Where to Shoot a Turkey With a Bow and Arrow: The Complete Guide

As a bowhunter, knowing where to place your shot when hunting wild turkeys is critical Their vital organs are small and well protected by thick feathers and bones A misplaced arrow can lead to a wounded bird or a lost hunting opportunity.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about turkey anatomy and shot placement to ensure clean, ethical harvests.

Turkey Vital Organs – Small and Well Protected

A turkey’s vital organs are compact and sit high in the body, just below the wings. The vital area is only about the size of a softball.

This includes:

• Heart
• Lungs
• Liver
• Intestines

Thick feathers and bones protect the vital organs

• Dense breast feathers
• Wing bones shield the heart and lungs
• Hip bones protect the liver and intestines

Detailed Shot Placement Guidance

Different shot angles require proper positioning to hit the vitals. Follow this advice to make the most lethal shots:

Broadside

The broadside position presents the largest vital target.

• Aim at the front of the wing butt, which sits high on the side of the body. This overlaps the heart and lungs.

• Avoid the thick feathers of the breast and the shielding wings.

Quartering-Away

Quartering-away requires precision aim at a smaller target.

• Visualize an imaginary line from the base of the beard to the far leg.

• Aim your arrow just above this line, in line with the near leg. This should enter the heart or lungs.

Head-On

Head-on shots allow you to use the beard as an aiming point.

• Aim at the base of the beard where it meets the chest. An inch low still hits vitals.

• Avoid aiming too high at the head and neck area. Misses often glance off.

Rear End

The rear end “Texas heart shot” can sever the spine or hit vitals.

• Aim at the vent area at the base of the tail.

• Penetrating fixed-blade broadheads work best.

Strutting Positions

When strutting, aim at the dark feathers:

• The “dark triangle” formed by the feathers on the chest.

• The dark borders where the neck and body feathers meet.

Broadhead Types for Turkeys

Mechanical broadheads with 2-inch cutting diameters perform best on turkeys.

• The wide cutting blades create massive trauma.

• Mechanicals fly better at longer distances than fixed blades.

Avoid large fixed-blade broadheads designed for bigger game.

• Poor flight characteristics lead to inaccurate shots.

• Excessive penetration reduces damage to vitals.

Practicing Turkey Shot Placement

Practice is crucial for effective shot placement on real birds. Follow these tips:

• Use archery targets designed with turkey vital anatomy.

• Practice from realistic hunting positions and shot angles.

• Focus on accuracy at short ranges under 30 yards.

• If possible, practice with broadheads you will use for hunting.

• Visualize aiming points and proper shot placement as you draw and anchor.

With knowledge of turkey anatomy and vital areas, repeated practice of proper shot placement will prepare you to make perfect shots when a gobbler presents the opportunity.

Do your part to ensure cleanly harvested birds and ethical hunting experiences. Confident shot execution leads to more tagging success and happier hunts.

Summary of Key Points

• Aim for the small vital organs shielded by bones and feathers

• Each shot angle has optimal aiming points

• Mechanical broadheads create massive damage

• Practice repeatedly from hunting scenarios

• Knowing proper shot placement ensures clean harvests

By mastering where to place your shots on a turkey’s body, you will become a highly effective bowhunter. Apply this bow and arrow marksmanship to the spring woods, and you’ll be rewarded with exciting hunts and full freezers.

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