Since I started turkey hunting roughly 20 years ago we have seen tremendous advancements in the equipment we use to harvest these birds. From the latest inertia driven shotguns, to red dots and reflex sights, and even more recent TSS ammo. While all of these advancements improve our chances of harvesting a tom, shot placement is still crucial for clean and quick kill. So, if your wondering where to shoot a turkey fear not. This in depth guide aims to answer this question, no matter the type of shooting equipment you plan to head to the woods with this spring.
Where to Shoot a Turkey: Shotgun
The majority of turkey hunters will tell you, “Just aim for the tom’s head”, while hunting wild turkeys with a shotgun. While this statement is correct, I believe that this is an oversimplification and should be explained in more detail, especially to new turkey hunters.
When explaining where to shoot a turkey with a shotgun its important to understand the anatomy of the bird’s head and neck. The kill zone of this region is the spinal cord that leads up through the turkeys neck and into the head where the brain is located.
As far as proper shot placement, I have found the most success aiming at the base of the turkeys neck where it meets the birds thick feathers. “Where the bubbles are” as my nephew likes to say. The wild turkey is constantly bobbing and moving his head but the area at the base of the neck stays stationary, providing an easier target.
By aiming at the major caruncle “bubbles” at the base of the turkeys neck you reduce the risk of shooting over the bird if you are using a bead sight and don’t have your head properly down on the gun. This aim point also allows you a little more room for error when taking close range shots when your shotgun pattern is about the size of a tennis ball.
Tips to Shoot a Turkey with a Shotgun
Over the last 20 turkey seasons I have been fortunate to harvest quite a few gobblers. But not all of my turkey encounters went as planned. Like anyone else, I’ve had my fair share of misses. Like the old saying goes, “If you haven’t missed a turkey, odds are you haven’t shot at many of them.”
While the moment after a miss can be down right frustrating, they can also be learning experiences. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years that will hopefully have you walking back to the truck with a tom over your shoulder and not walking back empty handed.
Avoid Shooting a Strutting Tom
While a strutting tom might seem like an easy target due to the decreased head movement while a bird is strutting, I would advise against it for a couple of reasons.
A strutting toms head is a smaller target than that of a bird with his head and neck outstretched.
Increases risk of your shotgun pellets hitting the breast meat.
It’ll be difficult to stay a great picture after you’ve taken a lot of his feathers out with your pattern.
If you have a gobbler in range but he is in full strut, use your mouth call to make a few sharp cutts. This will normally get the bird to break strut and the turkey’s head into the optimal upright position for a shot.
Check Your Shotgun’s Pattern
You can know exactly where to shoot a turkey but if you haven’t taken the time to pattern your gun, you are putting yourself at a huge disadvantage. By taking the time to pattern your shotgun with the exact load and choke combination you accomplish the following.
Ensure your point of aim and point of impact are the same. If your shot off, make adjustments to your sights or red dot so that you are hitting where you want. This could be the difference between a miss or hitting the turkey square. You could be just an inch off at 10 yards but at 40 yards that inch is exaggerated.
Patterning your turkey gun also allows you to determine your maximum effective range. This is the max distance you should attempt to shoot a turkey hunting. Your max range can be determined by the number of hits inside a 10″ circle. Any distance with less that 100 hits inside the circle is to far.
Note: Even with todays advances chokes and ammunition, shots past 40-50 yards are not optimal and could risk wounding the bird.
Staying Calm and Patience
Theirs nothing like hearing the gobble of a spring gobbler as they strut into gun range. Even while your heart is racing and your shaking from all the excitement stay calm and patience for the optimal shot. Don’t rush, settle your sight at the base of the birds head and neck, and slowly squeeze the trigger.
Trust me, I’ve missed to many turkeys just because I rushed my shot. Slow down, take your time, and more than likely the gobbler will give you an optimal shot.
Offhand Shooting Proficiency
Be prepared for a scenario where a bird approaches unexpectedly, requiring you to shoot without bracing your shotgun on your knee. Practice shooting freehand to swiftly and accurately align your aim with a turkey’s neck without startling it.
Where to Shoot a Turkey with a Bow
While the majority of spring turkey hunters prefer to head to the woods with a shotgun but bowhunting turkeys can be great for those hunting in urban areas or just looking for a challenge. For those who plan hunt turkey with a bow, shot placement is just as critical if not more than with a shotgun.
Targeting the Turkey’s Head and Upper Neck
While difficult, head shots are still a possibility while hunting turkey with a bow. Generally those who plan to take this approach to arrow a gobbler use special broadheads that have a large cutting diameter and are specifically designed for head shots.
Attempting to shoot a turkey with a bow in the head or neck requires the bird to be extremely close and for your shooting to be extremely precise. When done correctly, this shot can produce the cleanest kill when turkey hunting with archery equipment.
Heart, Lung, and Spine Shot Placement
For archers looking to harvest a tom with a well placed arrow to the heart or lungs, they should have a good understanding of where to aim based on the following positions of the turkey. The shot placement will also vary based on if the tom is strutting or not.
Broadside
Quartering To
Straight On
Facing Away
Broadside Shot
For a bird that is not in strut and standing broadside the heart and lungs are located just behind where the wing joint connects to the turkeys body.
If the gobbler is strutting the aiming point if the same as before but may be difficult to see. As a general rule of thumb, follow the birds legs up his body to the patch of feathers that form a dark triangle shape. This is where you will find the turkeys heart and lungs.
Quartering To
If the bird is standing tall, find the point where a vertical line following the far leg and a horizontal line from the base of the beard intersect.
For the strutting bird that is quartering to, move the vertical line forward a couple inches towards the turkeys head and the horizontal line a couple inches under the birds head instead of the base of the beard. The intersection of these two lines is where to shoot.
Straight On
For both strutting and non-strutting turkeys that are straight on, aim a couple inches above the base of the turkeys beard.
Facing Away
To make the facing away shot on a bird that is not in full strut, aim for the center of the back. This will put your arrow through the turkeys spine and lungs.
If the bird is in full strut and facing away, aim for the area at the base of the tail fan near the “vent”. This is an extremely effective shot due to the high probabilty of your arrow hitting the birds spine.
Final Thoughts on Where to Shoot a Turkey
No matter what type of shooting equipment you plan to take to the woods for your next hunt, its important for us as hunters to always strive for a quick clean kill with one shot. By understanding where to shoot a turkey and proper preparation in the off season, your well on your way to a successful hunt.
