Community
Turkey Hunting Whether it's spring or fall doesn't matter to this bunch. Great tips on calling, bustin flocks, using blinds and more.

Where to Aim

Thread Tools
 
Old 04-04-2003 | 03:37 AM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Typical Buck
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 918
Likes: 0
From: Cottage Grove Oregon
Default Where to Aim

I have never turkey hunted. An avid turkey hunter invited me to a spring hunt so I am starting from scratch. The what to bring post below was a big help even tho some of the jargon and product names were greek to me. I have been asking around where to aim and get two answers, the head and the neck where it joins the body. What is your choice and why?
Any Other Hints so I don' t Look stupid. I do a lot of deer hunting so I have some woods and hunting savy.

One Shot One Kill Striper Phil
Striper Phil is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 04:29 AM
  #2  
Nontypical Buck
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,284
Likes: 3
From: west central wi USA
Default RE: Where to Aim

Since only pellets that hit the head or neck count, I aim for the neck where the feathers stop at the wattles. That way my pattern is centered below his head. If half your pattern that goes over his head, your wasting pellets. Also if I screw up and hit a lttle high, I still got him.
Wingbone is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 05:54 AM
  #3  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 27,585
Likes: 0
Default [Deleted]

[Deleted by Admins]
Deleted User is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 06:15 AM
  #4  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 0
From: crawfordville florida USA
Default RE: Where to Aim

I actually have to aim a couple of inches above the head because of the way my gun patterns. This puts most of the pattern in the head and neck and keeps pellets out of the body especially on longer shots. If you havent patterned your shotgun,
aim a couple of inches below the head.
benhuntin is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 07:04 AM
  #5  
Fork Horn
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Waldoboro Me. USA
Default RE: Where to Aim

First pattern your gun, try to use a turkey head target. Many companies make them, or you can download one from www.remington.com . Then adjust your sights or sight picture to try to put the head in the center of the tightest portion. I liked to aim at the middle of the neck. That cut down how many pellets I put into the breast area, annd centered the skull in the pellet swarm. Try to not shoot if the bird is tucked in a strut. This decreases your target. Wait till it extends it' s neck if possible.
maineac is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 08:22 AM
  #6  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Where to Aim

This is tricky to say without causing a lot of consternation, but don' t forget that a turkey also has a spine along its back. The object of the shot is to strike a vital area, generally the spinal column, with a sufficient number of pellets as to fatally wound the bird. Since other vital areas (heart, lungs, e.g.) are not easily or accurately accessed by shotgun pellets, most shots are centered on the head/neck area. However, I' ve seen many turkeys killed where, typically due to the angle of the shot, the fatal pellets actually struck the spinal cord along the back of the turkey, not the head or the neck. (In fact, most back spinal cord shots produce an " instantly dead" bird, rather than the " flop around dead" bird hit in the head/neck area.) The problem with shooting a turkey in the back is that you are also very likely shooting it in the body, and potentially ruining/placing shot in the meat you want to eat!! Secondly, of course, is that a full body shot (rather than a shot that is centered on the back/spine) will not likely kill a turkey, but will only wound it. My point is to be aware that if you do not have a good shot at the head/neck area (for example, if your only shot is of a tom walking away from you), you can still kill a turkey (if it is in range) by aiming at the top of the back/body (in the area where the wings join, near the area where the neck joins the body), but be aware there is a price to pay, potential spoilage of the delicious turkey.
snowdog2 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 08:30 AM
  #7  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Where to Aim

Generally my primary " aiming point" is exactly as the others describe--junction of red neck with feathered body. (Unless the turkey is less than ten yards away, when I [wrongly, I suppose] tend to aim a tad more directly at the head, due to the constricted pattern.) Also, as noted, pattern your gun with the shells you' ll be using in the field. Know your gun' s aimpoint, know the pellet distribution/pattern at various yardages. Know if your gun has any " drop" at 40 yards that would require you to adjust your aimpoint.

Then have fun this spring!!
snowdog2 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 08:50 AM
  #8  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Northern NY
Default RE: Where to Aim

I aim slightly above the mid point from the head to where the neck joins the body. The way my gun patterns, allows me to put a good two-dozen pellets in vital areas on life size head targets.
NewYorkHunter is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 02:45 PM
  #9  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Where to Aim

I aim dead on the head. My shotgun shoots where I aim and I don' t like spitten out shot when dining on the bird.
savage.308 is offline  
Reply
Old 04-04-2003 | 05:44 PM
  #10  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
From: The Wild Turkey Capitol of the World......Missouri
Default RE: Where to Aim

I' m in total agreement with Wingbone also.
MOTurkeyTamer is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.