With my cheek firmly placed on the stock, I waited patiently for the tom to turn. When the longbeard pirouetted and faced the decoy, I held the crosshairs steady and gently squeezed the trigger.
The bolt was quickly on its way, hitting the vitals of the strutting tom. Soon, I was strapping a tag to the leg of the striking, Merriam’s turkey. It was my first time turkey hunting with a crossbow, and I was hooked.
I live in Oregon, where turkey hunting with a crossbow is prohibited. (Hopefully, that will change one day.) So, I traveled to Wyoming to experience the thrills of chasing spring thunder chickens with my crossbow. I’d taken dozens of turkeys with my compound bow and more than that with a shotgun in my more than 35 years of turkey hunting. I was ready for something new.
Turkey hunting with a crossbow is a fun challenge. It’s a great transition for those looking for a change from pursuing them with a shotgun, but it’s more forgiving than hunting them with a vertical bow. Here are five tips that I quickly learned that will help you tag a turkey with a crossbow.
You don’t have to be a world-class caller to coax a turkey to within crossbow range, but you do want to call effectively and with confidence. If you can master yelps, clucks and purrs, you’re set. Calling a tom within crossbow range is ideal, versus trying to pull off a spot-and-stalk hunt where movement is unavoidable. Turkeys see in color and have vision equivalent to 8x binoculars, so they don’t miss much.
Practice the basic & best turkey calls and be able to make them with a box and/or slate call. Being able to make yelps and purrs with a diaphragm call will greatly help as it frees both hands and greatly minimizes movement.
Box calls and slates produce volume, which is great for capturing the attention of birds in the distance and drawing them in close. But as turkeys get near, hunters must be stone still. This means no hand movement for call operation.
If you can see a turkey, it can see you, and any movement will get you busted. Having a diaphragm call in your mouth will allow hands-free operation, allowing you to pull turkeys within shooting range or stop them for the perfect shot angle if they are moving around.
Decoys will also help attract toms and keep their attention diverted so you can take a shot at a calm bird. Placing a hen decoy 10 to 15 yards in front of you is a good distance when setting up to hunt with a crossbow. If hunting from a ground blind, placing the decoy five yards from your shooting window is not too close.
While turkeys have powerful vision, it is monocular because their eyes are set far apart on the sides of their heads. This means they have poor depth perception. That
explains why they may closely approach hunters and ground blinds as long as all is still and there are no sudden movements or sounds. So, if you are hunting from a popup ground blind, make sure all windows are closed except for the one you’ll be shooting out. Also, check to be sure there are no loose parts to potentially flap in the wind because such movement will spook turkeys.
If you desire a broadside shot on a tom, situate the hen decoy facing broadside to your shooting position because a tom will usually move in front of it to make sure he’s being seen. If you want a straight-on shot, place the decoy facing away. Upon seeing a hen decoy, toms will often strut around it, trying to get in front of it so she can see him. This is where stopping the turkey for the shot precisely where you want it is easy to do with a diaphragm call.
The beauty of turkey hunting with a crossbow comes in the form of mobility. With a vertical bow it is extremely difficult to hunt from the ground without a blind because any movement will spook a turkey. If you try reaching full draw with a vertical bow, with a tom in sight, the gig is up fast.
But with a crossbow that is bolted in place and cocked, movement is minimal, just as it is when you’re hunting them with a shotgun. Shooting off a sturdy monopod or bipod is a big help. This ensures no movement as the bird approaches. At the very least, sit so you can rest the crossbow on your knee, but be mindful not to get any fingers or clothes above the rail, where the string will hit it. Before the tom pops into view, have the crossbow steadied on the rest and aimed at the decoy. You may be in this position anywhere from a couple of minutes to more than an hour, so get comfortable with a cushioned seat.
When a tom comes into sight, don’t move, even if it is hundreds of yards away. The only movements you’ll want to make when a tom is in sight are moving the safety to the off position and pulling the trigger. Be sure to wear camouflaged gloves and a face mask and practice shooting in all your gear before the hunt. When it comes time to take a shot, you should know how all the moving parts operate and not be distracted worrying about the operation of your crossbow.
Because crossbows shoot so fast, fixed broadheads are often preferred over expandables for turkey hunting. A bolt can pass so swiftly through a tom and with so much kinetic energy that the expandable may not open. It’s better to have a big wound channel than a tiny one.
Be sure to practice shooting your broadhead so you know exactly where it hits. Since turkeys are nervous by nature, they flinch at the slightest movement and instantaneous noises. This is why you want turkeys close when shooting them with a crossbow.
Crossbow hunting for turkeys can be an extremely rewarding experience. However, improper shot placement results in many wounded or lost birds each spring Unlike deer, a turkey’s vitals are only the size of a softball – leaving little room for error Knowing exactly where to place your shot is critical to a clean, ethical harvest. This comprehensive guide covers the optimal shot placement on turkeys from every angle.
Turkey Anatomy and Shot Placement Philosophy
Before discussing specific shot angles, it helps to understand a turkey’s anatomy A turkey’s vitals sit higher in the body than many hunters realize The heart and lungs lay right beneath the wing butts as they attach to the body.
Many advocate for a head or neck shot on turkeys. However, their movements are often erratic, making precision shots to this small target difficult. The best philosophy is to stick to the vitals. A crossbow’s extra kinetic energy allows some leeway for shot angles compared to vertical bows. But you should still avoid extreme quartering shots where the bolt must pass through a turkey’s thick thigh bones.
Broadside Shot Placement
The broadside shot presents the largest vital target area Many hunters aim at the center of mass, often hitting low into the turkey’s body. For broadside shots, instead aim about 1-2 inches up from the center axis where the wing butts join the body This will drive your bolt through the vitals for a clean harvest.
[Image of broadside turkey anatomy]
Head-On Shot Placement
When facing you head-on, a turkey presents a smaller target. However, their vision is poor directly in front of their head. Aim about 1 inch below the spot where the neck meets the body. As with humans, a turkey’s spinal cord runs through the neck. A bolt placed here will either sever the spine or pass through the throat into the vitals.
[Image of head-on turkey anatomy]
Quartering-Away Shot Placement
As a turkey quarters away at an angle, it presents a clean shot opportunity. Draw an imaginary line from the base of the tail to the turkey’s eye. Then draw a second line from the point of the off-shoulder perpendicular through the body. Aim for the intersection of these two lines. The bolt will enter the vitals and exit near the far leg.
[Image of quartering-away anatomy]
Rear Shot Placement
The rear or “Texas heart shot” gives you the largest margin for error. With the turkey facing directly away, aim at the base of the tail feathers where they meet the body. A bolt through the vent will penetrate deep into the vitals. For turkeys in full strut, you can also aim for the spine at the base of the fan.
[Image of rear anatomy]
Quartering-Toward Shot Placement
As a turkey quarters toward you, shot placement becomes more difficult. The thick leg bones can easily deflect bolts. Avoid extreme quartering angles. But if presented, draw a line from the base of the beard to the far leg. Aim halfway up the body at the midpoint of this line. Penetrating the vitals requires precision, so only take this shot at close range.
[Image of quartering-toward anatomy]
Head-Down Feeding Shot Placement
Feeding turkeys often present head-down broadside or quartering away shots. Use the same aiming points described above. However, compensate for the lowered head position by aiming slightly higher up the body than normal. With the vitals lowered, this avoids deflecting off the shoulder blade.
[Image of head-down feeding anatomy]
Shot Placement Summary
The key to ethically harvesting turkeys is mastering shot angles and precision bolt placement. Follow these tips:
- Aim for the vitals, not the head/neck
- Broadside: Upper center of the body near wing butts
- Head-on: 1 inch below base of neck
- Quartering away: Intersection behind the wing
- Rear shots: Spine or base of the tail
- Quartering toward: Midpoint, avoid heavy bones
- Feeding head-down: Aim slightly higher than usual
Practice regularly at the range with your chosen broadheads. Place targets at various angles to mimic real shot opportunities. Familiarize yourself with your crossbow’s point of impact compared to your sight pins at different distances. With knowledge of turkey anatomy and mastery of your crossbow, you’ll be primed for harvesting your spring gobbler.
Get Aggressive and Move to Get On Birds
While hunting from ground blinds is advantageous in many instances, especially when hunting in fields that turkeys frequent throughout the day, you can run and gun with a crossbow much like you can with a shotgun. The ability to locate a bird, quickly cut the distance and then sit down and call can be deadly effective. A ground blind will only slow you down.
Unlike a shotgun, which can pound through the brush, you’ll obviously need a clear, unobstructed shot with a crossbow, which means you’ll need to plan your setups carefully. Shotgunners often ditch the decoys and make tight setups in which the gobbler has to enter within shotgun range in order to see where the calling is coming from. It will be tough to take a bird with a crossbow in a setup like this due to potential saplings and branches.
Always find a path with few to no obstructions and put your decoys there. This is easy in open hardwoods or pine plantations with minimal undergrowth and great visibility. It isn’t so easy in timber with lots of saplings. You’re trying to get the tom to reach a specific location where you’ll have a clear shot, so plan your setup and set your decoys in a little clearing, on a trail or logging road or some other unobstructed lane so that he’ll come to where you can get a clear shot.
Tips for Turkey Hunting with a Crossbow
I’ve heard people foolishly say of a crossbow, “It’s just like a gun.” In reality, the only two similarities are that you shoulder them and use a scope. Beyond that, the capabilities of a crossbow don’t nearly touch what firearms can do. And even though today’s best crossbows can shoot wildly accurate, they aren’t invincible. In other words, the closer the better.
I’d suggest putting the decoys at 10-15 yards, which makes for an easy shot, just as long as you wait until the bird stops moving. Don’t place the decoys at 20-30 yards. While I don’t believe that 30 yards is an unethical distance, I simply see no reason to needlessly lengthen a shot. Plus, if you put the decoys at 15 yards and a gobbler hangs up 15 yards beyond them, you’ll still have a doable 30-yard shot so long as no obstructions are in the way.
Proper Shot Placement For BOWHUNTING Turkeys!
FAQ
Where should you shoot a turkey with a crossbow?
You can shoot at the head and neck or at the heart-and-lung vital area, which is about the size of a softball and requires different aiming points depending …
Is a crossbow good for turkey hunting?
It is widely accepted that portable ground blinds and crossbows are a great combination for hunting turkeys. It’s true, they are. But many hunts from elevated positions has also proven just as productive. And why not? Deer and turkeys reside and frequent many of the same habitats.
What is the best broadhead for turkey hunting with a crossbow?
- Best Overall: Rage X-treme Turkey Broadhead.
- Best Mechanical: New Archery Products Spitfire Gobbler Getter.
- Best Fixed-Blade: DirtNap Gear Shred Head.
- Best for Head and Neck Shots: Magnus Bullhead Turkey Fixed Blade.
- Best Crossbow: Grim Reaper Pro Series Crossbow Broadhead.
Where is the best place to aim on a turkey?
Aiming for the upper part of the head is a gamble as turkey heads are in constant motion. Most turkey target images mark the fourth cervical vertebrae from the top of the head as the ideal target. This is the area where the neck connects with the black feathers of the body.