The toughness of Turkeys(Video)

[Whip]

I used to try to shoot them just like that.  But I've come to believe the old wing butt thing is wrong.  Since I've moved my shots back to be just up the legs on a broadside bird my recovery rate has skyrocketed.  Next time you take a bird apart pay attention to how far back the body cavity goes and how much breast meat and bone is forward of that.

[Orion]

Bummer.  Damn bird wouldn't stand still. I took some feathers off one a few days ago that was doing the same thing.  He turned just as I shot.  At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.  

Looks like a direct hit on the heavy wing bone.  Turkeys are fairly light so they actually move with the arrow at impact, which goes a long way toward reducing penetration.  Combine that with tough feathers (takes a tin snip to cut them off the wing) and a direct hit on the bone, and the arrow just didn't make it into the body cavity.  

A game of inches. An inch lower, and I think you would have had a dead bird. Sometimes, stuff happens.  

The arrow will break off, and I wouldn't be surprised if the broad head eventually falls out.  Going to be vulnerable to predators for a few days, but if he makes it that long, he'll probably be OK.

Just bad luck.

[KAZ]

Originally posted by Whip:
I used to try to shoot them just like that.  But I've come to believe the old wing butt thing is wrong.  Since I've moved my shots back to be just up the legs on a broadside bird my recovery rate has skyrocketed.  Next time you take a bird apart pay attention to how far back the body cavity goes and how much breast meat and bone is forward of that.

x2 - More forgiving I believe. I empathize with your situation. Definitely a game of inches on these animals & him dropping at the shot, saved his life... Great video and thank you for sharing your pain. I believe it's helpful & informative...  

[2-door]

Turkeys are super tuff! I shot a big rooster at 8yrds and had a Zwickey eskimo  destroyed and an Easton 2018 broken in half. I've shot thru the shields of 150lb boars with the same set up and had to look for my arrows. Turkeys tuffness is impressive

[Bud B.]

Looks like you got the two upper wing bones and they acted as a shield.

And yeah, looks like the bird dropped. Otherwise he would have been DRT. Dead right there.

[Bud B.]

Maybe even in the hinge when watching again.

Tough break for sure.

[huskyarcher]

It happens! Incredible footage!

[lt-m-grow]

Hey and if you would not mind a suggestion...I never put my dekes out that far.  I put them out about 8 yards tops.  I would put them closer if I could still see them.  The blind is magic on birds.  So having the dekes close is not a problem.  

Too much distance just gives the bird more time to move and they move a lot either ducking the string or just moving... turkeys...

[Bowwild]

I loved the video as well.  That string sure looked cool piling up on that bird!

[gvdocholiday]

Originally posted by lt-m-grow:
Hey and if you would not mind a suggestion...I never put my dekes out that far.  I put them out about 8 yards tops.  I would put them closer if I could still see them.  The blind is magic on birds.  So having the dekes close is not a problem.  

Too much distance just gives the bird more time to move and they move a lot either ducking the string or just moving... turkeys...

Dekes were at 5yds.