Horrible feeling

[huntnmachine]

Great story and understand why you feel bad but that's hunting, as much as we don't like losing an animal, it happens.
I have watched several video's on shot placement on turkeys with bow or crossbow and they have a very small kill zone with regards to broadside shots. As mentioned head/neck shots are a guaranty kill but a real small target

[Lenny]

I have felt your pain. If you found pools of blood, I bet if you put a dog on the scent you will find that bird, and maybe it has been cool enough?

I have unfortunately had to do this a couple times. Each time we couldn’t find the bird, but within a few minutes the dog did, and it was always holed up in some nasty tight hiding spot you would never see it or find it in. Follow that dogs nose!

[klums]

I had the same thing on my first archery bird, now I only shoot for the neck/head.

[Turkey Fanatic]

Thanks Tom for sharing your unfortunate experience and I share your pain as I too lost a bird over ten years ago (He was "stunned and flapping", and my gun jammed only to see him fly off...). I have seen a few other birds lost where the (mostly first time), hunters have taken marginal shots (a moving bird, through bush or at too great a distance), and never once have we recovered any of these wounded birds.
I've been pursuing turkeys since 1999 and have a true passion for the "king of gamebirds" and especially enjoy helping others out. I have always shot my turkey shotguns prior to every season with the same ammunition that I started with 23 years ago which is Kent - "Diamond Kote" 3" with #5 shot. I keep my shots to 45 yards or less with the sweet spot being 35 yards. I use a red dot scope which really helps focus the bead on the top of the chest and it has proved to be very lethal. Having said this, every gun is different and one has to practice, a lot, with their shotgun to determine what brand and shot shell configuration works best for them (in my opinion, turkey targets are a must and are relatively inexpensive...).
I'm in the Ottawa area for the next week or so and if anyone would like to go on a hunt, I would be delighted to join you. I have all the necessary calls, decoys, targets, shells and my own transportation and am very flexible on timing. I am not trying to solicit your favorite hunting spots as I know these are sacred but just offering my free expertise to anyone who might want to take advantage of it... Wishing you all a safe (most important!!), and fruitful hunting season in your pursuit of these magnificent birds!! Thank you,
Turkey Fanatic

[Turkeyjohn]

That sucks hard Tom, so sorry to hear you couldn't locate the bird, hit that hard and still lots of life....? Believable....I've had birds rise from the dead after getting blasted with a shotgun and we've had to put more into them to finish them.... Stay after them...

[tom gobble]

Unfortunately don’t have have a dog and Wish I new someone with one. The last place I found blood was close to a swamp. So who knows?

[tom gobble]

Thanks Tom for sharing your unfortunate experience and I share your pain as I too lost a bird over ten years ago (He was "stunned and flapping", and my gun jammed only to see him fly off...). I have seen a few other birds lost where the (mostly first time), hunters have taken marginal shots (a moving bird, through bush or at too great a distance), and never once have we recovered any of these wounded birds.
I've been pursuing turkeys since 1999 and have a true passion for the "king of gamebirds" and especially enjoy helping others out. I have always shot my turkey shotguns prior to every season with the same ammunition that I started with 23 years ago which is Kent - "Diamond Kote" 3" with #5 shot. I keep my shots to 45 yards or less with the sweet spot being 35 yards. I use a red dot scope which really helps focus the bead on the top of the chest and it has proved to be very lethal. Having said this, every gun is different and one has to practice, a lot, with their shotgun to determine what brand and shot shell configuration works best for them (in my opinion, turkey targets are a must and are relatively inexpensive...).
I'm in the Ottawa area for the next week or so and if anyone would like to go on a hunt, I would be delighted to join you. I have all the necessary calls, decoys, targets, shells and my own transportation and am very flexible on timing. I am not trying to solicit your favorite hunting spots as I know these are sacred but just offering my free expertise to anyone who might want to take advantage of it... Wishing you all a safe (most important!!), and fruitful hunting season in your pursuit of these magnificent birds!! Thank you,
Turkey Fanatic

I wish I had my gun, I wouldn’t be posting my unfortunate situation. I was using a crossbow