Shooting a turkey with a bow and arrow is a true experience and one that can be packed with adventure, excitement, and turkey meat for the table. But there’s a lot that can go wrong when chasing these birds with a stick and string. One of the most important steps to success is selecting the right broadhead for the job.
Turkey Anatomy and Broadhead Design
To make the right turkey broadhead selection, one must understand turkey anatomy and why it matters. Of course, there are projectile preferences. Hunters can choose between fixed blades, mechanical blades, and guillotines (for head shots). But in my experience, one seems to be more lethal than the others. When turkey hunting with a bow, I prefer a two-bladed expandable broadhead with a 2-inch (or greater) cutting diameter. This seems to have more of an effective, devastating effect on turkeys than smaller diameter fixed-blade options. And the odds of hitting the strike zone around the heart and lungs is much greater than attempting to separate a turkey’s head and body. But why?
First, understand that turkey anatomy is relatively small. The kill zones aren’t large, and millimeters can determine the difference between a quick death and hours or days of suffering. Because of this, I prefer the most accurate-flying broadheads, and those are often two-bladed mechanicals. These are easier to tune for.
Secondly, because the kill zone is so small, I like a large cutting diameter. An extra quarter or half inch can mean the difference in taking out the heart or lungs on a longbeard. That’s worth it.
Third, with big game, you want an exit wound for bigger blood trails, quicker deaths, and shorter recoveries. To get these things, you generally need a pass-through. With turkeys, you don’t want a pass through. Ironically, with turkeys, a larger two-bladed broadhead can benefit you because it’s better to not get a pass through. You’re better off if the arrow remains in the body of the bird, because it continues to sever vitals and can also help prevent turkeys from flying or running, which allows you a quick, ethical follow-up if needed.
All in all, it can be daunting when trying to determine the right broadhead for a turkey. But a firm understanding of anatomy, as well as the limitations and strengths of broadhead designs, will help make the right decision.
Broadheads to Consider for Turkey Hunting
NAP KillZone Maxx
The NAP KillZone Maxx is an excellent two-blade, rear-deploying broadhead. It uses a unique spring-clip design to prevent premature blade deployment, and there are no O-rings or rubber bands to mess with. This broadhead is 100 grains, has a 2 3/8″ cutting diameter and comes in a 3-pack for $44.99.
Dead Ringer Super Freak Extreme
The Super Freak Extreme, by Dead Ringer, is a devastating broadhead. This two-blade broadhead has a massive, 2.75-inch cutting diameter. Despite such a large cutting surface, it’s designed for bows with higher kinetic energy, and is $34.99 for a 3-pack.
Grim Reaper RazorCut SS
The Grim Reaper RazorCut Mechanical broadhead comes with three blades and a one-piece stainless steel tip. It’s incredibly accurate and is built tough. It comes available in six different weight and cutting diameter variations, from 85 to 125 grain, and is $44.99 for a pack of 3.
Ramcat Diamondback Hybrid Broadhead
The Ramcat Diamondback Hybrid is a great hybrid, over-the-top broadhead. This head features a guaranteed 7/8-inch, fixed-blade cut, and a 2-plus-inch mechanical blade cut. It has a concave air foil scoop for increased accuracy and penetration. It comes in a 100-grain three-pack for $34.99.
Sevr Titanium 2.0
The SEVR Titanium 2.0 is made to work for both compound bows and crossbows. Its swept-back blade angle and re-engineered deployment geometry make for more accurate shooting. This broadhead is available in 100 or 125 grains and is sold individually. Deep six threads are available in 100 grains and cost $14.99 per head.
Dirt Nap Shred Head
While this broadhead isn’t a two-bladed mechanical like I prefer, the Dirt Nap Shred Head is specifically designed for turkeys. It gets good penetration and offers shock effect. It comes in a 100- or 125-grain option for $35.99 per 3-pack.
Final Thoughts
What about you? What broadheads will you shoot this spring? There are a lot of great options on the market when it comes to deadly heads for turkeys. Hopefully this article will help you narrow down the options.
Like a lot of the gear we use, confidence is the key. You want to head to the woods loaded with a broadhead you have full confidence in when the shot opportunity arises.
