Where to shoot a turkey with a crossbow

Table of Contents Show

Where is the best place to shoot a turkey?
Is 50 yards to far for a crossbow?
What is the best time to turkey hunt?

Crossbow hunting for wild turkeys is exciting, challenging, and rewarding. Each spring, many turkeys are shot with crossbow bolts, but some are never recovered. In most cases, poor shot placement is to blame, as a gobbler’s feathers hide the outline of the turkey’s body while it is in full strut, making it difficult for the crossbow hunter to determine exactly where the vital organs are located.

Knowing where to shoot a turkey with a hunting crossbow is critical — as proper bolt placement can make or break your chances of harvesting the bird. A turkey’s vitals are only about the size of a softball — much smaller than the basketball-like size of a deer’s vitals. Since the area that you need to hit is small, you need to know exactly how to select the ideal spot for your shot and that you can hit that spot accurately, with little margin for error.

The graphics below show the proper shot placement on wild turkeys from different angles that you will encounter in the field – quartering to you, facing you, broadside, and facing away from you.

Quartering

If a turkey is quartering to you when it is coming in, identify where the neck meets the body and aim about an inch low of that spot, while also aiming a couple of inches into the turkey’s body from the front of the breast.

Facing You

If a turkey is facing you when it presents you with a shot, identify where the neck meets the body and aim about an inch below it, or midway between the neckline and beard.

Broadside

If a turkey is positioned broadside or sideways to you, aim about an inch down from the neckline and a few inches into the turkey’s body.

Facing Away

If a turkey is facing directly away from you, yes, you guessed it – shoot him “where the sun doesn’t shine”.

Where is the best place to shoot a turkey?

The most effective firearm shot for a turkey is to the head and neck. The preferred shot angle for bowhunters is broadside, aiming for the heart or lungs.

Is 50 yards to far for a crossbow?

If your crossbow has the Multi-Line Scope, it has a sighting line that allows you to shoot your crossbow out to 50-yards. From a hunting standpoint, we do not recommend shooting your crossbow at distances further than 50-yards.

What is the best time to turkey hunt?

Time of Day: Since Turkeys make their nest in trees and on the ground in wooded areas, one of the best times of day to hunt is first thing in the morning. Get out to your blind early and listen for the yelps, cackles, and gobbles of turkeys as they start in search for breakfast.