Recovery 101

A Missed Shot May Not Be The End

By Charlie Burchfield

More than a few turkey hunters will readily admit turkeys can be tough birds to bring down. Whether the bead of your shotgun covers a gobbler’s head at 40 yards, or if the bird is up close and personal, when you take the shot it is possible to miss.

Jason Morrow, producer of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Get in the Game television show, has just about seen it all in the turkey woods, from forgetting to load the firearm to missing the bird clean. Morrow films nearly 25 different hunters every turkey season, and when he’s not toting a camera in the woods, he’s usually calling in birds for other hunters.

These opportunities afield give him plenty of chances to critique or compliment each hunter’s style behind a firearm. From his experiences he has come to some interesting conclusions.

EXCITEMENT FACTOR

“The number one reason turkey hunters miss is that they get excited,” said Morrow. “It’s an exciting hunt, no question about it, but calmly and carefully going through the routine of pulling that trigger comes with practice.”

Morrow explains that some hunters want a better look at the bird as they pull the trigger.

“It’s pretty common to see a hunter pull his or her head from the stock of the gun to get a better look at the bird when they shoot,” Morrow said. “Once they pull their head, their eye is not straight down the barrel, and more than likely they’ll shoot above the bird.”

But, shooting above or below a turkey barely scratches the list of do’s and don’ts when preparing for that decisive moment. For instance, setting up in a comfortable position for a shot is probably one of the most important elements when turkey hunting.

“If you’re right handed, you want to set up so the bird would most often approach from your left or straight ahead,” Morrow said. “You don’t want to make too much movement because of the turkey’s keen eyesight, so you want to be set up so your shot is a comfortable one.”

Without question, however, the most uncomfortable position in the turkey woods is missing a turkey.

BE PREPARED

However that situation can be changed anytime before or during the season.

First practice shooting from the same positions you would in a hunting situation. Wear your turkey vest, headnet and other gear to make sure nothing catches when you shoulder the firearm.

Always pattern your shotgun from different distances. This should be done when changing shot size or when switching from one shot shell manufacturer to another. Each gun, choke and turkey load combination has its own pattern and range. But how much is enough? When it comes to taking down a turkey, eight to 10 pellets at 40 yards in the vital area should be enough to kill a turkey. But more is always better.

Don’t become over confident when it comes to shooting shotguns with those super tight chokes. Tighter choke tubes are not necessarily better. While the new super tight tubes offer tighter shot patterns at greater distances, be cautious if a bird gets in too close.

Tighter choke tubes can constrict the shot pattern so much that the pellets will not have enough time to expand if a bird is too close to your setup. So be sure to pattern your shotgun even at very close ranges.

Choose your setup and help your shooting. Sit against a tree that is wider than your back and taller than your head when you’re practicing and when you’re in the woods. Not only is this the safest setup, but the tree will break up your outline and provide a solid backrest when you take the shot.

And when considering taking a shot, make sure it’s a good one. First and foremost take the best and safest shot. Hunters should always be mindful that another hunter could be in the same area. After you identify your target as a gobbler, it’s time to take the best shot.

Wait for the gobbler to come out of full strut and extend his neck, because when a tom is strutting, his spinal column is compressed and his head is partially hidden by his feathers, which makes for a smaller target area.

RECOVER YOUR HARVEST

But what happens when your best shot isn’t good enough? Spend much time turkey hunting and it’s going to happen. That’s when your best shot at a turkey just isn’t good enough. A bad shot? Maybe you were caught up in the excitement. But it’s something you have to be prepared for, and that is recovering a wounded turkey.

Keep in mind that a turkey’s body is loaded with 4,000 to 5,000 feathers in multiple layers, not to mention muscle, cartilage and bone that provides thick shields of protection.

"Avoid body shots on turkeys," said Dr. James Earl Kennamer, senior vice president for conservation programs at the NWTF.

Kennamer went on to say, “Their breasts are heavily muscled and tough to penetrate with even the heaviest turkey load.”

The most ethical and effective area to place your shot is in the head and neck of the turkey, where shot can easily penetrate the skull and spinal column for a quick, humane kill.

This is a small area, so shot placement is critical. If your shot doesn’t end up in this area, then you’ll need to begin a different set of considerations.

If you have squeezed the trigger and the bird didn’t go down, don’t assume you’ve missed the turkey. Be sure to watch him for as long as possible, especially if the bird takes to the wing and you think you’ve missed him.

Turkeys often leave a weak blood trail, if any at all, so feathers and tracks left behind provide sign to follow.

It may be your first reaction, but don’t sprint after a turkey that’s been hit. Turkeys can run up to speeds of 30 miles per hour, faster than any human. Be patient. Turkeys normally won’t run far if they’re hit, sometimes only 30 to 40 yards. Give the bird time to settle down and then begin your search. Look around fallen trees, thick cover or creek banks where a bird may have gone to hide.

It’s important to remember that crippled turkeys will generally fly less than 100 yards and they will often make noise on an attempted landing. Wait for about an hour then begin your search. If you spot the bird and are presented a safe shot, shoot for the head and neck.

If you’re having trouble finding sign or the turkey, call up your hunting buddies to cover more ground. Walk slowly and look in thickets and other possible hiding spots. Don’t give up. It’s a hunter’s responsibility to put in a solid effort to find his or her quarry.

Passing up a shot now and then is the mark of a mature hunter and will leave you with much less regret than if you begin taking risky shots that leave the birds wounded.