Should've, could've, just plain disgusted now

[Porter]

Ron very well said!!! When shooting a turkey with a bow I only take two certain shots! one is when the bird is facing away from me where i can aim between his wings. This shot will break it's back putting the bird down instantly!! The second shot is broad side aiming for where the hwing connect to the body. I have never seen a bird go more then 30 yards when hit here. By the way I use the same broadheads for both deer and turkey. I hope this help someone!!

 BigTom

Talking about broadheads, what do most people use?  I was using mechanical, but I'm going back to my fixed broadheads.  That way, I can keep the arrow ready to go and not worry.  I'm shooting g5 Montecs and the bird I shot last year through the wings, dropped like a rock!!

[Porter]

Ron very well said!!! When shooting a turkey with a bow I only take two certain shots! one is when the bird is facing away from me where i can aim between his wings. This shot will break it's back putting the bird down instantly!! The second shot is broad side aiming for where the hwing connect to the body. I have never seen a bird go more then 30 yards when hit here. By the way I use the same broadheads for both deer and turkey. I hope this help someone!!

 BigTom

and with deer, i will not take a quartering to shot.  i will either take a quartering away, or broadside shot only.  if neither presents itself, the deer walks.

I'm even more particular of broadside shots only.  That's all I feel comfortable with.  As I practice and get better, I might take a quartering away.  Main thing is, only shoot what you are comfortable with! 

[ronmexico]

Ron very well said!!! When shooting a turkey with a bow I only take two certain shots! one is when the bird is facing away from me where i can aim between his wings. This shot will break it's back putting the bird down instantly!! The second shot is broad side aiming for where the hwing connect to the body. I have never seen a bird go more then 30 yards when hit here. By the way I use the same broadheads for both deer and turkey. I hope this help someone!!

 BigTom

Talking about broadheads, what do most people use?  I was using mechanical, but I'm going back to my fixed broadheads.  That way, I can keep the arrow ready to go and not worry.  I'm shooting g5 Montecs and the bird I shot last year through the wings, dropped like a rock!!

confidence in your broadhead is key.  sounds like you have one that works for you mike.  i know there are many that people use, i will probably be using slick tricks for deer this year.  i still have some mechanicals, but i am leaning toward the st's.  i like the concept of the atom, but i just am still a bit nervous about it, even though i have talked to a few folks who swear by it. 

[ronmexico]

Ron very well said!!! When shooting a turkey with a bow I only take two certain shots! one is when the bird is facing away from me where i can aim between his wings. This shot will break it's back putting the bird down instantly!! The second shot is broad side aiming for where the hwing connect to the body. I have never seen a bird go more then 30 yards when hit here. By the way I use the same broadheads for both deer and turkey. I hope this help someone!!

 BigTom

and with deer, i will not take a quartering to shot.  i will either take a quartering away, or broadside shot only.  if neither presents itself, the deer walks.

I'm even more particular of broadside shots only.  That's all I feel comfortable with.  As I practice and get better, I might take a quartering away.  Main thing is, only shoot what you are comfortable with! 

mike, what you said about feeling comfortable is key.  if in doubt, hold off.

[wisturkeyhunter]

If you guys want to use a bow go ahead but even when the shooter does his part birds will be lost if you do it enough. I suppose that post too will make me a know it all.

[ronmexico]

If you guys want to use a bow go ahead but even when the shooter does his part birds will be lost if you do it enough.

again, regardless of whether it is a deer or turkey, there is not always going to be a 100% recovery rate.  it just doesn't happen.  i have seen countless people, who are great bowhunter's, not recover deer. 

[wisturkeyhunter]

I agree with your post but your missing the point. (again)

A deer thats well hit will always be recovered if the hunter is half way proficient. They don't go far without lunges you know and blood trails are handy. I've shot over 20 deer with a bow (mostly does) and the only one I didn't recover was cause it was shot a little far back just before dark. By the time I got to it the next morning it was some hair and a a few bones. Wolves suck.

Turkeys vitals are much smaller and an arrow dosen't always stop them. A turkey won't just bed down and they won
t leave a blood trail.

[Porter]

I agree with your post but your missing the point. (again)

A deer thats well hit will always be recovered if the hunter is half way proficient. They don't go far without lunges you know and blood trails are handy. I've shot over 20 deer with a bow (mostly does) and the only one I didn't recover was cause it was shot a little far back just before dark. By the time I got to it the next morning it was some hair and a a few bones. Wolves suck.

Turkeys vitals are much smaller and an arrow dosen't always stop them. A turkey won't just bed down and they won
t leave a blood trail.

I get your point, but I can miss badly on a deer too. 

I've been lucky/fortunate to not wound and lose an animal!  As I said before, I have seen birds wounded by shotguns more than by a bow!  I hate shooting lead shot anymore.  Just prefer HTL loads.  Cost a little more, but the knock down is much greater!

I may switch to the Guillotines to makes sure of no chance of non recovery... cut the head off and I'm pretty sure the bird will not go far

[BigTomsCalls]

Turkeys will "Bed Down" if thats the term you want to use. The fact that I found that tom hiding in a blowdown proves that!! Don't deer that have been pourly hit head for the nastiest cover they can find? I have also tracked deer both hit by gun and bow that left only a few drops of blood for hundreds of yards!!!

[Bulldogmikey]

Turkeys will "Bed Down" if thats the term you want to use. The fact that I found that tom hiding in a blowdown proves that!! Don't deer that have been pourly hit head for the nastiest cover they can find? I have also tracked deer both hit by gun and bow that left only a few drops of blood for hundreds of yards!!!

You and me too Tom. Sometimes it is difficult to find!

Mike

[Porter]

Turkeys will "Bed Down" if thats the term you want to use. The fact that I found that tom hiding in a blowdown proves that!! Don't deer that have been pourly hit head for the nastiest cover they can find? I have also tracked deer both hit by gun and bow that left only a few drops of blood for hundreds of yards!!!

You and me too Tom. Sometimes it is difficult to find!

Mike

Let me say this, last year I hunted with a .460 S&W... way too much gun I know..  but I always wanted a big caliber for my encore.  Well I won't post pics, but let's just say a basketball size hole was left.  You'd think a bunch of blood right?  Luckily I saw where that deer landed because it didn't leave any blood trail at all! 

Deer was down in less than 15 yards from the shot.  Never did figure out how it even moved.  Heart, lungs and liver were gone!  As were both front shoulders.

I've went back to my 7mm Mag this year.  I did really like the .460...  great shooting gun and very accurate.  Not sure what I will use it for now..

[Bulldogmikey]

Dang Mike I always thought a 7mm mag was overkill. Man oh man. You could kill an elephant with that .460. I would love to shoot one though. I know a lot of elk hunters like that round.

Mike

[ronmexico]

Dang Mike I always thought a 7mm mag was overkill. Man oh man. You could kill an elephant with that .460. I would love to shoot one though. I know a lot of elk hunters like that round.

Mike

2 buddies of mine hunt with 7 mags and they seem to be big fans of that gun.  i usually use a 30-06 and have a 308 as a backup.  i prefer the 30-06.  you typically don't have to do much trailing with the 7 mag, but i did have a buddy lose a great buck 2 years (where i hunt), with that gun.  hit it in the shoulder and the deer took off dragging one leg.  we looked for 250 yds and found no blood.  as we spread out, i jumped the deer and he was a solid buck (i'll try and post a pic we have from the trail cam of him).  we found blood just prior to wear i jumped him, which was about 400 yds from where he was shot.  that blood and the blood we found where he was bedded, was the only blood we found.  we backed out and gave the deer several hours, but never found another drop. 

[Bulldogmikey]

I used a .270 almost exclusively! The guys in Louisiana I used to hunt with used 25.06 with hand loaded ammo and they were deadly. That may be my favorite caliber.

Mike

[Porter]

Dang Mike I always thought a 7mm mag was overkill. Man oh man. You could kill an elephant with that .460. I would love to shoot one though. I know a lot of elk hunters like that round.

Mike

I did see some nice aerobatic displays...  I knew after the first deer I shot it was going to be a weird season... and it was!

I think part of my issue was the rounds I was shooting were designed for an 8" barrel and I was shooting them out of a 20" barrel.  I'm assuming I cranked up the velocity on them!