Where to shoot gobbler with a rifle?

[Bob J]

I'll be hunting with a .36 flintlock, using 40 grains 3f behind prb. Besides a head shot (hey, I'm not Alvin York!), where's the best place to anchor them?

 

[fort fireman]

I would say right where the wing intersects with the body. All the vitals are in that general area. It would be like shooting a deer right behind the front leg. At least thats where I would aim. I would forget about trying to hit in the head. Those things move around to much.

 

[roundball]

Or about an inch below center of the middle of the back

 

[wtilenw]

Hope this helps.

 

[Bob J]

Fort Fireman, Roundball, and Idaho PRB - Thanks for the advice. Idaho, those turkey illustrations and photos are very helpful!!

 

[David G]

That's good stuff! Thanks.

 

[Greenmtnboy]

base of the neck or head.
I shoot and hunt with a 36 and that little bugger can do a lot of damage to turkies at close range.

 

[cptleo1]

It's the base of the neck for me.

The Texas heart shot is very effective but it tears up the breast meat.

The side shot is really a small area - hard to get it right, especially when he is puffed up- just as hard to hit as the base of the neck.

At the shot I want him to drop.

I have used a .32 on them = Bad Medicine, but, the .40 is my favorite.

Good advice as always "Aim small - Miss Small"

 

[Greenmtnboy]

yup a few years back I hit a hen broad side with my 36 and blew the top of the breast off.
yuck what a mess.

 

[larry wv]

Center of mass with a bow. Turkeys are like Buzzards around here. I give them away won't eat one. Every few years Blue tongue wipes the deer out and the ground Buzzards have a feast. Larry Wv

 

[slicjack]

Turkeys with a rifle. I have been fortunate enough to kill several Gobblers with a rifle both 40 and 45 cal. I have shot them in both the side and front. Side shots have had mixed results some lethal some not. The one shot that has never failed is-- Turkey coming straight in to call aim right in the "V" of the breast bone above the beard. Turkey usually quits flopping before the smoke clears. This shot really works -Trust me. slicjack

 

[Robert Scheffler]

A head or neck shot would do the trick if you think you could pull it off. But I understand that they just don't hold still for you for very long.