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Bowhunting turkeys is hard. Whether you sit and wait in a ground blind or run and gun with a bow-mounted decoy, getting into range isn't easy. When you do get a bird close, the precision of the shot needs to be perfect. Turkeys have small vitals about the size of a baseball, and if you miss those vitals, you're in for a rodeo. Of course you can opt for a head/neck shot, which is guaranteed lethal, but the margin for error is even smaller.
Another challenge when bowhunting turkeys is the lack of defined aiming points. Hefty ebony feathers can make knowing exactly where to hold a challenge. That's why broadhead selection is critical. I am on a mission to kill a turkey with a bow in every state that has a huntable population. I've checked off 21 states so far, and this coming spring, a West Coast mission is on the calendar. These are six of the best turkey broadheads that I trust to get the job done when I'm in the field.
The Best Turkey Broadheads
Best Overall: SEVR Ti 2.0
Best No Collar: Rage Hypodermic NC
Best Hybrid: NAP DK4
Best Fixed-Blade: Iron Will Wide Series
Best for Head Shots: Magnus Bullhead
Best Overall: SEVR Ti 2.0
Specs
Weight: 100 and 125-grain
Material: Titanium
Cutting Diameter: 2 inch
Blades: 2
Blade Type: Mechanical
Pros
Deadly accurate
Large cutting diameter
No-fail blade deployment
Works with compound bows and crossbows
Cons
Sold individually
Expensive
I've killed a pile of longbeards with this sleek, slim, and ultra-durable 2-inch cut-diameter titanium ferrule broadhead. The head is deadly accurate, and the pair of stainless-steel blades remain fully contained in the ferrule until impact. Upon impact, StretchCut stretches the feathers and skin to create a massive entrance hole. Ideal for vertical and horizontal bowhunters, the 2.0, like all SEVR broadheads, features Practice-Lock. SEVR added a second set screw hole in the ferrule so bowhunters can add the included set screw and lock the blades in place. This way, you can practice with the same broadhead you plan to hunt with. As a bonus, the 2.0 is devastating on whitetails.
Best No Collar: Rage Hypodermic NC
Specs
Weight: 100 grain
Material: Stainless steel blades
Cutting Diameter: 2 inch
Blades: 2
Blade Type: Mechanical
Pros
Massive wound channels
Ultra accurate
Short, compact ferrule
Cons
Difficult to resharpen
Blades can be brittle
I've shot multiple toms and jakes with the Hypodermic NC. The pair of blades are razor sharp, and with no O-rings or collars, the blades remain in the ferrule until impact. I've never had a deployment in the quiver, nor had the blades open in flight, even when shooting ultra-light, fast arrows. The Slip Cam pivot point keeps the blades in place while closed. Another winning feature, especially for combating those thick ebony feathers, is the hypodermic tip, which penetrates quickly, punches a hole, and allows the blades to follow.
Best Hybrid: NAP DK4
Specs
Weight: 100 and 125 grain
Material: Stainless steel blades
Cutting Diameter: 2 inches
Blades: 1 ¾ inches
Blade Type: Hybrid
Pros
Hybrid design means guaranteed cutting power
The main blade deflects around bone and heavy tissue
Excellent crossover head for big game
Cons
Loud in flight
Not a 2-inch cut
NAP has given us an array of trusted turkey broadheads, but my new go-to is the DK4. The Trophy Tip is slim, sleek, and durable, making for a great crossover between springtime gobblers and fall whitetail. The main blade is fixed but can pivot to maintain momentum, and a pair of mechanical bleeder blades spring open on impact. The DK4, via Spitfire Spring Clip technology, uses no collars or O-rings. The technology secures the blades during flight and ensures reliable deployment every time. The broadhead, even with the fixed main blade, is remarkably accurate. I've shot it head-to-head against field points out to 100 yards. It doesn't hit right with my field points past 50, but on average, it hits 2.67 inches right of my field points at 100. The bottom line: This broadhead smashes turkeys.
Best Fixed-Blade: Iron Will Wide Series
Specs
Weight: 100-250 grains
Material: Steel blades
Cutting Diameter: 2-1/8-inch
Blades: 2 inches
Blade Type: Fixed
Pros
Ultra-durable
Bleeder blade
Big cutting diameter
Accurate
Cons
Expensive
I'm not a fixed-blade broadhead guy, especially for turkeys. Turkeys are thin-skinned and light-boned, and I'll take a 2-inch cut over a 1-inch cut any day of the week. However, if I were to sling a fixed blade at a tom, it would be Iron Will's Wide. Available in many grain weight options, this head is excellent for compounds, crossbows, and traditional bows. Also, and this is an emerging theme in this article, the Wide Series is a big-game killer. The .62-inch thick A2 Tool Steel blades are razor-sharp, and the lower bleeder blade increases killing power. Last season, my buddy's wife carved up a pair of gobblers with this durable, accurate broadhead. Iron Will does offer a turkey and small game broadhead. However, I've yet to test it, but it's likely a solid option if you're not sold on the Wide.
Best for Head Shots: Magnus Bullhead
Specs
Weight: 100 and 125 grain
Material: Stainless steel
Cutting Diameter: 2 ¾ inches
Blades: 3 inches
Blade Type: Fixed
Pros
Instant death
Surgical sharp blades
Blades are perfectly angled
Cons
Not accurate beyond 20 yards
Can't be used on big game
I've started shooting more turkeys in the head recently. I typically make my headshots with one of the abovementioned broadheads. However, if you want a turkey-only broadhead and aim to cut the head clean off, the Magnus Bullhead is the move. Suprisingly accurate to 20 yards, this broadhead has three perfectly angled, surgical-sharp blades that remove a turkey's head if hit correctly. In my case, the first time I used the Bullhead, I hit low on the neck with the last 1/2-inch of a single blade and still killed the bird quickly. The almost 3-inch cut diameter is impressive.
Dead Ringer Great White
Specs
Weight: 100-grain that converts to 125-grain
Material: Stainless steel
Cutting Diameter: 2 ½ inches
Blades: 2 inches
Blade Type: Hybrid
Pros
Massive cutting diameter
Sharp blades
Super accurate
Adjustable grain weight
Cons
Weak ferrule
Noisy in flight
This broadhead is a turkey killer. I love the needle-point tip, one-inch in-flight fixed diameter, and remarkable 2.5-inch exit diameter. Dead Ringer calls the head a hybrid, and I don't entirely disagree, though it's a far cry from a standard hybrid with at least one fixed blade. The Great White has no fixed blade. Instead, the front-deploy blades' tail ends are razor sharp and sit below the tip. This design allows one-inch cut activation before the main blades start cutting. The O-ring is strong, sits low on the ferrule, and I've yet to experience any malfunction. The Great White is long and sleek, and it flies remarkably well.
How We Tested Turkey Broadheads
I spend 50-plus days hunting turkeys with my bow each spring and get plenty of opportunities to test broadheads. Every selection above has passed through at least one tom. I'm not a fixed-blade broadhead guy, and don't pretend to be. The fixed blade mentioned in this review was tested on the range for accuracy, and though I didn't kill a turkey with it, I watched someone shoot a gobbler with it.
Aside from chasing turkeys, I spend countless days testing bows, arrows, broadheads, and various other archery accessories yearly. I'm also a big-game fanatic. Broadheads are expensive, and I believe in using broadheads for turkeys that I can use for whitetail and other big-game critters come fall.
What To Consider When Buying Turkey Broadheads
First, consider your target animal. In addition to a thick wall of black feathers, turkeys have mostly hollow bones, thin skin, and tiny organs. They aren't a bull elk or a cape buffalo. A pass-through isn't mandatory to anchor a bird. I prefer if my arrow stops in the bird's center, allowing the broadhead to grind and cause massive damage.
When choosing a turkey broadhead, consider the cutting diameter. Typically, I like broadheads with a cutting diameter between 1 ¾ and 2 inches. Larger-cut broadheads like 2.3 and 2.5 inches are fine for turkeys, but use caution when shooting these heads on big-game animals unless they are a hybrid design. Broadheads are pricy, and I like to use the same broadheads I use for turkeys for big-game hunting.
I don't get overly hung up on durability. As long as the broadhead doesn't crumble like a tin can when it hits feathers or bone, I don't care how mangled it looks after smashing into a rock or tree trunk. I don't change out blades. I put a premium on accuracy, and once I shoot an animal with a broadhead, that head goes in the practice pile. Pick a solid, sharp, big-cut diameter broadhead that flies like a dart, and you'll kill more turkeys.
FAQs
Q: Can I use deer broadheads for turkey?
Absolutely. While I don't recommend anything under a 1 ¾-inch cut diameter for turkeys, I have killed multiple toms with 1-1/8 and 1 ½-inch cut broadheads. The primary purpose of going big with turkey broadheads is that the margin of error is small, and a larger cutting-diameter broadhead will compensate for shooter error.
Q: What’s better: a mechanical or fixed broadhead for turkey?
Mechanical. The only exception is if you're not pulling enough pounds to initiate mechanical broadhead expansion. Most fixed-blade broadheads have a cutting diameter that is too small for turkeys.
Q: What broadheads do the most damage?
Mechanical broadheads are devastating. They create so much trauma that I use them on elk, deer, pronghorn, bear, etc. Yes, excellently made fixed-blade broadheads do kill and cause devastation; however, the first time you look at the entrance and exit hole of a razor-sharp two-blade expandable, you'll be hooked.
Q: What is the best turkey broadhead?
I like SEVR's 2.0. The broadhead's performance on big game animals is the main reason. I've killed elk with this 2-inch-cut broadhead, and it performs well on turkeys. However, any 2-inch cut broadhead that's not made from crappy aluminum and sports surgical-sharp blades will get the job done. Don't spend too much time in the broadhead aisle at the pro shop. Pick one of the broadheads in this article, and you'll stack up birds.
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