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.
Hunting wild turkey with a crossbow can be an extremely rewarding experience But knowing exactly where to place your shot is critical to a clean, ethical harvest With their small vitals and feathered armor, turkeys demand precise shot placement. Follow these expert tips to master lethal crossbow shots on gobblers.
Overview of Turkey Anatomy
Before drawing a bead on a strutting tom, it’s essential to understand turkey anatomy. Their small vital organs are protected by a thick coat of feathers
Key features include:
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Head and Neck – Avoid neck shots as the spine is hard to sever. Aim below the head and neck.
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Vital Organs – Heart and lungs are about the size of a baseball, tucked behind wings. Liver sits lower in the body cavity.
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Feathers and Quills – Act as armor plating against bolts. Can deflect shots if improper placement.
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Legs and Wings – Large but not vital. Shots here wound but don’t kill.
Shot Placement by Angle
Where you aim depends on the turkey’s orientation to your shooting position. Let’s examine lethal targets from various angles.
Broadside
The broadside shot offers the largest target area. Aim about 1 inch down from the base of the neck. Penetrate the vitals just behind the wing.
Head-On
Aim right below the neck and beard. Bolt should drive through vitals and exit the back. Avoid the thick feathers of the upper chest.
Quartering-Away
Aim at the back of the wing, penetrating into the vitals below. Be sure of your range as the target is partially obscured.
Rear Shot
Aim for the back just ahead of the tail feathers to sever the spine and enter the vitals. Only shoot if the tail is fanned and vitals are exposed.
Lining Up the Ideal Shot
Here are some tips for getting a gobbler into the perfect position:
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Call aggressively with hen calls to turn the front of the bird toward you.
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Use a decoy to draw the turkey into an open shooting lane.
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If using a blind, open windows where you expect shots, and close those where the turkey could appear.
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Be patient and let the turkey fully extend before taking a broadside shot.
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Take high percentage shots to avoid wounding. Pass on marginal opportunities.
Common Shooting Mistakes
It’s easy to make errors when shooting at turkeys. Avoid these common pitfalls:
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Rushing the Shot – Patience is key. Let the bird present an ethical shot angle.
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Misjudging Range – Use a rangefinder. Guessing often leads to hitting low.
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Shooting at a Strutter – The fanned feathers obscure the vitals. Wait for a clear target.
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Poor Shot Placement – Take time to properly identify and aim for the vitals.
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Loose Groups – Practice until you can place tight bolt groups on target. Accuracy is paramount.
Best Crossbows for Turkeys
To achieve consistent shot placement, specialized turkey crossbows are ideal. Look for these attributes:
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Draw weight of 150 lbs or higher for knockdown power.
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Narrow axle-to-axle width for maneuverability in blinds and treestands.
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Damped limbs and string suppressors for a quiet shot.
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Camouflage finish to avoid spooking sharp-eyed birds.
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Red dot or precision reticle scopes for pinpoint accuracy.
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Arrows with cut-on-contact broadheads to pierce the vitals.
Range Time Is Essential
Don’t head to the woods until you’ve practiced repeatedly on 3D targets at various angles and distances. Be able to place every bolt within a 2-inch circle at normal turkey shooting ranges.
Strive to group your broadheads even tighter than field points. Repetition will build the muscle memory and confidence needed to make ethical kills.
Mastering Real-World Conditions
Practice duplicating actual hunting scenarios:
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Take shots from seated and kneeling positions.
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Shoot from inside ground blinds or treestands.
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Angle shots uphill and downhill.
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Draw and fire quietly in one smooth motion.
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Speed up your shot sequence as turkeys rarely hold still for long.
Pinpointing the Sweet Spot
Once you identify the turkey’s vitals, concentrate on hitting an area about the size of a baseball. This slight margin of error will account for bolt deflection off feathers and spine.
Visualize your goal as destroying the turkey’s boiler room to anchor the bird immediately. Follow through on every shot.
Confidence Through Preparation
There’s little room for error when archery hunting turkeys. But consistency in your gear, form, and mental approach will bring confidence.
Stick to the shots you’ve mastered during repetitive practice. Pass on low odds attempts. Do your homework and set up properly.
Stay focused on the vitals until your bolt hits home. Then enjoy the rewards of an expertly placed shot on a challenging spring gobbler.
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.
Know the Kill Zone
Shotgunners can easily hammer a gobbler that exposes his head — even through the brush — at 40 yards and well beyond with today’s latest turkey loads. But, a crossbow is limited to one projectile, not an entire swarm of projectiles. And while you can certainly go for a headshot, it will be difficult to hit unless the gobbler is strutting and standing stock-still with his head broadside and your crossbow is on a rock-solid rest. Thus, your main target is the body in most cases.
A turkey’s heart/lung kill zone is about the size of a baseball. Some folks aim for the tops of the drumsticks to immobilize the bird and cause it to bleed out quickly, but this requires aiming fairly low. Someone once said, “Hit ‘em low, watch ‘em go. Hit ‘em high, watch ‘em die.” While taking out the drumsticks is incredibly effective and deadly, accidentally hitting low and in front of the drumsticks puts you in a non-vital zone, and hitting behind the drumsticks will get only feathers or maybe the butt and some intestines. With broadhead-tipped arrows and bolts, I largely prefer aiming for the heart/lung kill zone because it’s easier to identify and yields fast results.
As far as placement relative to angles, here’s the lowdown. On a facing bird, hit dead center between the base of the neck and the beard and he’s yours. On a broadside bird, I aim for the upper third just behind the wing butt. This is the location of the heart and lungs. On a strutting bird facing straight away, I aim where the tail feather quills converge. If the bird is upright (not strutting) and facing away, I aim for the middle of the back. On a quartering-toward angle, I aim between the wing butt and the base of the neck. Quartering away is a deadly angle, but it’s also an easy shot to mess up, the common mistake being a hit that’s too far forward and slices only through the breast. Make sure to aim far enough back that your arrow goes through the center of the bird.
Crossbow Turkey Hunting Considerations
FAQ
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