My 11 year old shot his first deer with his compound bow and now wants to go after turkeys. I'm a little unsure about what broadhead to use and which shot placement (head or body) to promote with him. I'd love to hear from others with experience with youth bow hunters for turkey as well.
Use your deer set-up. It will kill a turkey. Good luck(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180215/6227f5fe5ed64d6eb662ef5c0ba9d035.jpg)
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For a youth I would recommend using a large broadhead like the Magnus Bullhead or the Gobbler Guillotine for a head shot. The advantage is that you can see your target. No need to study your diagrams on where to shoot the body. Head shots are either hit or miss. If you miss you either hit the surround air or you hit the body and the broadhead will not penetrate and wound the turkey. With body shots if you miss in any direction at all, you have yourself a wounded turkey. Lace up your hiking boots and hope you find him. Why wouldn't you do a head shot? 1. You have a visual. 2. Very little chance of a wounded bird. 3. Large diameter broadhead means more room for error. 4. With a well tuned bow and good arrow selection, it is very accurate. 5. 0% meat loss with head shots. The only advantage to body shots is that you don't have to change your deer hunting setup.
I almost forgot to mention that if you hit a bird in the head, he's down for the count. Even if you hit the bird in the vitals he can still get away. Also there is a lifetime warranty for any damage on Gobbler Guillotines and Magnus Bullheads.
I'm a huge fan of Magnus bullheads.
Listen to fallhunt he has it exactly right. Change nothing and aim for biggest vital area, that's not the head. Gotta make things doable w kids
In my opinion making things doable for kids is giving them a clear visual of their target. A body shot is so easy to botch and wound the bird. Turkey's were meant to be shot in the head. I would take 10 missed head shots over 1 missed body shot. A small percentage of body shots will drop the bird on the spot. Nearly 100% of head shots will kill him instantly. There is a whole list advantages to head shots and the only advantage of body shots is that you don't have to buy a new broadhead. If I wanted to build my kids confidence I'd say aim for the head. Not, "aim for where these feathers meet these feather but when he's turned this way and in strut you aim there but not when he's turned away." Then when he misses it "he's going to live another day, we'll get the next one." And not, "Let's spend a few hours searching through the brush where we think he flew but we lost the blood trail." When a young one is staring at that gobbler a few feet away, he's not going to remember his anatomy diagrams. Aim for the one vital that is always in sight. Get your headchopper flying straight and your good to go.
Quote from: Premier Turkey Calls on February 16, 2018, 09:14:18 PM
For a youth I would recommend using a large broadhead like the Magnus Bullhead or the Gobbler Guillotine for a head shot. The advantage is that you can see your target. No need to study your diagrams on where to shoot the body. Head shots are either hit or miss. If you miss you either hit the surround air or you hit the body and the broadhead will not penetrate and wound the turkey. With body shots if you miss in any direction at all, you have yourself a wounded turkey. Lace up your hiking boots and hope you find him. Why wouldn't you do a head shot? 1. You have a visual. 2. Very little chance of a wounded bird. 3. Large diameter broadhead means more room for error. 4. With a well tuned bow and good arrow selection, it is very accurate. 5. 0% meat loss with head shots. The only advantage to body shots is that you don't have to change your deer hunting setup.
Out of personal interest how well do these style of broadheads pass through the shoot through netting on a blind? Thank you.
I would recommend a 3 blade head with long blades, like a Snuffer, for a youth hunter. Then learn the aiming points, not that hard to figure out where to aim(fallhnt's pics are good). Large mechs and head-loppers require more energy and a youth may not have enough, turkeys are tough. I decided against using either with my 45# recurve after doing some tests and research.
Sir-diealot I am unsure of how they shoot through mesh as I have never done it. I would guess for it to be not as well as smaller broadheads due to the large wingspan but I would assume that it would maintain accuracy for close range shots. If I were you I'd contact Magnus (or Gobbler Guillotine, I haven't used it but it's comparable to the Bullhead) and they could give you an answer. They usually respond within a day with an answer. Head choppers do not take insane poundage. I believe Magnus recommends 45lbs min (i'd have to check to verify). This won't necessarily cut the head clean off but it will either leave a large gash or break the neck.
Quote from: Premier Turkey Calls on March 01, 2018, 05:29:52 PM
Sir-diealot I am unsure of how they shoot through mesh as I have never done it. I would guess for it to be not as well as smaller broadheads due to the large wingspan but I would assume that it would maintain accuracy for close range shots. If I were you I'd contact Magnus (or Gobbler Guillotine, I haven't used it but it's comparable to the Bullhead) and they could give you an answer. They usually respond within a day with an answer. Head choppers do not take insane poundage. I believe Magnus recommends 45lbs min (i'd have to check to verify). This won't necessarily cut the head clean off but it will either leave a large gash or break the neck.
Okay, thank you for the reply.
Quote from: Premier Turkey Calls on February 28, 2018, 09:40:06 PM
In my opinion making things doable for kids is giving them a clear visual of their target. A body shot is so easy to botch and wound the bird. Turkey's were meant to be shot in the head. Yes the vitals are a bit larger than the head but I would take 10 missed head shots over 1 missed body shot. A small percentage of body shots will drop the bird on the spot. Nearly 100% of head shots will kill him instantly. There is a whole list advantages to head shots and the only advantage of body shots is that you don't have to buy a new broadhead. If I wanted to build my kids confidence I'd say aim for the head. Not, "aim for where these feathers meet these feather but when he's turned this way and in strut you aim there but not when he's turned away." Then when he misses it "he's going to live another day, we'll get the next one." And not, "Let's spend a few hours searching through the brush where we think he flew but we lost the blood trail." When a young one is staring at that gobbler a few feet away, he's not going to remember his anatomy diagrams. Aim for the one vital that is always in sight. Get your headchopper flying straight and your good to go.
Aim for the largest vitals is bowhunting 101. We get one chance to hook someone. Ten missed head shots and he's back playing video games. How many kids have you actually taught?? Doesn't sound too many. I'm sorry, head shots for a child are bad advice.
Quote from: CAPTJJ on March 01, 2018, 07:53:17 AM
I would recommend a 3 blade head with long blades, like a Snuffer, for a youth hunter. Then learn the aiming points, not that hard to figure out where to aim(fallhnt's pics are good). Large mechs and head-loppers require more energy and a youth may not have enough, turkeys are tough. I decided against using either with my 45# recurve after doing some tests and research.
Capt, Snuffer isn't made anymore. I use em but the company that was producing them too is out.
There are other similar companies if that was the persons choice. Wensel woodsman or VPA come to mind. Kustom King has one too. Just forget name
Take a look at the Simmon's Mako Shark
https://www.simmonssharks.com/broadheads-screw-on/sb-100r-mako-100-grain
I have no problem if you choose a body shot but I personally see no advantage. What I meant by I would rather miss 10 head shots vs 1 body is that I would rather have a clean miss than to miss the vitals on a body shot and wound it. It sounds like hitting the bird in the body is more important than killing it cleanly. If you miss in any direction on a body shot, it's a wounded bird. A few years ago I took a forced shot on a deer. When I approached the deer thinking that it was dead, it jumped up and the guts were hanging from where I had shot it. I felt terrible for my lack of judgement that caused the deer to suffer. I would never wish for anyone to see an animal suffer, especially a young hunter. After that experience, I vowed that I would always take only guaranteed shots. If you watch any movie on youtube, you will see that body shots are not a guaranteed kill. A head shot will kill the bird instantly. I do not know the square inches of the vitals on a turkey but I have heard that inch for inch, the head and neck of a turkey offers more killing area than that of a body shot. I don't know why you wouldn't recommend head shots for kids? You can see the outline of your target!!! If you like your body shots, that is fine but I personally would go for the guaranteed kill. Ethical kills are what we as hunters should strive to achieve. I would hope for someone to educate me on why you choose body shots. All that I've ever heard is that you don't have to change your setup.
The body shot entails multiple organs. The heart, lungs, liver. Combined it's bigger than the brain or spine. You could shoot a beak off and you're theory is way gone. It's gonna starve to death. Ever see uneducated people cut a windpipe on a deer? It sits there gasping. Tell me that can't happen on a turkey? How bout a cheek wound?
You bring up good points though if we choose to minimize any chance of wounding. Head shots can be way harder for a nervous kid. That's all I'm saying.
Each year I mentor kids. My own, family, friends, through the NWTF mentoring program, Jakes days, at the refuge, state events, for a few clubs.
Also am a hunter ed instructor. It doesn't mean I know more than you, just means I've helped lots of kids succeed. I'll never believe in trick shots. Especially for kids.
Ever hear guys claim they only heart shoot their game? Kinda silly, aim for the heart/lung area and build some room for error in. If you're back too far you get a liver as well.
There are reference points we can teach when body shooting w arrows. If you're not famaliar learn em.
All in all if it was me, and by my username you can see I love the bow but I'd recommend a shotgun w a kid first and foremost. Still say highest odds are the biggest target. That's not the head