Last time (1st time) I hunted turkey with 53# recurve, I had two shots at around 15 yds that glanced off wing butt at an angle. Probably not the shot I should have taken. Anyone else had this happen? Recommendations for correct shot scenario welcome. I’ll be trying again in several weeks. Newt,

a bunch of clustered quills can be tough

you did not short draw? and what head and shaft were you using

I try to have my arrow hit at the junction of the leg and the body. Boiler room is right above that and if you break the leg(s) in conjunction that is good.

Turkeys are very difficult to penetrate due to the feathers/quills.

well, maybe going away or coming at you would avoid the wing, but right above the leg as suggeted,,for broadside,,

It happened to me as well. I’ve had better luck with arrow penetration on elk than on turkeys!

You're not using an expanding head, are you. I know a number of compound shooters who have bounced those off of turkeys. Light arrow and expanding head, and it's like a ping-pong ball hitting a brick wall.

Never had a cut on contact head bounce back at me, but I have had reduced penetration on one or two right on the wing butt. Usually break the wing, though.

You either shot high of at a bad angle, those two cases will produce a glancing shot, otherwise just below the wingbutt is a killing shot on a bird..

Two blade heads help with mid to lower weight bows, as well.

Even with 62# and two blade Magnus mine stopped at the fletching.

I prefer shots when the Turkey is turned away.

Wow,first time I've heard of difficulties in penetrating a turkey.

I’m looking at this as a Noob and honestly.... would need a lot more time looking at them Live & In Person, I think, to take a broadside. Just snipping primaries off of wings has given me an enormous amount of respect for Quills as Body Armor.

Think I would go for the tailpipe or just use a guillotine head. Quartering away at the least. With the first 2 options, there’s no second-guessing yourself about placement, which is really big for taking the shot with confidence...

So this sounds pretty common? No one ever mentions it.Even though Fred Bear killed a turkey I've always heard he thought turkeys shouldn't be hunted with a bow.

had 5 shots, killed 4 tom with a 55# recurve bow using cut on impact bh. Shooting 10 yards from a tent blind. Always tried for a broadside shot. It seems you may have shot a glancing blow off the wing area.

I think many people shoot too far forward on turkeys, there is nothing in front of the legs but breast meat. I agree with right above the legs, or better yet, in the lower middle of the back on a facing away bird. All the damn turkey targets have the kill zone on the wing butt, not a good place to aim for in my opinion. Thanks John

This is why a .22LR is not enough. Even a 22M is questionable. I've never killed a turkey with a bow, but I know they are difficult to penetrate.

Go up in weight

Interesting, very instructive thread. Never hunted Turkey for reasons mentioned. 3-D targets never seemed that realistic. Might give it a go this year if I can find the time. Would be using a 42# Necedah 55-60 or maybe a 2016 with 135 Ace Standard, Mercury string.

Up the leg midway. Get a look at the anatomy and Turkey shots recommended and shot for the spots accordingly. I've also wounded a few birds. I once had to shoot a bird 3 times. What a fiasco that was.

These are tough birds with small vital areas and plenty of deflection protection. Unless taking head shots anyone using a lightweight bow and multi-head lightweight arrow (or a string tracker) might want to bring a lucky nickel with them, they'll probably need it.

Leg shots aren't a sure thing either. I lost a big tom with a broadside shot from 15 yards, 52# hybrid longbow, 520 gr. aluminum with BEAR Super Razorhead, complete penetration, went through the nearside drumstick just below the wingbutt and out the other side. Not sure if the offside leg was hit but the bird went down immediately and couldn't get up. It flapped like crazy for a few seconds, then on wing power alone rose straight up, took off laterally like a bullet down the field and cleared the field crest 200 yards away, then out of sight. That was the last I saw of it after looking hard that afternoon and the next morning. Really nice bird, what a shame.

Don't underestimate the tenacity of wild turkeys, they'll surprise the crap out of you and not in a good way.

Your observations are correct. They are very difficult to consistently kill even with "good shots". I started using a string tracker and it has helped immensely. This is a turkey shot with a 125 woodsman that I had already modified the tip and it still damaged it. The shot was broadside at 7 yards with a 60lb recurve. The bird still traveled 200 yards and I had to finish it off.

I’ve never had an arrow glance off but I’m not that surprised - last year I took a tom with a 55# blacktail longbow, 600 grain arrow and Simmons head...I got only a couple inches of penetration on a broadside shot. He died on the spot but in my experience I’ve found them harder to penetrate than you’d think.

I’m with fdp. I like the poop shoot shot.

I did the same thing as the op. The wing but is not the best shot. As already covered above, just above the hip socket and slightly forward.

Above bird was shot at 12 yards and stumbled another 12 before piling up. Good luck y’all!

Texas heart shot,between wings bird moving away and straight on shot slightly above where beard is attached to bird.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here