The head and neck area of a turkey is a prime target. Shotgunners know that a single pellet in the brain or spine will kill a turkey on the spot. A broadhead striking this region is equally devastating, yet some hunters have taken this shot further by using broadheads so large that they decapitate the gobbler. This effect is 100 percent lethal, yet is it ethical or practical?
First Experiments
I experimented with these large braodheads in preparation for a trip to Mexico for the Gould’s subspecies. I wondered how a sizeable 4-blade head would fly from a compound bow set at 60 pounds. I set up a turkey target on a hay bale and was pleased to learn that the arrows struck point-of-aim. The following day, I hunted from a blind as birds flew from a roost, but none came close enough for a shot. That evening, a large tom walked by a nearby fence line, and I downed it instantly when the gobbler extended its neck.
Ethical Concerns
When videos of turkeys being decapitated circulated on the internet, a backlash arose about the practice, and some states voted to ban large braodheads designed to decapitate a turkey. Hunter ethics dictate showing respect for an animal, and cutting off a bird’s head was a bridge too far for many lawmakers, and some states banned their use. Before using large cut-on-contact braodheads, make sure that your state allows them.
Other Options
Large expandable braodheads are one option for turkeys, especially body shots. The vitals of a wild turkey are about the size of a softball, so the larger the broadhead, the greater the margin of error in striking this critical tissue. If you target a turkey’s head/neck area, a large fixed head may be more advisable due to its greater cutting diameter on impact. Regardless of your choice, the most critical element is that the broadhead flies like your target points during practice. Because the vital areas are so small, pinpoint accuracy is crucial.
The Down Side
Returning home from the Mexico trip, I found that the large heads were equally accurate from a 350 fps crossbow. I knew of a vocal gobbler near my home and set up the perfect ruse. I placed a jake decoy 20 yards into a small field and settled against a large tree trunk. The big tom walked past me and headed straight for the decoy. Circling behind it, the bird was broadside, and I aimed for its head. One blade from the large broadhead caught the wing butt and bounced away. What would have been a slam-dunk shot with any other broadhead was a bust. The gobbler jumped slightly and then walked away as I hastily tried to recock the crossbow. There was no blood on the broadhead, and only a few feathers were found at the spot of the shot. That was a difficult lesson well learned.
