Turkey Anatomy and Shot Placement

[Duckbutt]

Great great thread.  Like someone mentioned, it is haaaaard to get yourself to shot back and high on an animal but your pics really hammer that point home.

Thanks!

[varmint101]

When Guru talks about turkeys I listen!!

Last year I made the mistake on a jake quartering away in a half strut.  Aimed too far forward and just scraped the breast and took off a few feathers.  Didn't take into account jakes are smaller and he was in half strut too.  Very sad lol.

[twigflicker]

Good stuff Guru...

Killed my first bird without a string tracker... a whopping 3.5 yard shot...

used one on every one since and it sure makes a difference... turkeys can be hard to find if they make it to cover...

Jonathan

[sj_lutz]

This thread is getting bookmarked...

Thanks for putting this together Curt!

[sj_lutz]

This thread is getting bookmarked...

Thanks for putting this together Curt!

[Guru]

Originally posted by JimB:
Great thread Curt and an important one.

Do you use Snuffers? What do you think of the Big Jim 3 blade for turkeys?

I do use Snuffers Jim...this year I'm going with the VPA 1 1/4" solids. The Big Jim head will be awesome one turkeys!  I really preferr multi blades, and as long as they well, nice big one's too!

[Guru]

Someone asked about string trackers...here's a how to I did a while back based on an article I wrote for TBM...

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000094

[glenbo]

Thanks for the much needed info.Great pictures as well.

[Guru]

This is a bird that came in with a companion..shot was about 10yds, dead broadside.

Arrow hit a little further back than I wanted, but still high.  At the shot he dropped with incapacitated legs, and managed to get about 20yds. away using his wings.

His partner hung around for a little while trying to figure out the decoy...
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Arrow entered high into the thigh, through the entrails and hip/spine, and out the other side same as it went in...
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Without the skin...
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This shot worked just fine as the turkey wasn't going anywhere. But by the time his partner left five minutes later, I looked behind the blind and he was still alive. The bh had done a good job anchoring him, but since the shot was further back, through the intestines, it wasn't a shot that killed him quickly...
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You can see the liver, lungs, nor heart were touched by hitting too far back...
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This is a good shot, and I suppose if I'd broken his leg bone/s, I probably would have hit at least one femoral, and he'd have died quickly. But that didn't happen on this shot.

If I'd have hit just an inch or 2 further forward, it would have been over in seconds.

More tomorrow...

[meathead]

Very useful info.  Thanks.

[swifty99]

Great information, very helpful. Thank you.

[JimB]

Thanks Curt.I've never hunted turkeys or shot one.Great information.Shooting deer doesn't prepare you for this.

[Bowspirit]

A good read, and a great eye opener. I'll be reading and rereading this as the season comes closer...

[Slinging 24/7]

I have shot a few birds in the past with my bow but until you really get to see this kind of in depth pictures it really puts where you want to hit one into perspective.

Thanks for this thread learned a lot!

[Gary Logsdon]

I try to wait until the bird throws his fan my way while addressing the decoy. That's when you send an arrow up the old anal opening.  The "Texas Heart Shot" is deadly on birds and makes it easier to PICK A SPOT!

[joebuck]

Curt's pic with his knife laying on the breast is the PIC! Gives a great shot view of NO NO Land ...the breast and how much room it takes up broadside.  for those interested in getting a copy of the turkey anatomy overlays, they are available from the National Bowhunter Education Foundation.  I think I paid 15 bucks or something several years ago.

[Tom Phillips]

Curt,
   Thanks for the informative post.

[Friend]

Each year, this question is posted and I also have this question PM'd or asked several times a year.

You have covered it far better than any of my explanations. Yes, this thread needs to remain in archives.

[Bighornangler]

Great thread. This is the best info on shot placement for turkeys with a bow that I have ever seen or read. Excellent. I thought I had a good idea about shot placement, but this really narrowed it down for me. I definately will be more aware of shot placement this spring.

[Rob DiStefano]

AWESOME, curt!  thank you!