Turkey Broadheads Explained: What Actually Works (Full Setup Guide)

A turkey can look huge in the field, right up until you try to thread an arrow into a tiny vital zone on a bird that never stops moving. That’s why broadhead choice matters more for archery turkey hunting than most people want to admit. Zach from Extreme Outfitters sits down with JR Gettler to sort through the real tradeoffs between mechanical broadheads, fixed blade broadheads, and guillotine or decapitation broadheads, with a focus on what actually helps you recover a bird.

We talk through body-shot setups that keep things simple and forgiving, including why a bigger cutting diameter can be your friend and why many hunters like mechanical heads that fly close to a field point. Then we get honest about fixed blades: reliable, yes, but often smaller cuts and less margin for error, plus more tuning demands. JR also shares what it took to get a guillotine style head flying well, including slowing the rig down, running a longer arrow for clearance, choosing the right arrow spine, and adding more steering with fletching so the front end doesn’t act like a propeller.

You’ll leave with a practical checklist for bow tuning, broadhead testing, and setting a hard max range that matches your skill, your blind or run-and-gun style, and your ethics. If this helps, subscribe, share it with your turkey hunting group, and leave a review so more bowhunters can make cleaner shots this season.

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Transcript

Turkey Broadhead Questions

Zakk Plocica 0:00

All right, turkey broadheads. Which one should you shoot? What should you opt for? What should you consider? What do you need to consider when putting a turkey broadhead on the front of your arrow? That's what we're covering today on the archery projects. Late projects, project, ladies and gentlemen. I'm your host, Zach. I have a company called Extreme Outfitters, one of the fastest growing archery shops and suppliers in the country. And I'm here with Mr. JR, who's been with us for quite some time at this point. A wealth of knowledge. And we're talking turkey broadheads today. Um Turkey hunting is hard enough. Now do it with a bow. Yeah. Just add to it, right? It's tough. But uh you you definitely, it's a definitely a different setup uh for most people, I would say, would change their their bow setup, arrow selection potentially, uh, and broadhead selection. And broadheads are one of those things um that have a massive impact on flight, especially when you shoot those monster guillotine broadheads. Yep. Um so JR, you actually set one up the other day. Uh we got the new Dirty Birds. The Dirty Birds in, which are pretty slick. Yeah, they're sound really good. Um definitely got to take in some consideration with those things because you shoot them when they're open, right? The guillotine style ones. So we'll get into all that. But before we do, you know, we talk about turkeys. Turkey's a small animal. If you've ever been around turkeys in the wild, it's not standing still for you. Yeah, it's not giving you that perfect shot for a long extended period of time. Uh, and the vitals are substantially smaller than, you know, you know, a whitetailed deer or an elk or anything for that matter. Um, and you've had some success turkey hunting with a bow.

JR Gettler 1:38

I have. I've gotten one. So um that was a couple years ago, and I was using actually an expandable broadhead. Um, but yes, it is a lot more challenging, and actually it was very exhilarating and exciting, even though um when I shot my turkey, it wasn't doing you know the turkey things, it wasn't coming in, spitting and drumming, all fluffed out and everything. It was just it was a 60-yard shot, is what it wound up being. Me and another buddy were we're in my ground blind, and that was as close as we can get him to come in. So we took the shot. Um, I thought I missed, I thought my shot was horrible, but I actually wanted to be in my area that connected. So uh yeah, got my first turkey that way.

Zakk Plocica 2:13

Yeah, it's good looking. It's on the wall, too.

Why Turkeys Humble Bowhunters

JR Gettler 2:15

That one, no, that that that one's actually the one I got with my shot.

Zakk Plocica 2:18

Oh, okay, gotcha. Okay, so you've sort of killed a couple of them. Yeah, but with the bow, that's impressive, man. Um, expandable. I mean, it is a small target, and that's one thing to take into consideration. You know, hunting, you've got to be turkeys have such good eyesight as it is. Yes, you know, whether you're hunting out of the out of a ground blind or just on the ground with nothing, you've got to be conscious of your your movement, right? So that's why a lot of guys they'll turn down a bow. Right? Not you typically don't want to shoot an 80-pound bow, probably at a bird. Yeah.

JR Gettler 2:44

I mean, there are guys that do it, yeah. And and if you're in a ground blind, you can get away with a lot more movement in that. But yes, it's still very challenging to be able to get be successful turkey hunting like that.

Zakk Plocica 2:54

Yeah, and and the consideration too is where you where you shoot that bird at, right? Depending on the broad head you use, whether you're shooting for their head or you know, you're shooting for the vitals. Right. I know I talked to Mr. Bobby, who is a turkey killing fool, that dude, and he hunts off the ground with a bow in a leafy suit, just and he's like 70 something. Yeah, and gets it done every single year, tags out, crushes it. He's just phenomenal. That's what he lives for is turkey, also a very good whitetail hunter.

JR Gettler 3:21

Yes.

Zakk Plocica 3:22

Um, but uh he talks about whenever he shoots them, he typically shoots them kind of like um takes their legs out.

JR Gettler 3:30

Yes. Um, so he's aiming a little bit further back and a little bit further down, so that way they cannot run off or fly off. Right. Especially if you can pin those uh their their wings together, that way they can't fly.

Zakk Plocica 3:39

Right, because that's the thing. I mean, you look at this turkey, it's so it looks so big, right? But the actual the vitals on it are very, very small. And when it's constantly moving, it's very difficult. So that's kind of his approach, and he's been very successful with it. But I think he shoots just a standard mechanical broadhead.

JR Gettler 3:52

He does. Yeah, um, he's I think he normally runs like the the megameat. Oh, which is a fantastic broadhead, which we'll get into all those.

Zakk Plocica 4:00

But I think um, you know, we're you're not looking for penetration like you are with like a a bigger animal, right? Uh a whitetail or an elk or something like that. You're not looking for that deep penetration. That's not what you're after. Um looking you're looking for precise, a good shot. Um, and that's typically again why we see those broadheads are a lot bigger. Um, the bows are turned down a little bit because um penetration is not the focus, right? Right. So different things to consider. Um, I've always been intrigued with the guys that shoot them in the head. It's I mean, it's a one dude, it's a one and done, man. That's like ideal, but that's a difficult shot depending on the distance. And typically those shots you're are much closer.

JR Gettler 4:44

Yeah, I would say, you know, anywhere from 10 to 20 yards is kind of what you're hoping for with those big guillotine heads. Um, because you know, you you do have the factors with with flight coming into play, so that that's just adding a giant propeller on the front of that arrow. And if you don't have something good steering on the back, that's just gonna cause a nightmare.

Zakk Plocica 5:00

Right. What I mean, what are you ideally for you? Are you looking for a headshot or are you gonna, you know, are you shooting for the vitals?

JR Gettler 5:09

So in the past, I was using more uh mechanical. So I was wearing the rage tricky heads, so those actually have a meat hook on the front of them. Um and then it's a uh deployable two-inch cut on those, if I remember right. Um so that's more body shot, and then you have the big guillotine um three to four inch cut, and that you're gonna go for the headshots on those. Right.

Zakk Plocica 5:28

So I mean the margin for uh error is extremely small.

JR Gettler 5:33

It is. Uh, because you know, turkeys are constantly moving, they're constantly looking around. They they their eyesight is so incredible. If they could smell, they would be the hardest animal to hunt.

Zakk Plocica 5:42

Yeah, I don't think you'd kill them. Yeah, um, it's it's it's wild watching them in the wild and just how they you know interact with one, with each other and two, just how they interact in the wild because it's not a stationary target. That's what makes it so difficult. Like you've got to wait for it to give you that shot opportunity, and you've got to get to that point where you can get the bow back. And you know, that's why I don't think there's there's a lot of bow hunters that bow hunt turkey, but it's just not as big of a thing. Right. You know, most people go to the shotgun. Uh so I really give it to the guys that get after it with the bow because it's I mean, it's difficult.

JR Gettler 6:13

Yeah, it is a definite challenge.

Zakk Plocica 6:14

It really is, especially like run and gun style. Oh, yeah, yeah.

JR Gettler 6:17

Yeah, it's very hard.

Zakk Plocica 6:18

Very, very difficult. So you just got to be, I mean, I think you really have to be tuned in. And that's uh the other cool thing, too, is uh turkey season is another opportunity to spend more time with your bow. And it really does, you know, you have to be in tune with what's going on around you because you know it's not like you can just sit up against a tree and wait for them to come in and shoot them. You have to have the opportunity to draw that bow back, make a good shot. Um, a lot of different variables come into effect when it comes to shooting a turkey with a an actual bow. Yeah. Um, and then the guys that do it with the trad bows, even a whole nother level. Oh, yeah. Absolutely insane.

Broadhead Categories And Shot Goals

Speaker 2 6:50

Okay.

Zakk Plocica 6:50

Um so when we get into like the broadhead categories, right? Obviously, we have mechanical broadheads, expandable broadheads, uh, and then we have fixed blade broadheads, uh, and then you have like turkey-specific broadheads, like the um guillotine style, decapitation style broadhead. Um, and I think everything you you can get it done with with any of them. We've seen it, people have killed them with all of the above. Um, but there are definitely pros and cons, I would say, to each of the different category. Um, so starting with like mechanical broadheads, expandable broadheads, is kind of my go-to for, especially for like just hunting in general. Um, they're so easy to tune.

JR Gettler 7:32

They are. Yeah, typically they are. And you're gonna have a much greater margin of error. So if you're going for a body shot, you will have a little bit better margin of error if you do miss a little bit, you're not gonna be detrimental, especially with those big cuts, like a two-inch or um two and a half inch cut. If you can get something like that, that's gonna be that's just gonna help you in the long run.

Zakk Plocica 7:50

Yeah, and I mean you look at it tuning-wise, it's easy, it shoots like a field tip for like your good mechanical broadheads. Like, there's not a lot you gotta do once that bow's shooting good. You can put it on there, you can go shoot it up against your field point. It's pretty dang close. Um, but there's also cons to it as well. I mean, with it, I mean, it's it's smaller than like your guillotine style head.

JR Gettler 8:12

Um you do have a possibility for failures with mechanicals, you know. That's always always brought up.

Zakk Plocica 8:17

And it is.

JR Gettler 8:18

I don't think that's as big of a problem as it was in the past with older older broadheads. You know, there's more technology into everything archery now. So all the broadheads now are pretty much dependable. You shouldn't have to worry about anything failing.

Zakk Plocica 8:30

Yeah, I agree. I think for the most part, your your any of your mechanical broadheads from a like a reputable brand. There's I mean, you you can't fake it anymore. There's so much uh information on them, and there's so many people out there testing them and trying, you know what's gonna work. And a majority of your quality mechanical broadheads are perform extremely well. The failure rate's so low on them.

JR Gettler 8:49

Yeah, and typically if there's a failure, it's probably something that you did on, you know, let's be honest.

Zakk Plocica 8:54

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, anything can happen, but realistically, failure rate's very low. Um, in the mechanical like category, there's a lot of really great options, I think, especially for turkey, but you need to, I would prioritize a bigger cutting diameter, more blade, wouldn't you say?

JR Gettler 9:09

Oh, yeah, yeah. Um, like the the Mega Meat, that'd be a great one to run. Um, even the T2 from G5, those would be great ones to run. And then you have the actual turkey style broadheads. Uh so like the rage turkey heads. Um Iron Wheel has actually a fixed blade um turkey head. That's another one that's um I've I've seen actually have those. Um, I know there's a bunch of other ones, but yeah, you can you can still pretty much run just about anything. I've seen a bunch of guys run annihilators, that's another fixed blade broadhead. Um a lot of guys use those. So yeah, you can basically throw any broadhead on there and still be successful.

Zakk Plocica 9:39

Yeah, uh, I just think I do think that there are, you know, if I was looking at it, I'd a fixed blade broadhead would not be my first choice personally. Um, but when you look at mechanical back to it, like going uh rear deploying versus front deploying blades. I mean, do you have any like preference on that? I because I feel like like a Grim Reaper broadhead, like one of the big like white-tail specials might be another really good option with those front deploying broadhead or blades.

JR Gettler 10:05

Yeah, um I've never tried that, but I I bet that would be a good one. The other white tail special, because that is a massive three-inch cut on that. It's huge. The only downside is you know, it's gonna rob a lot of kinetic energy when those blades open up because it is that forward-deploying um blades. So, I mean, you could have a possibly problem there if it's not high enough poundage or or fast enough. So, I mean, that's something that could be considered, but definitely we're not worried about, like we said, the penetration. We just want that stopping power too. So it could actually work out really good.

Zakk Plocica 10:33

Yeah, yeah, it's a big broadhead, man. And they dude, from my experience with them, they fly extremely well, which was always a concern for me when you talk about front deploying broadheads, because you know, just that resistance from the wind, I feel like there would be the potential for them to um deploy prematurely, but I've never seen that happen. And they are super, super accurate out the distance, even though a little they're a little bit bigger, and you get a monster cutting diameter with like that whitetail special and stuff like we're talking about. Um, so another really great option there. I think um the the Mega Meat too, I mean, it's just a good universal broadhead. It's been incredibly popular. Um, G5 makes really, really great products, and the blades are incredibly sharp. It's a big cutting diameter too, two inches, and it's a three-blade.

Speaker 2 11:16

Yep.

Zakk Plocica 11:16

Um, and those are a sweatback design, so it deploys from the rear. Uh, so you do get a little bit more penetration out of it, which is good. Yeah, um, but depending on who you talk to, most people, or not most, but a lot of people I've talked to do not want that pass through, they want that arrow stuck in that animal so it's or that turkey so it's easier to find. Yeah.

JR Gettler 11:34

I mean, yeah, and like I said, too, you could have it where you pin the wings together too, so that way they cannot fly off.

Zakk Plocica 11:39

So because that's a big thing. Man, the birds are tough. They are like if you don't put a good shot on them, like and if you wound it, it's gonna fly off. And tracking it down could be a task.

JR Gettler 11:50

Yeah, so I mean, that happened with the first one that I shot with my shotgun. I mean, we it was at 70 yards when I shot it, and it actually flew off. And I mean, it was still alive. We ran right after it, it was still alive. I tried grabbing it by the neck and trying to bring it. That is actually really hard. Like, if if you've ever tried to do that with a turkey, it is extremely hard to try to break their neck.

Zakk Plocica 12:07

Yeah, that thing, dude. Poor bird.

JR Gettler 12:09

Yeah, yeah. Um, and I totally messed up on that too. So, you know, it was laying away from me when I got up to it. So I tried grabbing it by the the feet first, and it just started instant kicking me. So I just was like, oh crap. Instant thought next was grab by the tail because that was the closest thing there.

Zakk Plocica 12:24

Just rip all the feathers out.

JR Gettler 12:25

The whole whole fan came out of my hand. I was like, oh my god, I felt so awful. And then I finally got, yeah, and it was I was trying to stop its neck and everything too. And it's they are very tough animals. Jesus.

Zakk Plocica 12:35

Yeah, oh man, that would have been a great video. Yeah, it would have dude. That's like the time my wife tried to kill one of our chickens because it was hurt and she's beating it with a hoe. It's just won't die. I'm like, oh my, oh yeah, birds are tough, man. They're dude, they're creepy looking too. Yeah. Um, I dude, I've always thought turkeys were like, especially like your hens and stuff, just so ugly. They're like cockroaches out there walking around.

JR Gettler 12:56

I know. But they are they are actually fun to chase after.

Zakk Plocica 13:00

Oh, dude, it's like if you talk to anybody, like a lot of guys we interact with, like turkey hunting is fun because it's it's like constantly go, go, go. It's not just sit and wait. You're like proactive. Yeah, a lot of these, like the run and gun scenarios, right? If you have the ability to.

JR Gettler 13:14

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I've done that a bunch too. You know, just calling trying to locate them and then chase after them and then be able to close the distance on them. So it is it is a lot of fun.

Zakk Plocica 13:21

Yeah, a lot of disappointment too. Yeah, oh yeah.

JR Gettler 13:24

A lot.

Zakk Plocica 13:24

Yeah. Um, so the other, so you know, the great thing about mechanical is essentially you can carry over what you're doing from your the white tail season into turkey hunting without making a lot of changes, right? Because you don't have to change the length of your arrow because you don't have to consider that broadhead being bigger. You can realistically shoot that, put that bigger broadhead on there, and be good to go in the turkey wood and in the in the game for turkey. Um, so if you're somebody that doesn't like tuning and changing a lot, a mechanical broadhead with a big cutting diameter is a really great option for you. I think the the severs, the hybrid series, right? That hybrid 2.0, a big cutting diameter, it's got the bleeders on it. So, you know, ideally you'll less penetration, right? It's gonna slow down a little bit more with that bigger cutting diameter. So hopefully that arrow stays in there um a little bit better. But you can always turn your bow down too. You know, if you're shooting a 70-pound bow, take a couple turns out, get it down to 60 pounds, retune it. You're gonna have to if you take that approach. Absolutely. Um, but I think mechanical for a lot of people is very simple. There's just not a lot of changes that you have to make in order to take it out there and shoot it.

Mechanical Broadheads And Range

JR Gettler 14:23

Um, so the one that that I shot, it was on I had a Mach 30 then, and it was still 70 pounds. Um, so I didn't have to change anything. I was using my regular hunting arrows. Um, and actually worked out great for that longer shot, too. So, I mean that was a nice aspect there. If you're gonna have to possibly take a longer shot, you know, that is something to consider as well. Um, but also um, where's I going with that?

Zakk Plocica 14:45

Long shots out of your bow with a mechanical broadhead.

JR Gettler 14:48

Um, that'll just be more helpful for you for for that. Um, one thing to consider though, we're talking about these mechanical broadheads, is you know, you're going for the body. So if you're planning to get it full body mount, that is gonna mess up the skin and the hide, possibly. So that is one thing to consider. So when you take it to a tax dermis, you might have to end up getting some um a lot of repairs done to it.

Fixed Blades Pros And Pitfalls

Zakk Plocica 15:07

Yeah, interesting. That is a good consideration, you know, uh depending on what your goals are, if you know, with the mount and stuff. But the other thing, too, you brought up really good point is shooting distance, right? Because it doesn't always work out. Turkeys don't always come into you um like you would hope for them to, and you know, maybe the shot is a little bit longer. If it's greater than 20 yards, realistically a guillotine-style broad head probably might not be a great option for you. Um you definitely have to be close with that. So mechanical extends your range a little bit with a still giving you the that big cutting diameter. So depending on the type of hunting you're doing, you know, if you are that running gun and you don't aren't able to get that close um shot like out of a blind, maybe where you have decoy set up, mechanical is gonna be a really great option. Yeah, um, and again, like we talked about, failure rate on them is so low. And they just they they they're easy to shoot, and you don't have to do a lot as far as tuning-wise with the bow. So mechanical, I think, is probably the top of the list for a lot of people. Yeah. Um but could be wrong. I mean, that's the great thing about options. So we move into the next category: fixed blade broadheads. To me, this just is not ideal for turkey hunting, personally, out of a compound bow. Um, you because you get you get more penetration out of them. You the tuning process is a little bit more in depth. If you if you know how to do it, it's not a big deal. But if if you don't know how to broadhead tune and and all of that, uh fixed blade broadhead, maybe not the best option for you. Right.

JR Gettler 16:26

And also it's gonna be smaller cut too. So much smaller. You're gonna have a little less margin for error with that too. So that's one thing to consider.

Zakk Plocica 16:32

The pros about them though is they're reliable. You do get better penetration. So if you're shooting through thick stuff a little bit thicker, it's a great option. You don't have to worry about it prematurely deploying, um, shooting through maybe some leaves or whatnot. You would just have to worry about the flexion.

JR Gettler 16:45

Or you're or you're blind. I mean, that's I've seen it happen a bunch of times where you don't have your window low enough, and you know, you're you're basically you're you're side over bore, you know, sideover arrow. You're not aiming right, you're gonna hit that blind too.

Zakk Plocica 16:55

So funny story about uh turkey hunting out of a blind. One of the first time I did it ever, like years ago. Um dude, I was on him, buddy. And uh I was shooting a thumb button and I drew the bow back, and my my elbow hit the rear of the blind. It bumped my um release, sent me forward. I sent my arrow through the front of the blind, about ripped the entire wall out. It was it did not go well. And uh that turkey just was kind of like, yeah, I'm not messing with this. Yeah, yeah, I'm going for it. Yep, uh, it was definitely funny, but um, yeah. I mean, fixed blade broadheads, like again, there's really great options out there for it. But turkey hunting, personally, not a not something I would gravitate towards. If you do, I would be curious to hear from you guys. You know, you know, what's your experience with hunting with a fixed blade broadhead for turkey hunting? Is it something you is there a particular reason you do do it? Do you like it more? Uh give some comments and feedback because I would be um interested to hear from you guys. Obviously, a traditional guy, yes, fixed blade makes sense.

JR Gettler 17:56

Oh, yeah, 100%. I mean, that's all you can really use. Yeah. You're just not gonna get the speed to be able to have those blades deploy on a mechanical. Absolutely.

Guillotine Heads Need A New Setup

Zakk Plocica 18:03

So fixed blade broadheads. I mean, the biggest pro to it is reliability, but the drawback is it's just the penetration. You're gonna get a ton of penetration through it, cutting diameter smaller. Um, I think your recovery, your margin of error is less, and recovery um percentage is probably gonna be a little bit lower if the shot's just not perfect. Yeah. So yeah, 100%. 100% percent of 100. I like it. I like the input, JR. We've got to get you warmed up over here. You need a monster energy drink. Yeah, I do. So that's the that's the second option. And obviously, third is the turkey specific broadheads. So this is this does um change the bow. And we've talked to guys recently who have found that out. Um, because of, you know, we talk turkey-specific broadheads, the guillotine and the decapitation style, awesome looking, right? You're like, wow, if I could kid that on camera, this is gonna be so incredible. The other thing is if you shoot a turkey in the head and you chop its head off, it ain't going far. Yeah, very easy to track, and then you don't mess up the body at all for the mount. So a lot of pros to it, but the drawbacks are the shot has to be close. You have to be on top of them, and then the tuning side about it. And then the other thing you got to consider is, which we were talking about it, I don't know why it escaped me when we were talking about it, is that broadhead is already deployed and it's huge. Your arrow has got to be long enough to clear your site housing and the riser, your bow. So you're going to have to shoot a different arrow. So let's talk about the tuning side a little bit, what you experienced and what considerations you need to have whenever it goes to strapping that massive broadhead on there. Because you've got one on for your current setup this year.

JR Gettler 19:42

Yep. Yep. So um I'm shooting my Levitate that I've had for years. My one of my favorite bows ever. That bow you'll never get rid of. I'm not. Never. Um, so I had 80 pound limbs on there. Luckily, I have a set of 70-pound limbs. I put that on there. I did turn it down a little bit too, so it's pulling like 66 pounds. I was trying to get it a little bit lower, but it's it's fine. It's still gonna shoot just fine. Or it is shooting fine.

Zakk Plocica 20:02

Um, yeah, because I watched the video you posted where you shot that broadhead. It was impressive.

JR Gettler 20:06

It's flying great. Yes. So and that was at 20 yards too. Um, so okay, so I've got a 30-inch draw length. So I'm already a long draw length, and I'm on an axis five mil full length 260 spine.

Zakk Plocica 20:18

Okay, so why did you choose an axis five mil 260 spine?

JR Gettler 20:21

So I wanted the axis because it's a very tough, durable arrow. That's why I'm like, yep, going to axis um hard-to-break arrow, very durable. And then I figured, so it's me full length arrow, so it's 33, 33 and a half inches for carbon to carbon length. So I needed to go down a spine at least. I was almost thinking about a 200 spine just to see what that would do. But luckily the 260s spine out perfectly. It's flying great. Um, I didn't have to shim my bow or anything. I just reset the center shot on it. Um, and it's it's still within spec. Oh, yeah, yeah. It's it's sitting 1316s. Um, I didn't have to shim or anything. So I did get a little bit, um, I think it was knock left when I shot it through paper, and it was just a about a half inch. So um, I mean that could just been me a little bit. Um, and I did throw a six fletch on the back.

Zakk Plocica 21:08

I was gonna ask next as far as steering that big broadhead, what changes do you make?

JR Gettler 21:12

So do you need something good to steer? A lot of guys do actually end up using feathers on their arrows, um, because you can get taller profiles and longer, and um, you can either wrap them around so that's the um the flu flu type, or you can just run run them straight down the arrow shaft. And just you want to have a lot of a lot of steering. So if you can do a six-fletch, five fletch, something that's gonna help steer that broadhead because you got that big steering head on the front, so you need something good on the back to help steer it. Um, so I went with the max stealth. I'm like, let's try it, let's see what it does. And I did a six-fletch on that, and it's spinning perfectly, and it's it's flying phenomenally.

Zakk Plocica 21:44

Interesting because I I'm a huge fan of the max stealth um veins for basically everything. Uh they adhere really well, they steer really well, they um they they don't take they maintain their shape well. Um they don't bend and stuff, and they go back to normal. Shape, uh, just a good uh vein, in my opinion. Um, but I was curious because it's a longer profile, it's not a super tall profile. I was curious how if it was going to steer that very well because I figured you would have gone with something more like maybe a max hunter or a DCA, like a super saber or something like that to steer with maybe a you know four or five fletch configuration, but that still steers good, huh? Yeah.

JR Gettler 22:22

Um I was thinking about even the X-Vane from Boney. That that's um Taylor actually threw those on his arrows, and they're flying pretty good with that too. So that's that's uh the parabolic shape uh or sorry, shield cut, and those are a little bit longer, maybe a a hair bit taller than the max stalls, but not much. Um but I also think a really big factor into it is if you're having too much speed, that's gonna cause a lot of problems as well. So my arrow is we saw that. Yes, I I think that's that's gonna cause a lot of problems. Um, so my arrow is clocking at 250 feet per second. So not very fast, but that's gonna be, I think, a good enough speed where it's gonna, you know, obviously it's performing really well there. So I think that's another big factor into it. Is if you're having too fast of an arrow, you're just gonna have problems with that too.

Zakk Plocica 23:05

Yeah, because look at it from any other perspective, right? When we're we're setting guys up to go hunt uh a bigger animal, right? And they want to run a fixed blade broadhead. Typically, tuning, once you get north of 290, 300 feet per second, that bow and that arrow setup is less forgiving with that big fixed blade broadhead on there. Let me look at we always reference it, look at the study Easton and them did, the aeroballistic study. Your average group size for a fixed blade broadhead is much greater than mechanical. And you have to be in tune with your shot process and have good fundamentals and consistent in order to shoot that fixed blade broadhead well, especially at distance. When the bow is shooting that fast, it'll start to kind of plane and kind of drift a little bit depending on the configuration and how you execute that shot. Because if there's any inconsistencies, you're you see it downrange with a fixed blade broadhead. So and it's amplified when the bow is shooting very, very fast. So obviously with these massive guillotine style broadheads, the faster the bow, the more likely it's going to, you know, drift one way or the other.

JR Gettler 24:09

Yep. Yep. That's why I like my hunting setups to be like 270 to 280s if I'm gonna run uh a fixed blade.

Zakk Plocica 24:14

Yeah, it makes sense. I mean, and you're so I mean you're getting more weight with that, um, a little bit obviously a heavier arrow, and it it tunes better at those speeds. I personally think so too. Like 280 to like 285 for a fixed blade broadhead is like max threshold for ideal. Yeah, because it the bow's a little bit more forgiving. You can still do it at those faster speeds, but you just have to be in tune with what you're doing because any kind of inconsistency, it's you just you see it.

JR Gettler 24:43

Yeah, and you do have to take typically a little bit more time tuning in. You gotta be a little bit more precise on everything.

Zakk Plocica 24:48

Absolutely, absolutely. So you're shooting a 260 spawn. It how heavy is the arrow?

JR Gettler 24:53

Uh 615 grains. Good lord.

Zakk Plocica 24:55

So super heavy in order to get it set up. But that thing you said it's full length. And the reason you had to run it with full length was because of the actual broadhead on the end.

JR Gettler 25:03

Right, you have the broadhead, and then also I'm I'm a longer drawling too. So if you know, if you're like a 29 or a 28 and a half inch drawling, you could probably still cut it down a little bit, but I would typically still just run it full length.

Zakk Plocica 25:12

Because you want it out in front of your site housing.

JR Gettler 25:14

Yeah, you want to make sure you got that clearance.

Zakk Plocica 25:16

Because if you draw the thing back, it's gonna pull that arrow right off the string. Uh so just little things you got to take into consideration. Um, and you know, you shot the what is it called? The Dirty Bird?

JR Gettler 25:25

Yeah, Dirty Bird.

Zakk Plocica 25:26

The Dirty Bird, which is a really cool broadhead too, because they collapse, so you can put them in your quiver, which is great. Um, but when you open this thing up, uh, which a lot of people is kind of confusing, because normally when you shoot a mechanical broadhead, it's closed and then you shoot it and it deploys on impact. This you pre- you deploy on your own, yes, and it's massive, man, and it's mean looking. And that video you shot at 20 yards into that pillow, like the flight on that thing was absolutely phenomenal.

JR Gettler 25:52

Yeah, it was perfect. And um, it was pretty devastating too. So I didn't hang my pillow like a lot of people say to do is to hang it so that way it's not gonna cause damage. Um, so I just rested against my my target, but it actually wound up cutting on both sides of the pillow after I didn't realize that at first.

Zakk Plocica 26:07

That's good penetration.

JR Gettler 26:08

So it didn't even fully penetrate through, it just it wound up cutting. That's how that's how sharp those blades are. So you could see the impact on the front, and then after I fold uh pulled it away, it actually cut it on the back side too. So it should be a devastating broadhead if I could get the opportunity. Yeah, you guys are gonna have to record it. Oh, yeah, I'm trying to.

Zakk Plocica 26:26

And and with that broadhead, you can you shoot it in the body with that, or is it specifically for headshots?

JR Gettler 26:31

I wouldn't do body because that's not gonna do anything, it's just gonna be more of the break its wing. Yeah, it'll probably break break the wing, but it's not gonna do enough penetration to be able to actually do damage to the vitals.

Zakk Plocica 26:40

So if you go the um guillotine style, you need to, I mean, your focus is a headshot, so you need to make sure you're close uh to these birds in order to shoot them. So I mean, that's a drawback with it, is you gotta make sure you're close.

JR Gettler 26:54

Yeah, like ideally 15, 20 yards is gonna be max.

Zakk Plocica 26:57

Yeah, that's what I was gonna wonder what your max yardage is with it.

JR Gettler 26:59

Uh I do want to shoot another one at 30 or even just do like 25 just to see. But typically I'm I'm planning for if it's more than 20 yards, I'm not gonna take a shot.

Zakk Plocica 27:08

Yeah. Are you is it a one and done broadhead too? I would assume.

JR Gettler 27:12

I would assume so. Yeah, um, so I did shoot that one broadhead twice. It did end up bending one of my blades back a little bit, and I think that's because I had my pillow against the target. Yeah, I think that's what caused that little bit of damage. Um, so I'm keeping that one as kind of a backup. I so you do get two in the in the pack. That's the only downside is you're only getting two broadheads. So I do have one other fresh broadhead, so that'll be the first one to go.

Zakk Plocica 27:32

Yeah, and so in these these cuttings, they're they're mechanical, you max that at like two, two and a half. These are a three or four-inch cutting diameter.

JR Gettler 27:40

Typically, yeah, all of yours are gonna be three or four inch massive. The the dirty birds are three inch, but then there's other companies that make four inches.

Zakk Plocica 27:45

So we've got so we've got dirty birds in uh specific. We got the rage turkey broadheads in, and then we got the the beast broadheads, the turkey broadhead, which will be in by the time this podcast drops. Um, so we got some different options, uh, I think which are all good options if you want that guillotine style broadhead. You just need to know that you need to be close with the shot. That's what it's designed around. So if you have the capability to be close, it's a great option. If not, if you anticipate taking those greater than 20 yard shots, mechanical might be the move for you.

JR Gettler 28:14

Yeah, 100%. Um, so definitely yeah, really consider what your range is gonna be. Um, I do like the dirty bird, especially just because you can actually fold those blades and you can store them into your quiver without having to have some other way to store them, or you know, if you've got to take them in and then put them on the broadhead when you get to the blind. Um, so that is one thing that I really do like about the dirty bird. Um, so it'll be great for if you're gonna do more run and gun style stuff, so you can actually keep it in your quiver if you need to.

Zakk Plocica 28:40

Right. No, that makes sense. It does, it does. So just make sure, yeah, good shots, man. And the big thing is make you have to you with this broadhead, you're gonna have to sacrifice one. You have got to see how your bow is shooting before you take it out in the field and find out the hard way that this thing's drifting to the right at 20 yards, 15 might be good, 20 yards is way off to the right. So you have to know how your equipment performs. And unfortunately, there's only one way to test it, and that's sacrificing a broadhead. And um, and that just builds confidence in you. And I I'm a firm believer in any broadhead you shoot, you need to know how they perform downrange. I always sacrifice one um and and over even like a ballistic matching tip because it is different.

JR Gettler 29:20

Yeah, yeah, 100%. It will fly typically close, close, but it's not always perfect. So, yes, just like you said, I I do the same thing. I always sacrifice at least one broadhead.

Fletching And Speed For Steering

Zakk Plocica 29:29

Yeah, and and if you go with a guillotine style broadhead, just know you're gonna have to retune the bow. You have to tune the bow to the broadhead you're shooting. Um, and you have to set it up and make sure it's performing correctly. Because if not, we've had some guys that learn some hard lessons, they just didn't perform like they should. Um and again, higher poundage bows, really fast bows, guillotine-style broadheads, probably not a good mix. So dial the bow down as much as you can, potentially run a heavier arrow. You have to run a long arrow specific for it uh in order for this thing to perform and shoot like it should. And the Axis 5 mil, honestly, I think is probably one of the best options for it. Because think about it, if you shoot this uh arrow, you're gonna be picking it up off the ground. You can shoot it again. And Axis 5 mil is bulletproof. And it's heavy, heavy GPI, so it's gonna you know slow the bow down a little bit more. It's gonna make the bow a little bit quieter. Oh, yeah, it's super durable. Dude, that's that's probably like one of my favorite five mil arrows on the market, and they're not overly expensive. You only need to buy a couple of them for it. Yeah, typically two to three. Yep. And you're good. Just test them, make sure they're actually shooting like they should.

JR Gettler 30:29

Yep, and then just focus on something good for steering too. So a really good vein to steer it.

Zakk Plocica 30:34

Yeah, I'd be curious. Um, that uh, what are some other good vein options? Is it you're running six?

JR Gettler 30:39

Yeah, six fletch.

Zakk Plocica 30:40

Is that thing just smashed in there, huh?

JR Gettler 30:42

Tight. Yeah.

Zakk Plocica 30:43

Did you use the AAE?

JR Gettler 30:44

Um I used the OMP jig.

Zakk Plocica 30:47

So you didn't have to have a different adapter on there to six fletch it.

JR Gettler 30:50

So what I did is I just left it on the the three-fletch setting. Uh so I did the cock vein, and then I just barely turned it um until I got the the clearance for the next vein, and then it actually indexed. So you could do that, just fletch it normally with the three flutch, and then just index your arrow and then just do the same thing, rotate it. Oh, that's a good idea. It worked out perfect for the five mil.

Zakk Plocica 31:09

Dude, that OMP jig is my favorite.

JR Gettler 31:12

Yep, it is mine too.

Zakk Plocica 31:13

Like repeatability, it's so easy, man. And the adjustments are good, it's crisp. Um, it's heavy duty. It doesn't because the base is so big, it doesn't move. Yep. Um, I I really, really like that jig a lot.

JR Gettler 31:25

Yeah, like don't don't get me wrong, bits is an awesome jig. It's been around forever, and you know, we we have a bunch of those still here at the shop that we use, but yeah, the OMP is just it's been a great addition for a new jig to be able to be able to um Fletcher's very easy, yeah. Very repeatable.

Zakk Plocica 31:39

Absolutely. As soon as we get them in, they go right back out. It seems like we sell a lot of them. Uh so a really great uh jig. But as far as like other vein options, man, I figure like for like those steering those big guillotine broadheads, like a I figure like a DCA super saber would be a really good option, that tall profile. I mean, what other options do you think?

JR Gettler 31:59

Um the X-Vane, like I said, that's a good one.

Zakk Plocica 32:01

Um which is a similar profile to the the Max Stealth.

JR Gettler 32:05

Yep, it's very similar, it's just that shield cut. Yeah. Um, I think the heat vein would actually be another good one.

Zakk Plocica 32:11

Heat vein's a good one, it's very similar to the the um the max stealth. Do you think a little bit stiffer vein is better for that versus something that's maybe a little bit more pliable, like the max stealth is quite stiff?

JR Gettler 32:23

Yeah, I think it definitely could. Um what would be another good one? The max hunter, we said that.

Zakk Plocica 32:29

Yeah, Max Hunter, it's just that law, that tall profile, they're just loud.

JR Gettler 32:33

They are. Um, but if you're not getting very fast, you know, if you're like 250s like I am, I don't think that should be super detrimental there. I don't think it'd be very loud.

Zakk Plocica 32:40

I didn't even think about that. You're probably right, man. It's probably much quieter than what we were shooting at 290 feet per second out of those things. Yeah, um, yeah, interesting. Do you what about as far as like offset and helical? Do you think like you should have more helical for a you know, that guillotine style versus a mechanical or fixed blade in order to correct a little bit faster or just run a straight seemingly?

JR Gettler 33:03

I would run it straight. Um sorry. Um, if anything, do a little bit of a left or right helical. Um, I know that's what Taylor did. He he did a one degree left, and there was still enough clearance where it would work. So if you're doing too much, I don't think it would work on a six fletch.

Zakk Plocica 33:16

Okay, okay.

JR Gettler 33:17

You're talking about running into problems with the veins.

Zakk Plocica 33:19

What about if you run less veins and more helical, though?

JR Gettler 33:22

That could work too. So I know a lot of guys that are running four fletch and they're just running a little bit steeper of a helical, so like a three or four degree. Um, so that could help steer it too.

Zakk Plocica 33:31

I I'd be interested to compare your six fletch, the same setup out of the same bow, run that four fletch with a hard helical versus your straight six. Yeah, I'd be curious what that that looks like. There's a lot of testing we could do. Yeah, we need to. I'm gonna have to buy a couple packs and like sacrifice them and let you shoot them and see and stack them up against each other. The only problem is the broadheads. Getting them, yeah. Yeah, they just go so fast. Yeah, they're probably breaking. It takes forever. It seems like whenever we pre pre-order all these turkey broadheads, they go really, really quick. And they don't come in until right before the season.

JR Gettler 34:04

I know.

Zakk Plocica 34:05

That's like the biggest downfall. Yeah, so there's a lot of good options out there, I think, as far as broadheads, but those are the key considerations I would take away. Your shooting capability, the distance you're gonna shoot, um, and then the tuning of the bow. Do you want to retune the bow? Do you not want to retune the bow based off how you were shooting? Things to definitely consider. Um, so what do we got? Um, you know, some of the questions that have been asked, I think we answered them already. Um, like, is a guillotine broadhead actually worth going to, though, for most people?

JR Gettler 34:37

For most people, I would say probably not. Really? Um, because it is gonna be a little bit more challenging. So you gotta have like the perfect shot to be able to take that, and you've got to be very confident in your setup too. So yeah, it can be very challenging, but I mean it it can be also at the same time a little bit more forgiving because you know you're getting a three or four-inch cut. So even if that turkey does move just a little bit, you you can still get away with a little bit. Yeah, it's just gonna definitely kill your your distance that you can shoot at. Um, and then just the biggest thing is the tuning of it. So you just gotta take your time and and make sure everything's set up correctly. Um, so it it's yeah, that's that's kind of teeter totter. You can go either way, you know, really easily.

Zakk Plocica 35:14

Um I think it depends on the individual, right? Just how much do you like the tinker uh and how confident are you with it, and and then knowing where you're hunting to, what's your you know, how close are you gonna be able to be able to get in the blind uh and whatnot. But I'm a big um believer in simplicity and forgiveness, man. That's why I like uh mechanical. I mean, it really it's easy to shoot. Um, there's not much you have to do for it. You know what's gonna fly true, uh, and you still get a a rather large cutting diameter. Go to the if you run a 1.5 or 175 for hunting season, go to a two. And I mean, you got plenty of cutting diameter if you can put a good shot on them.

Speaker 2 35:50

Yeah.

Zakk Plocica 35:51

Yeah. Um, I mean, and typically for you, uh if you have an ideal shot on a turkey, you know, what's he doing? Is it broadside? Is he coming in straight at you with a mechanical?

JR Gettler 36:01

For that, I would rather have probably more of either broadside or almost more quartering two. Well, mechanical, yeah, definitely 100% broadside. Broadside just broadside.

Zakk Plocica 36:11

I think I like the I like the Mr. Um Bobby approach. Just broadside, take their legs out from under them, and it's easy. If you're shooting a mechanical, it's easy to they you're not gonna you don't have to worry about losing them. Um yeah, I think that's ideal. I mean, he's the master. Oh yeah, yeah.

JR Gettler 36:30

He's been doing this forever. For literally ever. Um, another good one though, I mean, if if you can get a frontal shot, you know, just um aim basically right where their their beard is, and you're gonna have a good shot there.

Zakk Plocica 36:42

That seems like a really um high probability of recovery shot, in my opinion, is that when they're coming straight on into you into the decoys, if you have decoy setup and you can take that shot, you have a lot more real estate, I think, and it's easier to identify where you need to place that shot. Um, so yeah, I think that's a good option. And you know, anything within 20 yards, too, you're not gonna have to could really consider uh trajectory. I mean, for most shooting mechanical, it's like it's gonna be a flat, man. You hold that top pin on and you're gonna hit pretty much where you're aiming. So one less thing to consider. But I th I do think too, like you need to have pre-ranged indicators so you know where with within relation to where that turkey is, so you know you don't have to like whenever it's constantly moving, trying to range and get ranges.

JR Gettler 37:25

Yeah, so that's why if if I'm sending decoys, I have them typically about 10-15 yards out in front of my blind. So that's that's my indicator right there. They're gonna if if he's pissed off, he's gonna come right into it, and that's where he's gonna be at.

Ethics And High Percentage Shots

Zakk Plocica 37:34

Yeah, and then you don't have to, there's no second guessing. Yeah. Uh most ethical broadhead for a turkey?

JR Gettler 37:41

I would say probably the decapitator. Because I mean, you take the head off, it's it's gonna be quick, easy, and they're gonna be they're gonna be dead in a few seconds. Yeah, yeah. That's that's probably the most ethical you can get. It's just it can be more tricky to get that shot.

Zakk Plocica 37:54

Yeah, I think I yeah, I think that's a really good point. Really great, look, really great way of looking at it. And you know, you take their head off, there's no suffering whatsoever. Um, but also you screw that shot up and wound them the crap out of them with it, there's there's that too. So just make sure your bow set up a tune and you know what that arrow's doing. But I agree.

JR Gettler 38:10

Um most people say probably the most ethical would be shotgun, but probably well, even some of those.

Zakk Plocica 38:16

I mean, uh I don't know, you hear her horror stories with that. Um bow hunting are if you're bow hunting a turkey, you spend a lot of time with a bow. Like I would say most people, not all.

JR Gettler 38:27

Oh, yeah.

Zakk Plocica 38:28

Um, and do expandables work better than fixed blade broad head broadheads for turkeys? I would say yes. Uh, and we go back to overpenetration, uh tuning, smaller cutter cutting diameter with the fixed blade. I just think I personally think mechanical is superior. And I think most people, as far as like ease of use, mechanical wins. Yep. Like no matter what it is you're hunting for the most part, in relation, guys. So don't for the most part. Yes. Um, so yeah, there's that. Um we already talked about it. The key differences from like your deer hunting setup to your turkey setup is I would say, like, when we talk about bow-wise, like I definitely want a shorter bow when I'm turkey hunting because you know that shot for the most part should be close. Um, because I think I'm gonna set my Mach 30 up. I shot a Mach 33 this year for pretty much everything. I think I'm gonna go to a 30 because I will be on the ground, either in a blind or just on the ground. Um, and you know, that little bit longer bow at 28 and a half inches, it just potential for that cam to hit the dirt or just be awkward. The levitates are what, 32? 32, yeah. Yeah, so still relatively short for your draw length.

JR Gettler 39:35

Yeah, that it should work out perfect for me. But I I shot my first one with that Mach 30, and it was awesome that ground blind. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Zakk Plocica 39:41

You definitely got to consider that, man. The ground blinds are smaller than you realize when you get into it, you're like, oh man, that's pretty tight. Yeah, depending on the one that you get.

JR Gettler 39:47

Um, but I mean, some of them can be yeah, decent size. Like I had that I have that Xenix um the sniper elite or whatever. Pretty good size. So it's a tall one. Like I'm almost six foot, I can stand in the center, no problem. I don't have to duck or anything. Okay, so it's it's a good size um ground blind.

Zakk Plocica 39:59

Yeah, but I would say your deer setup doesn't necessarily have to change drastically, especially if you stick with the mechanic. We talk keep going back to that. But it it will change depending on the broad heads you put on if you go to that guillotine style, or even if you don't run a mechanical and you go to fixed blade, which I don't know why you would, but more so with that guillotine style, you need to turn it down, you need to run a heavier arrow, you need to run a longer arrow, and and then retune the entire thing.

JR Gettler 40:21

Um yeah, that'd be the biggest factor is just changing to that that decapitating head. That's the only thing.

Zakk Plocica 40:26

I think that's the biggest one, right? And because everybody wants to shoot them because it is really cool, right? Especially because everyone records everything now and you want to get it on video, it is really cool, but you need to take that in consideration prior to testing it in the field. You have to take one sacrifice it, retune everything and make sure it's flying as it is, and be realistic with the distance that you're shooting. Um other questions we've had, um which we've pretty much answered. Why do broadheads why do my broadheads hit different than field points? Uh the bow's just not set up as it should be.

Speaker 2 40:56

Yeah.

Zakk Plocica 40:57

Right. And more so again, your big um Did you compare flight from uh field point to that turkey head?

JR Gettler 41:05

They both the first shot on the guillotine head was a little bit right um from my field point, but I didn't have a marker on it. I was just aiming kind of dead turn on that pillow. So it could have been that, but I I did shoot again and it was basically spot on right where I was aiming.

Zakk Plocica 41:18

So you did shoot them back and forth and they were both good. Okay, that's cool. Yeah. So if if you're if your broadheads are shooting different than your field points, it's a tuning issue. You need to take it back in the shop and you need to go through everything and make sure um that the bow is tuned like it should be. Put it back through paper, check timings, check center shot and everything, and uh because those should be impacting virtually in the same spot.

Tune Broadheads To Match Field Points

JR Gettler 41:40

Yeah. Um yeah, at least yeah, mechanicals, yeah. You should have no problem with that. But yeah, if you're decapitating it, you have to get in mixed flight with that, definitely double check speed setup, tune.

Zakk Plocica 41:51

And it's not just move your site to where your broadhead's shooting. Right. That is not how you do this. Right. So keep that in mind, guys. You need to go through the tuning process. You need to go through, make sure everything's still in spec. Don't just start moving stuff in order to accommodate to a bad flight. That's not what you want to do. Um, and then the other things too, how do you tune for large turkey heads, which we talked about? Um, you need to you have to essentially retune the entire bow. So be prepared to go through that process, dial the bow down, lower the poundage, obviously, heavier arrow, longer arrow. Go through that process, make sure it's shooting like it should. Um, arrow selection for turkeys. I don't think you'd really need to change your arrow from if you're if you have like like for me, for example, an FMJ Max with a sever that I shot, I shot a hybrid 2.0 that's I would run if I shot that same bow, I would run that same exact arrow setup for turkey.

JR Gettler 42:43

Yep, that should perform just fine, I think.

Zakk Plocica 42:44

Yeah, I do too. I don't think you got to really overthink this thing for turkey. Um if you don't want to. Obviously, you can because it's fun. If you have a specific turkey build, that's cool. Yeah, it's typically a lower poundage. Um, but uh, I don't think you really need to to over overthink it. If it worked during deer season, um, it should work during turkey season. I would just definitely run that a little bit bigger cutting diameter.

JR Gettler 43:07

Yes, yep. And and obviously, so if you're going to the decapitan head, definitely you're gonna have to go up in spine. So if you're not 300, definitely look at doing like a two 260, like I did.

Zakk Plocica 43:18

Especially because that the length, right?

JR Gettler 43:20

Yeah, that's the biggest thing.

Zakk Plocica 43:21

Yeah, because it's such a long arrow.

JR Gettler 43:23

Yep, and then you have to revisit veins, just better steerage. So that's really the biggest thing. If you're gonna go with those tricky style heads, definitely you have to re-change a lot of stuff.

Zakk Plocica 43:31

Yeah, you definitely and for you, like you talk about refletching them yourself, not running the stock configuration, you know, go into a six-fletch or maybe that four fletch with that hard helical just to steer that broadhead a little bit more.

unknown 43:42

Yeah.

Zakk Plocica 43:42

Um, yeah, all things to consider. So it depends how into it you are, man. If you want to, if you want to do it, man, go in, go four four, set up a bow specifically for it. My ideal bow build for like a turkey is like a 30 inch bow um with a wide cutting um mechanical broadhead. Probably. Either a megameat or a sever hybrid 2.0 and yeah, run that with the my standard arrow setup. You know, I I want that bow shooting a little bit slower though, too. I would run a little bit heavier hunting style arrow. So that 440 to 460 grains for me is probably what I would I would opt for out of it. Um but yeah, nothing crazy. You know, I don't know if I'll do the the guillotine style.

JR Gettler 44:24

Yeah, this is my first year running it, so we'll we'll see.

Zakk Plocica 44:27

I think if I have a dedicated blind, I would try it. Like if I know like I can go set a blind up in here, I don't have anything to worry about, and I can go try to shoot. I think I would try it then. But normal, probably not. I think I'll stick to mechanical. I just like how they perform.

JR Gettler 44:41

Yeah, and that that's where I'm lucky, is I actually have the property, and the their turkeys are typically coming out in the the back corner of our property.

Zakk Plocica 44:48

So you they're pretty consistent.

JR Gettler 44:50

Yeah, yeah. So I'll be able to set up a blind up there like I did the last two years and should be hopefully be at least be able to see turkeys.

Minimum Poundage And Youth Options

Zakk Plocica 44:56

Yeah, see them is a big thing. You see them all deer season, dude. I hardly saw any of this year. Dude, um crazy where I hunt here in North Carolina, one of the floor, there's probably dude a hundred of these things in like in like a flock, yeah, just like a black cloud moving through the field. It was so bad that I couldn't get in and out of stands because there were so many turkeys all on this property. Um, so we'll see. Hopefully, I'll be able to get out and try to get on. We'll see how it goes. Um, what about um FLC for turkey hunting? I don't think it's I'm not concerned with that. Don't even consider it whatsoever either. Uh and then let's so bow poundage in uh like energy, right? So kids, I dude. We talked to some, there's some kids that have come through the shop that are killers with bows with and turkeys too. What do you think a minimum effective poundage for turkey hunting for a bow? Dial it down 45 pounds?

JR Gettler 45:50

Probably depending on draw length. Yeah, probably. I I know the state minimum for North Carolina is 35 pounds.

Zakk Plocica 45:56

It's 35. Okay, I always think it's 45.

JR Gettler 45:57

Recurve is 45. Got it. Okay. So I mean that's technically, I guess, the the lowest you can go, but I would say 40 to 45.

Zakk Plocica 46:05

Yeah, if you're gonna dial it that far down, are you still shooting are you shooting mechanical still for a turkey?

JR Gettler 46:11

I I would say probably not. You'd have to either do a fixed blade or or that guillotine head. The guillotine, yeah.

Zakk Plocica 46:16

Yeah, maybe if you're gonna go fix, maybe like one of those Exodus. Yeah. You think?

JR Gettler 46:20

Yeah, that wouldn't be bad.

Zakk Plocica 46:23

Yeah. Strap an iron wheel on there. Those big wide cut ones.

JR Gettler 46:28

Well then yeah, an iron wheel has returkey it too. So they got basically the same the same head just had has the meat hooks on it.

Zakk Plocica 46:33

Oh, gotcha. Yeah, so that would be a good option for those super low poundage, you know, guys or girls or kids or whatnot. Uh another good option for them.

JR Gettler 46:40

Um and then we talked to those guys at TAC. Yeah, those are pretty wide cut.

Zakk Plocica 46:50

They they have a pretty cool product, man. Uh, it's a premium product. Yeah, like it's expensive, but it's a uh a pretty cool broadhead. Um I actually, you know, we might end up bringing some of those in the shop, testing them out and see if there'll just be another good option in the fixed blade category. Um for turkey. I don't know. Maybe if you have to go that route. Yeah. Um, what else we got? Obviously, we talked about it. We want less penetration for just keep that arrow in that bird so you can track that bird a little bit easier if it's not a perfect shot. I mean, that's pretty much what everyone I've talked to is they want less penetration on a bird. I mean, that's again going back to mechanical. Um, but dude, guillotine, dude, head off. That's easy. One and done. Uh so turkey season for us, it opens up in what two weeks?

JR Gettler 47:38

Yes. Uh, yeah, April 11th, April.

Zakk Plocica 47:41

Okay, so we're we're super close. I know it's already opened up for a lot of people, so there's already people been putting birds out on the ground. Um, so you know, for the most part, that's it. When it comes to broad head consideration, uh, I don't think you got to overthink this thing, but I do think there are some considerations you need to take into account. And uh, if you want to run what you ran for your for your deer hunting setup, I definitely think you can do it. Um, but you know, for me personally, I would err on the side of mechanical. Um, and then if you go guillotine, dude, make sure that bow is tuned. Go through the tuning process, reset it up again because it's a bummer when you're out there and you have that opportunity on a good bird, and that thing goes way off to the right, and you, you know, feathers are nothing. Um so guillotine, obviously, head and neck shot is what you're after. Mechanical, broadhead, we're looking for the body. I don't think I would shoot a mechanical out of head.

JR Gettler 48:29

No.

Zakk Plocica 48:30

Dude, that is I've seen dudes do it.

JR Gettler 48:31

Yeah, that's that'd be a very hard.

Common Mistakes And Practice Habits

Zakk Plocica 48:33

That is a lot. There's some luck involved in that too. Put it on the body. Um, you know, look at their vitals, their vitals are small. Um, you know, the Mr. Bobby approach, take their legs out, you know, right at that hip bone, I guess, is where he shoots at them. Um and if all else fails, go back to the shotgun. When the season gets late, move to the gun, man, if you're not able to get it done. Uh I think some of the common mistakes that we see that I mean really disrups, obviously, it's just hard. But aside from that is just not practicing with that turkey broadhead, um, ignoring the flight characteristics that you get with it, overlooking that, not retuning the bow. Um, and then uh back to like always, poor shot execution. Uh, not spending enough time behind the bow, going through your process. You get excited, you get hyped, you skip something in that sequence or shot process, and you don't look through your peep site. You know, that's a common one for guys. They get excited and they just hammer that and you know, they skip a step and you miss a shot. So making sure you're practicing, you know, you carry that into the woods. So when that moment presents itself, you've got that established. Almost like um just in memory or subconscious, you go through it without even thinking about it. It's just built in through repetition. Yep. So spend time behind your bows. Um, JR, the ultimate turkey bow setup. What do we got? What are we looking at?

JR Gettler 49:49

Ultimate.

Zakk Plocica 49:49

The ultimate. If you were gonna do one specifically for turkey hunting, give me some give me some specs, give me some uh some numbers.

JR Gettler 49:56

I mean, I I like my Levitate how it's set, so that's that's what I'm gonna choose. Uh that'd be my my dream bow is the levitate. It's at 66 pounds right now. Um I I would have liked a little bit low lighter than that. Um just to make it easier to draw just in case you do get caught a little bit. So um, you know, just make sure you're comfortable to draw it. So putting up decent speeds with it. And um I I want to try these guy teen heads. I'm very hopeful for them.

Zakk Plocica 50:23

I hope it works out for you because I want to see.

JR Gettler 50:24

Yeah, me too. Um, but I would I would typically gravitate more towards a mechanical. Yeah, same, same, same, same.

Zakk Plocica 50:31

I think uh for me, I think most people, a shorter bow, if you're looking at specific turkey hunting, a shorter bow makes sense. Uh just being off the ground out of a blind. Uh, you don't need a 35-inch bow. Turkey hunting, it can become be kind of cumbersome in a blind or off the ground. You don't want those cams smacking the ground when you go to draw it or release that arrow. So I think shorter bow. Um, I personally think simple sight, if you're building specific for it, like a fixed three-pin, no moving parts on it. A drop away arrow rest is always going to be my go-to just because it is more forgiving than like a whisker biscuit when it comes to shooting the bow because you don't have that constant contact.

JR Gettler 51:04

Um and if you're running a heavier arrow, you can probably run into problems with those bristles.

Gear Deals And Season Sendoff

Zakk Plocica 51:09

Absolutely. All things to consider. Uh, and then uh a mechanical broadhead, the bow that's dialed down, shooting a little bit slower, a little bit heavier arrow, less penetration, but you just get that power, man, on it. Um, that's what I would opt for. So those are things that I would consider when it comes to building that ideal turkey bow for turkey hunting. That's what I got. That's where I'm at with it. What else we got, JR? Anything good, anything new happening? Um we got all the broadheads in stock. You need them, head over your website, extremeoutfitters.com.

JR Gettler 51:39

We do have a bunch of decoys and calls, turkey vests, all that stuff's in in store. So if you need something, head on down here or in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Zakk Plocica 51:48

Yeah, come see us, guys. And two, if you need anything from the website, you follow the podcast, use the code Archery Project. It'll save on all of your purchases, no matter what it is you're ordering. So if you need turkey broadheads now, hit the website, use the code Archery Project. It's gonna save you some cash on all of your future purchases because we support you guys or we support you guys. We appreciate you guys supporting us, you know, and supporting our channels and our brand. It means a lot to us. Um, so use the code every time you order from us, it'll always save you money. And then also, too, don't forget, we send out um massive deals every week, too. So sign up for the newsletter for those exclusive deals. But any other time, use the code Archery Project, save you some cash.

JR Gettler 52:25

Yeah, yeah. We appreciate you guys listening to a couple dolts. Yes, a couple dolts, as we've been called in the past.

Zakk Plocica 52:31

Just a couple of guys doing what we we we love, man. It's cool. We'll be at uh Total Archery again in Tennessee and PA for anybody that's gonna be out there. We're looking forward to linking up with you guys. Uh, but we hope everybody has a successful turkey season. It is time. So if you do, tag us in some stuff uh so we can reshare your guys', you know, your kills, man. Let us know. Mechanical, uh, guillotine, fixed blade, what you're shooting, what you've had success with. Drop some comments so we can read it and get some feedback from you guys. You guys are the experts, you guys are in the field, let us know, man. So that's it, JR. Time for us to get back to work. Yep. As always, we appreciate you guys following along here at the Archery Project. Thanks for watching. We'll see you guys in the next episode.