tough to blow through when you hit them where you are supposed. Try and break them down right above the thigh or right where the thigh meets the body and break any bones you encounter. Shawn

here stick hunter cut down them miss with this Black Ovis 200gr. .060 stainless lade 4" cut.

I use the same for turkey as I do deer, and would actually opt for the arrow staying in the bird. If they can get into the air, they can go half a mile before setting down again. And make an accurate shot in the first place, or at least the best you can. Big heads won't make up for missing the vitals.

pass threw you don't want then maybe these will help Sim Turkey Terror 3 Blade 1 3/16 cut

I get so shook up and miss so many birds with bows that I stick with my Benelli now! Man's gotta know his limitations. :>)

That's a tough question. I've killed a few birds with smaller two-blade Zwickey and Magnus heads, a few with 4-blade Zwickey Deltas and more with three blade Woodsmans. My brother had a Tom's wing butt stop a 4-blade Zwickey in its tracks. Of course, the bird rolled, or I should say was knocked down, at the shot. The bird moving with the arrow on impact is a big reason for poor arrow penetration.

I've been very pleased with the Woodsmans. Seem to be a good combination of penetration and cutting area. Have run a few of those through turkeys, but most times I don't get pass throughs.

Have been thinking about a bigger 3-blade Snuffer, but not sure I will use it. Thinking is that it might catch a vital organ the Woodsman may not, but it just may not penetrate as well either. My hunting partner shoots a big Snuffer and seems to do OK with it, but he has a very long draw and shoots a heavy arrow, 650-700 grains. Mine are in the 520 grain range.

Of course, any sharp broad head in the right area will get the job done. I'm just trying to weigh the trade-offs for when the arrow isn't in exactly the right area.

I've killed my share of turkeys with a stick bow, and have never had an issue with penetration. Heads like the 100 grain Phantom, DRT, and the Wac'em three blade have preformed flawlessly for me from bows in the 45# range to 56# range on 440 grain carbon shafts. Hearing stories of guys saying arrows bounce off wing butts, or getting little or no penetration has me wondering why...

Part of the reason I think is quartering shots. Had arrows deflect right off the wing butt. They're tough!

I have some simmons heads,, I will proably shoot those, they are wide two blade, so best of both worlds,, wide cut,, and penetrate good,, but got to put it where it counts,, I have been practicing my head neck shot too,, someday gonna try one of those heads ,, designed for the head shot,,but this year just sticking with what I know,,

Simmons heads work well for me.

Yeah, I'm not sure about bounce offs unless you aren't getting to full draw. A 40# bow will embed a broadhead 1/2" deep or more in 3/4" plywood. Hard to see feathers making them bounce back. Maybe with a modular head that has to punch first. But then I guess if you saw it happen....you saw it happen.

I've had good luck out of the small 3 blade Allen heads from Wal-mart.

Longtrad I on't know how much weight you're using but yeah I like big heads but coc heads. I use snuffers and 600gn's but I shoot 60 lbs and most of my bids were killed with 75.

For the guy who's wife has penetration problems. First thing is stop using 600gn's out of 42lbs for turkeys(or for deer if it were me). And make sure you're using a coc head. Lighter arrows tend to work better on soft tissue. A slow, heavy arrow allows more time for the turkeys light weight to move away from the arrow. I'll get flamed but the guys who's wife had probs needs to go to a small 2 blade and about 400-450 gn arrow. Theres is a point where the weight hurts instead of helping.

I have killed a few with everything from Badger heads to Big Simmons. I too have settled on the woodsmans for birds. RC

Not sure until time comes this year which arrows but prob the sharks.

Its not the head like so many of you think it is. Its the shot placement learn the anatomy to hone the shot best we can. From Bear heads, Ace, STO's to sharks I have used and killed birds with and have had some hits not good that was never the head.

Sign me up for big bhs.Last year I shot the big snuffers and loved em. This year I'm going to shoot an old rocky Mountain 3 blade. I seen some penetration issues with hits to the wing but so I try to hold a little further back.

Sign me up for big bhs.Last year I shot the big snuffers and loved em. This year I'm going to shoot an old rocky Mountain 3 blade. I seen some penetration issues with hits to the wing but so I try to hold a little further back.

I use a razor sharp treesharks, keep my shots under 10 yards. When we loose a bird it is usually because we didn't hit where we wanted to or thought we did the closer the better.LH

Magnus Bullhead 125's and head shots. Dead or clean miss. Seems all the turkeys I kill with a bow are between 10-15ft of the blind.

The head and neck region are the largest vital area on a turkey. Now you're shooting at it with a 4" broadhead. Combined together that's a larger margin of error you're allowed.

It's turkey bowhunting saber-metrics.

Regardless of what you think, and arrow will bounce off of the wing butt. Almost 1" thick feather and bone.

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