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 turkeys with a crossbow can be thrilling, but proper shot placement is critical. A turkey’s small vital organs make clean kills challenging Read this guide to learn where to shoot a turkey for an effective, ethical harvest.
Understand Turkey Anatomy
Before drawing your crossbow on a turkey, you must know their anatomy. A turkey’s vital organs are compact, about the size of a softball, and sit higher in the body than other game birds. The precise location shifts based on the bird’s posture. Their thick feathers conceal the outline of vital areas while strutting.
Key organs are the heart and lungs Hitting these or the spine will cause massive trauma and a quick death Avoid gut or wing shots which lead to crippling loss, Spend time studying diagrams of turkey anatomy and 3D targets at the range before going afield,
Shooting Angles and Shot Placement
Different shot angles require carefully planned points of aim Here are vital crossbow shot placements as a turkey approaches
Quartering Toward You
- Aim 1 inch below the neck/body joint, penetrating 2-3 inches into the chest cavity. This should hit the heart.
Facing You
- Aim 1 inch below the neck/body joint in the center of the chest. Penetrate the vitals between the beard and neck.
Broadside
- Aim 1 inch below the neckline toward the back third of the body to puncture the heart and lungs.
Facing Away
- Aim at the back just above the tail feathers to hit the spine and vitals from behind.
Head-On
- Aim at the center of the head for the most direct brain or spine shot. Require extreme accuracy.
Pick the Best Crossbow Broadheads
Crossbow broadheads need to deeply penetrate a turkey’s dense breast feathers and bones. Mechanical broadheads open wider to inflict maximum damage to vitals. Wide fixed-blade broadheads also work well. Consider these factors:
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Cutting diameter – min. 1.5 inches for mechanicals
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Blade sharpness – razors for smooth slicing
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Ferrule alignment – ensures straight flight
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Integrated practice tip – for shooting targets
Test broadhead accuracy before hunting season. Ensure your field points and broadheads hit the same point of impact.
Calling In and Decoying Toms
Two tactics that set up prime shot opportunities are calling aggressively and deploying decoys. Mimic excited hen calls like loud yelps, clucks, and purrs to pique a tom’s interest. Add realism by pairing calling with life-like hen or jake decoys. Toms strutting toward decoys often present broadside or facing-away shots.
Position decoys 15-20 yards in front of your ground blind or treestand to draw the turkey within crossbow range. Remain motionless when he approaches. Have your crossbow rested and ready to lift and shoot when the turkey steps into an opening.
Steady Your Shot
Given their compact kill zone, an accurate shot on a turkey is imperative. Avoid taking risky shots at extreme distances or when the turkey is partially obstructed. Wait for the ideal moment when the turkey is stationary and close by. Use a shooting stick or rest your crossbow on a solid surface to steady it. Control your breathing as you line up the shot. Focus on your aiming point and smoothly squeeze the trigger.
If you wound or miss the turkey, do not take desperate follow-up shots which could cripple it. Instead, wait patiently to reestablish the turkey’s position. With preparation and practice, you will gain confidence making clean kill shots on spring gobblers.
Field Dressing and Processing
Once the turkey is down, immediately tag it if required in your state. To field dress, first pluck the breast feathers. Carefully cut around the anus without nicking intestines. Make an incision up the belly starting at the anus towards the next cavity. Remove the entrails and detach the crop and windpipe from the neck. Rinse blood from the chest cavity. The turkey can now be transported from the field and later cleaned fully.
Safety and Regulations
Obey all regulations governing turkey hunting. Laws differ regarding required licenses, season dates, shooting hours, bag limits, and legal weapons. Most states mandate crossbow hunters use broadheads. Know your crossbow’s effective shooting range. Positively identify your target before shooting. Also wear hunter orange for visibility.
With sound preparation and shot placement, you can have an ethical, rewarding wild turkey hunt. Let us know if you have any other tips for the perfect shot on a spring longbeard. Wishing you a successful season in the turkey woods!
Where To Shoot a Turkey With a Crossbow
All types of turkeys have small vitals in proportion to the outline of their feathered bodies. A favorite crossbow shot of mine is when a tom is standing erect, feathers tucked in tight to the body, head extended, facing straight away. This exposes the entire spine. The lungs are situated in the middle of the body between the wings. Place a broadhead here and you’ll get your bird every time, because not only are you hitting vitals, but you’re also severing the spine, meaning your bird will drop on the spot.
Another solid crossbow shot is when a tom is in full strut and facing away. Place a bolt where all the tail feathers converge; this will drive the broadhead through the vitals.
When a tom is in full strut and facing you, put the broadhead where the base of the neck meets the feathers. This shot can break the neck and continue passing through the bird, hitting the vitals.
If a tom is standing upright and facing you with feathers tucked in, place the bolt where the beard comes out of the body. This will ensure an upper-heart and lower-lung shot, and if centered, it will sever the spine. Make sure the bird is steady and calm for this shot.
A good shot when a bird is standing upright, broadside, feathers tucked in, is to follow the legs straight up the body, placing the broadhead in the center of the bird’s body. This will ensure a heart shot.
Another good shot is when a tom is in full strut and standing broadside. This is a deceiving angle since the bird’s feathers are puffed up, its head is retracted, and the tail is fully fanned. Here, draw an imaginary line connecting the base of the neck to the base of the tail. Next, come straight up from the legs. Where the legs bisect the horizontal line drawn between the neck and the tail, and right in the middle of the body, that’s your sweet spot. Hit this “T” intersection and you’ll find an open triangle leading to the heart. If the bolt flies a bit high, it will hit the lungs and the spine.
By knowing turkey behavior and anatomy, the odds of tagging one with a crossbow are greatly increased. Equip your setup with a stable shooting aid, know precisely where the bolts hit, keep movement to a minimum, and you’re on the way to experiencing just how thrilling crossbow hunting for turkeys can be.
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.
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.