Each spring, far too many turkeys are injured or killed after being shot with archery equipment. Shots may not be able to reach the vital organs because of the heavy wing bones and thick feathers that protect them. Shots made to the head and neck region of the wild turkey are more likely to be successful during shotgun hunting.
Turkey Anatomy
More and more turkey hunters are taking to the fields with bows as their weapon of choice now that the national turkey season is in full swing. It is important to have a solid understanding of shot placement when using archery equipment.
But a well-equipped and properly set up archery tackle can certainly handle the job. You need to have a thorough understanding of turkey anatomy to place shots correctly.
The size of a turkey’s vitals, excluding the spine, is about equal to that of two hands clasped. Much smaller than any of the most popular game animals hunted with archery equipment in the US.
Correct shot placement requires an understanding of this area’s location. A turkey’s vital organs are located high in the body cavity. Aim straight up the leg at the wing crease when shooting a broadside turkey as a general rule of thumb.
Shot Placement
The correct shot placement when using a bow is every turkey hunter’s top concern. We must first think about the position or positions of the turkey in relation to the hunter before we can address this concern. Some of these are:
Broadside
It is known as the broadside when a turkey is standing to one side, either side. With a bow, you should always aim for the turkey’s last wing joint when shooting it broadside. The joint that directly joins the wing to the body is this one.
The bird won’t be able to fly or flap off very far if you land on it or shoot it with an arrow in this joint because both wings will break. The heart and lungs are located exactly where this is.
Therefore, a shot here will pierce the heart or the lungs, resulting in a fatal shot and little to no movement afterward.
Turkey Facing Away
The best place to aim your bow when hunting and sizing up a turkey that is facing away from you with its tail feathers facing toward you is at the base or bottom of its feather fan. This may also lead to a precise and merciful fatal shot.
You have a good chance of severing the turkey’s spine with one shot if you aim and shoot your arrow at the base of the fan formed by the feathers.
Your chance to enter the chest cavity, which typically results in a moral, one-shot kill, will also be provided by this point of aim.
Turkey Facing You
You must use a completely different strategy when the turkey is directly in front of you, or when you are taking a straight-on shot. If you find yourself in this situation, you must aim and fire your shot between the turkey’s neck’s base and its “beard” base.
If you keep in mind that the feathers on the breast form a straight line when aligning this shot, it should be easier to aim. By shooting the turkey here, you’ll probably pierce its heart or lungs, which will also cause it to die quickly and humanely.
Where To Aim At A Turkey With A Bow
You need to take the right aim before you can fire a shot. Aiming at a turkey can be challenging because they move around a lot. To make a humane kill, it is crucial to know where to aim your bow when shooting a turkey.
For a humane kill, you must have to keep practicing and for that good reason, the best crossbow target will become a handy tool.
The Back
The back of a turkey is the best place to shoot at when it is standing straight and facing you. However, it is not a good idea to try to take a shot when the bird is either feeding or walking.
This is especially true when it walks with its head lowered. You can make an effort to catch its attention and aim for the back’s center. The bird’s spine will be severed and rendered immobile by a well-placed shot to this area.
Below The Neck
It is never a good idea to aim at a turkey that is facing your direction. The turkey has its eyes fixed on you when it is in this position, which explains why.
Aim four inches below the base of the neck while the turkey is turning its head. It will break your back and damage your vital organs if you get shot here.
Broadside
It’s crucial to keep the vitals in mind when you’re aiming your bow at a turkey’s broadside. As stated earlier, the general rule of thumb is to aim at the last wing joint.
Draw a fictitious vertical line in front of the bird’s legs to help you aim correctly. Where the line meets the wing joint is where you want to aim. Use the best bow stabilizer for accuracy to get a perfect shot.
After You Release The Arrow
After your shot is one of the most crucial pieces of advice I can give you. Avoid the urge to chase after your bird, whether you get a passthrough or it appears unharmed after being hit by your arrow.
Try to calm down the birds by sitting firmly and calling softly. The injured bird won’t usually travel far, so you’ll probably find him close to where you last saw him.
There is a good chance that the bird will make it to the next county before you give chase by sprinting out of the blind. Just sit and wait for your bird to pass away with the same patience you used to get your shot.
Give a turkey the same amount of time you would any big game animal.