Spring turkey hunting with archery gear requires precision shooting and knowing exactly where to place your arrow on a turkey’s body. Their vital organs are small, so shot placement is critical for a clean, ethical harvest. This guide covers the best aiming points and shot angles for quickly killing a turkey with a bow.
Overview of Turkey Vitals
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Turkeys have a small vital area about the size of a softball.
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The vitals contain the heart and lungs.
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They sit higher in the body than on other game animals.
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Precise shot placement is key with archery equipment.
Shooting Angles and Aiming Points
Facing Towards You Aim at the base of the neck, about 4 inches below This will break the spine and hit vitals
Facing Away Aim at the back centered on the spine between the wings Called a “spine shot”, it immobilizes the bird
Broadside Aim high at the wing butt’s connection to the body where arrows can break wings and pierce vitals.
Quartering Towards: Visualize lines from beard base to offside leg. Aim at the intersection. Hits spine or vitals.
Quartering Away: Aim at the “vent” area at the base of the fanned tail. Penetrates to the vitals.
Strutting: Aim at dark feather triangles or right below base of beard. Look for openings in fanned feathers.
Head-on: Aim at the neck right above the beard. Dropping slightly hits vitals as backup.
Detailed Breakdown of Shot Angles
1. Facing Towards You
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Aim at 4 inches below the base of the neck.
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Breaks the spine and penetrates to the vitals.
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Works well when bird lifts head erect while feeding.
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Precision accuracy required as all or nothing shot.
2. Facing Directly Away
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Aim centered on the spine between the wings.
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Called a “spine shot”, it immobilizes the bird.
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Works when turkey is standing erect, back is fully visible.
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Hitting anywhere in this area damages spine or vitals.
3. Broadside
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Aim high at the wing butt’s connection to the body.
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Arrows break wings and pierce vitals from this angle.
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Visualize a line from tip of beard to base of tail.
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Intersection with wing butt is aiming point.
4. Quartering Towards
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Visualize lines from base of beard to offside leg.
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Aim at the intersection of these lines.
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Misses high will likely hit spine.
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Strutting birds: Aim at lower neck underneath feathers.
5. Quartering Away
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Aim at the “vent” area at base of the fanned tail.
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Penetrates to the vitals from this rear angle.
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Can sneak shots when tom fans out strutting.
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Ensure adequate arrow penetration.
6. Head-On
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Aim at the neck right above the base of the beard.
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Slightly low hits still reach vitals.
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Works well when bird approaches decoy head-on.
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Best at close range when bird is stationary.
7. Strutting
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Aim at dark feather triangles or below base of beard.
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Pick openings through fanned feathers.
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Patiently wait for high percentage shot angles.
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Avoid shooting through obstructed vital areas.
Archery Setup and Gear For Turkey Shots
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Use broadheads with wide 2-inch cutting diameter. They allow some margin of error.
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Employ a properly sighted-in compound bow or crossbow suited for short range shots.
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Mathews, PSE, Parker, TenPoint all offer specialized turkey hunting rigs.
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Hunt from ground blinds to conceal movement for drawing bow.
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Utilize lifelike turkey decoys to engage and distract toms while you shoot.
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Practice extensively with chosen broadheads and bow setup on 3D targets.
Key Takeaways For Where To Shoot A Turkey With Bow
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Know turkey anatomy – small vital area sits higher than other game.
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Each angle offers effective aiming points from spine to vitals.
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Avoid obstructed shots through fanned feathers when strutting.
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Use ground blinds and realistic decoys to set up good shot opportunities.
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Practice extensively with chosen archery equipment and broadheads.
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Be patient for high percentage shot angles as birds approaches.
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Precision shot placement is absolutely critical.
Where to Shoot a Turkey With a Bow: Head-On
For this shot, aim dead-center, just above the beard. John Hafner Photography
This is my favorite shot of all because itâs 100 percent lethal, and the beard gives you a precise aiming point whether the bird is in full strut or not. Itâs a common angle in the field, too. Often a tom will approach a gobbler decoy
from behind and walk up alongside the imposter, giving you a perfect head-on shot. Also, 90 percent of your shots will be frontal if you use a bow-mounted decoy.Â
While at full draw, find the beard and settle your pin about an inch above it. If youâre a little high, you hit the neck, which is fatal; if youâre a little low, you cut through the beard and drive the arrow through the vitals.
Where to Shoot a Turkey With a Bow: Facing Away
The old âTexas heart shotâ is lethal on a gobbler. Just take your time. John Hafner Photography
Some bowhunters prefer this shot to all the others, and it is indeed very lethal. The only reason it comes last on my list is because thereâs a tendency to rush this shot. When a bird is walking away, you can get the sense that your opportunity is disappearing, and that you have to shoot fast.
That said, if you decide the shot is for you, shoot at the base of the fan, at the vent. Like the âTexas heart shotâ on deer, your projectile will drive through the bird and reach the vitals for a quick kill.Â
Shot Placement on Turkeys With a Bow | Shoot the Shiny Spot! | No More Losing Turkeys
Where to shoot a Turkey with bow?
Where to shoot a turkey with bow, however, is more complicated. 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 on what angle the gobbler is facing. But don’t worry.
How do you shoot a Turkey?
A turkey’s vitals region is about the size of a softball, so you want to make sure you are shooting tight arrow groups before hitting the field. The old “Texas heart shot” is a great opportunity if the turkey is walking away in full strut. Draw back your bow (his fan will block his ability to see you) and aim for the vent (base of the tail/anus).
How do you shoot a broadside Turkey?
Understanding the location of this area is the key for proper shot placement. The vitals in a turkey are high in the body cavity. A good rule of thumb on a broadside turkey is to aim straight up the leg at the wing crease. For a more precise and visual example check out the video below. Proper Shot Placement For BOWHUNTING Turkeys!
What is the best shot placement for a turkey hunter?
If you’re looking to be a successful turkey hunter, your best shot placement for bows and crossbows is the heart and lungs. Some turkey hunters prefer going for the neck and spine for quick kills, but it’s harder to make those shots successfully, especially with a strutting tom. 1. Broadside Shots