What do turkeys do when you drop the string?

[Friend]

Fifteen yard and under game for me.

1. Had birds collapse
2. Hit a bird direct in the chest bone and he fell backwards with wings open and never kicked.
3. Had most birds jump and flop all with-in 5- 15 yards of the hit.
4. Had birds run a semi-circle then just drop.
5. Had one I recall took off in dead run as if I missed and then layed down after 50 yards.
6. Completely severerd a drum stick once and that flew off requiring another shot.
6. Don't care to recall a couple I hit that flew off with my arrow and never were retrieved.

Can't recall all their reactions, at present, but I am sure they have more surprises for me.

The key is quick immobilization.

Have their kill zone down until it is instinctive.

I take the very 1st shot that presents a defined prime target area once he breaks my self imposed 15 yard limit.

[GingivitisKahn]

Drop the string?  I have yet to get to full draw on one.  Heh - maybe this year.   :D

[Bjorn]

I hunt them on the ground so far all except one laughed, the remaining bird became 2 great meals.

[crotch horn]

Well until last spring they all laughed as they ran out of sight. The one last spring fell like a lead balloon from the sky dead as dead can be.

[piggy]

I shot one my first recently at 15 yards through the neck, he flapped about and went about 15 yards
and expired. A large bird of prey landed in the tree above, not sure if it would take my bird I waited a few moments watching before I made a mad dash to my bird before the bird of prey got to it.
Tasted great also.

[kevgsp]

On the ones I have shot there was zero reaction till the arrow hit them.  On was on film and I have looked in slow motion...no reaction.

Unless you hit them perfect, they will go, be prepared to get after them quick.

[dave19113]

Laugh as the arrow hisses over there head or die....when hit

[Bowwild]

I've shot at 6 turkeys .

1. Reacted after my arrow landed in the leaves behind them (pair of Jakes).

2. Same birds, looked behind them again and then moved away out of boredom.

3. Left neatly clipped back feathers on the ground and ran over the hill.

4. Same bird, 3.8 miles (topo map)3 days later. Jumped straight up about 6 feet, flopped about 15 yards and died. I didn't know it was turkey number 3 until my buddy wapiti97 noticed the clipped feathers -- cool!

5. Repeat of numbers 1 & 2 above -- different year, different birds, same disrespect.

6. Shot in the back at 11 yards. Bird leaped about 6-8 feet and glided about 50 yards never getting more than 15' from the ground, fell dead.

I've never had one "jump the string" or try to escape until too late or would have been too late if I hit my target.

I have never lost a bird except for the clipped feathers of bird #3 above. I am an extremely conservative shot, I haven't shot at enough birds, and I've been lucky. However, starting this year I'm going to become a head-shooter because of advice from a friend who has forgotten more about bowhunting turkeys than I'll ever know. I'll shoot 20-25 yards at deer. I want the turkey inside of 15, that wagging head isn't very big! But the Magnus bullhead will make it bigger!

My basement practice target is now a target used for patterning shotguns. It is supposed to simulate a 30-yard turkey.  I pile arrows on his neck and head at 13.

[Gehrke145]

90% of mine run 10 yards (give or take a few) and fall, or fold on impact.  I did have one bird take flight and crash into my double bull but thats the only bird that took off flying.