The Head Shot

Turkey season is here and many hunters will head to the woods this spring with a bow in their hand. Bowhunters who really want a challenge should consider trying to kill a turkey by shooting it in the head. Shooting a turkey in the head when hunting with a shotgun is extremely common. Most bowhunters, on the other hand, shoot turkeys in the body when bowhunting. There are a few reasons bowhunters should consider a head shot when bowhunting turkeys. 

Joel Maxfield from Mathews Archery prefers shooting turkeys in the head largely because if he hits the bird in the head with a broadhead-tipped arrow, the odds of the bird dying are about 100%. “Turkeys are notorious for running away after being shot with a bow and never being seen again. When they are shot in the head, they drop like a pile of rocks and the hunt is typically over,” Maxfield noted.

The problem with shooting a turkey in the head is it can be extremely difficult. The head of a turkey is small and it never stops moving. “Bowhunters who want to shoot a turkey in the head should be practicing a lot and be shooting a broadhead that is extremely accurate. A turkey's head is only about the size of a pop can.” Maxfield said. “There are many different broadheads on the market designed for shooting a turkey in the head. I prefer using a mechanical head designed for deer hunting because a mechanical head is extremely accurate. Accuracy is the most important thing to me as a bowhunter," Maxfield added.  Rage Broadheads, Grim Reaper Broadheads, and New Archery Products make some great mechanical broadheads that offer a large cutting diameter which is perfect for turkey hunting. 

There are a few things bowhunters should do if they want to take a head shot when turkey hunting to increase the likelihood of killing a bird. Placing decoys at 10-15 yards is a must so the shot is nice and close. Another thing bowhunters can do is do an alarm putt on their call right before they shoot the bird. This causes the tom to stop moving and throw their head up in the air to see what is wrong. When they do this, they elongate their neck, giving the hunter a larger target to shoot at. Shooting a strutting bird is also a great option. A strutting bird that is approaching decoys also offers a great shot. 

In either case, shooting for the middle of the neck of the bird is best because it gives hunters a little wiggle room. If they hit a little high, they will hit the top of the head.  If they hit a little low, they will hit the base of the neck. In either case, the bird will die instantly. 

When putting out decoys, bowhunters should make sure a Jake decoy is facing the hunter. This causes the approaching tom to come in broadside and then face off with the decoy. This distracts the tom and his eyes will be facing away from the hunter, giving the hunter a great opportunity to draw their bow and get a shot.

Shooting a turkey in the head can be challenging but the blood trail is a short one if the shot is on the mark.