turkey broadhead, sharpen or not?

[portugeejn]

OK, I have read and heard that you don't necessarily want a pass-through with turkey-it works better if the arrow stays in the bird.  

My thought is to use the same bow and arrows I am going to hunt with in the fall (Martin Savannah 50# 3 fletch 5" shield Zwickey Eskimo 125 grain broadhead, total arrow weight around 500 grain, Douglas Fir shafts).

Should the broadheads be real sharp, or should I leave alone (they were very sharp last fall when they got put away)?

My idea is that the less sharp they are, the less penetration, keeping the arrow in the bird.

Thanks for your opinions.

Ron

[longbowman]

Absolutely sharpen them.  You kill the turkey be bleeding the same as a deer and you need sharp heads for that.  I, personally, never thought much of the don't pass thru theory anyway and with 50# of bow you'll be surprised just how many times you wont get a pass thru on a turkey even with sharp heads.

[Tree man]

Sharp. Turkeys are amazingly difficult to penetrate. I don't mean that you need super heavy drawweights...just thta between the tough feather quills and the lightness of the target  they absorb arrow momentum. I never had a complete arrow exit on body shots with 53lbs and 600 grain arrows. Chances are you'll have arrow sticking out on both sides with your set up and sharp heads.
BTW I no longer body shoot Turkeys. I would recommend multi-blade heads and neck shots.

[Dave2old]

I use the largest 3-blade heads I can get to fly well, very sharp, and sometimes with a penetration limiter behind. I have had almost consistent pass-throughs with 45-55# bows and close shots, and do prefer the arrow to stay in. I don't trust myself for a neck shot, though I applaud those who can do it. Maybe if I did a better job of hitting the vitals, heart/lungs, they wouldn't tend to fly or run and pass-throughs would become unnecessary. This has become such a frustratin for me that I'll now shoot at a turkey on if there's a tree or dirt bank behind it to stop the arrow. More than one way to skin a cat! Dave

[joebuck]

This question every year always produces very interesting answers to me. Heres mine, As a bowhunter, i want my razor sharp BH to PASS Competely through the bird so it can inflict as much hemoraging and bone breakage as it was designed to do. A turkey CAN fly  or out run you with an arrow still in it from personal experiences.

[wislnwings]

I shot my merriams last year with a 125 Eskimo that was as sharp as I could get it.  The last 5 inches of the arrow hung up in the bird.  I doubt the penetration would have been that good with a dull broadhead.  Like Joebuck said, I want the broadhead to do as much damage as possible.

[Orion]

Always want the blade as sharp as I can get it, and I always want a pass through, just don't often get the latter.  A turkey is a light critter, comparatively speaking.  When the arrow hits, cushioned by the heavy feathers, it tends to move the bird, and that retards penetration.  If the bird could remain solidly in one position, the arrow would almost always zip right through, but they don't.  In short, don't worry about shooting through them.  And be thankful if you do.

[Guru]

Absolutely sharpen!!!

Like some said earlier,,,get a big ,bad broadhead out the other side to do as much damage as possible.

[rg176bnc]

ALWAYS SHARP!!  The key to recovery on birds is to not chase them once their shot.  Just like deer they will go a few yards and die if you dont mess with them.

[One eye]

I always sharpen my BIG Snuffers for turkeys.  Even razor sharp, I sometimes don't get pass throughs.  Turkeys are tougher than you think.

Dan

[flatbowMB]

Scary sharp without a doubt.  There is no such thing as 'too much penetration' with either turkeys or big game.  Having an arrow remain in a turkey will not stop it from running or flying away.

[laddy]

I use three blades with razor-blades glued to them, Jack Howard style with a bit wider set.  It's hard for me to believe, but bludgeons
are legal in Iowa. They don't kill even pheasants, I cannot imagine what kind of hit on a turkey would be needed.  My first turkey was with a copperhead ripper, that worked like a charm.