Ok guys, this may have been addressed 49 times before but i couldnt find it, so i apolagize in advance for those rolling their eyes!

My question is, what bow weight should i use for turkeys this year? this is the first year chasing turkeys with trad gear. I have heard that lower poundage is better and then ive heard higher is better so idk. Heres what i have to choose from, (weight wise) 2 #45ers 2 #55ers and a #60. i am most comforatable with one of the #45ers, but i am right at as comforatable with one of the #55s. So the comfort is there with both.

I would assume that the arrow will stay in the bird (assuming i hit one!) is that a good thing? i will be shooting Dowell arrows i make and a Zwickey glue on 2 blade head.

Also ill be in a pop up so the shots will be between 8 and 15 yards. (i hope!)

The season is 3 months away so i want pick one and put about 1000-1500 arrows through it by then. Thanks for all the help in advance! God bless you all!
Dalton

I do not have opinion on bow weight for turkey but if you are comfortable shooting the 55# and like the bow, why not shoot the 55# and reap the benefits?

Wing bones of a turkey are hollow and act like aircraft alluminum!!  I have shot them with 70# bows and Snuffer broadhead and not shot completly through.  Personaly I would shoot the heaviest weight you can shoot accuratly!!  A turkeys Vitals are small and easy to miss if your over bowed.  I have taken 13 of my 16 Turkeys I've taken with trad bows and have come to prefure the the broadside shot because of the larger kill zone.  This year I'll be shooting 54# 2219 arrows and 200gr. snuffers. Good luck I love hunting thunderchickens!!

I am not a big fan of normal broadheads on turkey but use some broadheads to cut the neck or head.
Turkey heads/necks are great to concentrate on and the probability of a good hit and recovery are higher than with conventional heads in my opinion. A lighter bow with a medium weight arrow is sufficient for this kind of hunting.
#45 are ok, accuracy counts. Use the bow you're more accurate out of the blind!!

1. Turkeys are no push over.

2. Several hunters have hit the wing bone only to have the arrow bounce out.

3. Quickly immobilizing the bird is the key to consistent retrievals

4. My choice is to use the largest BH possible and I want a pass thru if possible. I have seen at least 3 birds fly off in the early years with arrows and recovered only one of those.

5. Turkey hunting for me is a 15 yard and under game.

id say shoot what you are comfortable with. I too would shoot the largest head you have. I like to either take the neck shot or wait until they turn away and shoot them in the back between the wings, Either of those shot and there usually down in sight.

for compounds low pounds and a big head.

for a recurve i guess 45+ with a bigger head would do the trick.  shoot the one your most accurate with no doubt because the vitals are small

If you are comfortable with 55 go with it.

Best to you on those longbearded ones.


Earl

I agree shoot the weight you are most comfortable with.

Use your deer set up and the weight th ats best for you. Do you want you arrow to stat in the deer. Two hole are better than one. Turkeys have no problem flying away with your arrow. Beleive me.
 I've killed 12 gobbles with just that set up with arrows. Plus 3 With trade points 2 with knapped heads and dogwood arrows. All out of a selfbow most were pass throughs. All were 15 and under. Most were at the top of the leg bone which is the best shot I think. Wind bone is above the vidles. Still a kill shot because the spines so close.
  Do'nt fall into all the HIPE use want you can hit the gobbler with.

I use my deer/elk setup; mid 50s longbows, wood arrows, Magnus 2 blades. I watched a buddy shoot a turkey with a wheelie this fall that was about 70#, and watched the turkey run off never to be found. If you hit them in the right place, they won't go far, but if you miss a vital area, prepare for a bird that will run or fly off. I have only killed 4 turkeys with my bow, but all but one went down in their tracks and the other one went about 20 yards.

Thanks guys! i have killed a blue million with a 12 guage but never with a bow. i decided this year i WILL stick one with a bow. I reckon ill use a #55 i have no problem with it at all inside 15 yds.

So another question, which would do better, a Zwickey 2-blade on a dowell rod, or a Phantom on aluminum?

I agree w above, Use your Deer bow.
 Phantoms/aluminum  with a muzzy grasshopper behind it.

Accuracy should trump all other considerations. Let us know how you do!

I've had great success with a 47# recurve I built from Bingham Projects, and a 160 gr HH head

As much weight as you can handle drawing from awkward positions with as little movement as possible. Knock em down and get ready to do some running.

My preference is to set-up with the intent to have a complete pass through while making the largest hole possible.

Maybe I am like the old bull and prefer to walk down the hill to the cows.