Best Crossbow for Turkey Hunting of 2021 | Reviews
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Crossbow hunting for turkey is not for every hunter as it requires a little more skill than using a traditional shotgun. Because we are all about ethical and clean kills here, we can’t emphasize enough the need to hone in your crossbow skills as much as possible to ensure a clean and accurate arrow shot.
With that being said, the crossbow you pack for the turkey hunt is just about as important as the skills you possess. You’ll want a model that’s suited to your level and style of hunting, as well as something that’s quality and going to last you many turkey hunts.
Let’s be honest, crossbows are not cheap, so getting it right is important. That’s why we have taken the time to review the best 5 crossbows for turkey hunting on the market, so you will hopefully have a little more confidence when choosing a model. Let’s take a look at our picks.
Top 5 Rated Models Comparison Table
Image | Crossbow | Draw Weight (LBS) | Bow Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Barnett 78128 Whitetail Hunter II Editors Choice | 150 | 6.7 pounds | |
 | 185 | 7.7 pounds | ||
 | 165 | 6.9 pounds | ||
 | 185 | 7.8 pounds | ||
 | 175 | 7.8 pounds |
Reviews of the Best Turkey Hunting Crossbows
The Barnett Whitetail Hunter II is a quality, versatile crossbow with good speed and a manageable draw weight. At 350 FPS, it’s fast but not insanely so, and the draw weight of 150 is doable for hunters of various strength. There’s a 4x32 scope included for accuracy, as well as a rope cocking device to help with drawing and cocking. At 6.7 pounds, it’s also one of the lightest bows on our list.
A cool - and very helpful - feature found on the Whitetail Hunter II is Trigger Tech, which means it has a zero-creep trigger release requiring only 3 pounds of pressure; that’s a very manageable amount, easily fired but resistant to being accidentally tripped. The bow is also entirely Made in the USA and comes assembled right out of the box.
The main problem with the Whitetail Hunter II is the lack of quality control; the scope itself is very poor quality and breaks just regular wear and tear, as do some of the components. If you’re looking for something durable and long-lasting, this likely isn’t the best choice.
Overall, however, it’s a fantastic crossbow for the price, packing a good punch of power, ease and quality into a convenient package. Considering it comes pre-assembled, it’s very easy to use out of the box – which is why we consider it our Top Pick for a Turkey Hunting Crossbow.
Pros
- 350 FPS
- 150lb draw weight
- Very light: 6.7 pounds
- Trigger Tech technology
- Made in the USA; preassembled
Cons
- Scope is poor quality, blurry, cheap
Verdict: Best Overall
The Centerpoint Sniper 370 is a surprise: a high-quality crossbow with a CNC-machined aluminum rail, at a very affordable price. For this reason, it’s one of the most durable crossbows in its price range. It’s also decently powerful, clocking in at 370 FPS, and with a 185-pound draw. A fully-adjustable stock and foregrip allow you to customize to your own liking and custom fit settings, for a perfect shot every time.
The Centerpoint 370 also includes a 4x32mm scope for accurate scope, as well as anti-dry fire and auto-safety-trigger mechanisms to prevent you from accidentally firing the arrow. There are also integrated string suppressors to help dampen string vibrations and keep your shots quiet and avoid spooking turkeys or other targets.
Like the Whitetail Hunter II, you may find that the scope on the Centerpoint 370 is lacking and breaks easily. Many people have also reported limb cracking with even light use – despite being touted as one of the more durable bows in the price range.
But, considering the price, this is still an excellent choice for a turkey hunting crossbow. The CNC-machined rail is a nice touch for quality and durability, and the bolt speed and draw weight are strong but manageable.
Pros
- CNC-machined rail
- 370 FPS
- 185-pound draw
- Adjustable stock and foregrip
- 4x32mm scope included
- String suppressors for dampening string vibrations, preventing noise.
Cons
- Poor quality scope
- Not the most durable
The Barnett Whitetail PRO STR is a higher-end counterpart to the Whitetail Hunter II, our Top Pick for a turkey hunting crossbow. This crossbow is a lot more expensive, but packs in the power, features and durability you’re looking for in high-end crossbow. The 400 FPS bolt speed is fast and powerful, without being too much to handle, while the 165-pound draw weight is still quite manageable for those who aren’t super strong.
The Whitetail Pro has a host of high-end features, such as a CNC-machined aluminum flight track for smooth shooting; a Picatinny rail, Anti-Dry Fire Trigger System; and even a Fiberglass Composite Step-Through Riser. It’s compatible with crank cocking devices, and has Barrett’s Trigger Tech for smooth, easy, yet firm, trigger firing.
At this level, there isn’t a whole lot not to like about the Whitetail Pro. Some users ahve complaints about durability and quality control, but those are outweighed by the many positive aspects, features and reviews. And some people do find it very difficult to cock and load, even with just a 165-pound draw weight. And as with most crossbows in this price range, the cheap included scope isn’t very good.
Overall, the Whitetail Pro STR this is another excellent crossbow. It’s a bit pricey compared to the other options on our list, but if you have the budget, might be one of the best available.
Pros
- 400 FPS bolt speed
- 165-pound draw weight
- CNC-machined aluminum flight track
- Step-through riser
- Trigger Tech
Cons
- Some quality control issues
- Included scope not the best
Verdict: Budget pick
The Centerpoint Tormenter Whisper 380 is much like the Sniper 370, with quad limbs and a CNC-machined cam system. There’s also a 185-pound draw weight, like the Sniper 370, and about 10 more FPS at 380 vs 370. There’s an all-weather composite stock, as well as anti-dry fire and auto-safety, just like on the Sniper 370.
The Whisper 380’s real advantage, however, is how quiet it is; while the Sniper 370 had nice string suppressors for dampening sound, the Whisper 380 has two string stoppers with silencers, two limb dampeners and two spider silencers, all working to reduce vibrations and sounds from the strings. The result is some ultra-quiet and smooth operation – hence the name, Whisper 380.
Like a lot of other crossbows in this price range, the main complaint with the Whisper 380 is a lack of durability; the limb is known to crack after just a few hunts, and the string has also been reported to come apart after just a few shots. When paying this much for a crossbow, you expect better in terms of durability. The scope is also very poor quality.
With that said, if you don’t have the budget for a high-end bow, but want something powerful and very, very quiet, the Whisper 380 is still an excellent choice. Just don’t expect high-end durability.
Pros
- CNC-machined rail
- 380 FPS
- 185-pound draw weight
- Included scope
- Dampeners and silencers make for a whisper-quiet bow
Cons
- Not very durable
- Poor quality scope
Another mid-priced crossbow, the Carbon Express Intercept Supercoil features a lightweight, compact design, with carbon-infused limbs to cut down on weight while adding strength. It also has CNC-machined parts, as found on many other crossbows. The aluminum alloy cam sets give it 360 FPS, and a 175-pound draw weight. The no-creep trigger has a pull weight of 3.5 pounds.
The Carbon Express Intercept Supercoil excels at customization and features. In addition to the Picatinny rail, so it can work with rifle accessories, there’s a foldable foregrip, internal storage compartment, anti-dry fire mechanism, and a BullPup tactical stock that can be adjusted and customized to fit your shoulder and shooting style. A 4x32 scope is included, as well, just as many other crossbows.
Most of the cons found on this crossbow are those found on other bows, such as poor durability, build quality and lack of quality control. The included scope is also cheap, and you’re better off buying a nicer model and installing it on the CNC rail yourself.
Otherwise, the Intercept Supercoil is another great crossbow for the moderate price asked for it; it’s not the highest-quality and most durable crossbow out there nor the most powerful, but packs plenty of features into a compact and convenient package.
Pros
- 360 FPS
- 175-pound draw
- No Creep trigger (3.5-pound pull)
- Foldable Foregrip, tactical stock, internal storage
- CNC-ed rail, risers, components
- Included 4x32 stock
Cons
- Poor quality control, durability
- Cheap, blurry scope
What to Look for When Choosing A Good Turkey Hunting Crossbow
Bolt Speed
This is probably the most important element to consider when choosing your crossbow; the speed at which the arrow is sent flying, in Feet Per Second (FPS). Many bows shoot above 400 FPS, which is great, but unnecessary except for the largest of game; it’s more important that you choose the right combination of speed and arrow weight; the faster the bolt speed, the harder it can be to get an accurate shot.
Draw Weight
Draw weight is the physical amount of force required to draw and cock the crossbow; in most bows, this number is between 150 and 180 pounds, but some very fast bows might be above 200 pounds. The higher the number, the faster the bolt will fly – but the harder it will be to draw the bow. If you want a high speed but can’t draw much weight, a cocking aid can help – but choosing one that is far too heavy will usually be more trouble than it’s worth.
Bow Weight
This might not seem all that important, but considering you’re going to be lugging the crossbow around the outdoors all day – it is. A light crossbow might weigh as little as 5 or 6 pounds, but a heavy one might be between 10-15 pounds.
Sights or Scopes
What kind of sight or scope is included with the crossbow, and how will you be able to sight it? Is there a rail for adding more accessories and scopes as needed? Many crossbows come with 4x32 scopes, but at least a rail for adding your own is a good idea.
The Final Word
All in all, we recommend the Barnett Whitetail Hunter II as our Top Pick for the Best Crossbow for Turkey Hunting. It provides the best bang-for-the-buck, with 350 FPS, 150-pound draw weight, and accurate, smooth shooting. It has all the features you need, such as scope, rail and a rope-cocking device. But at the same time, it’s super light at only 6.7 pounds – which is why we like it. Lugging around a heavy crossbow all day is exhausting and having a lightweight one will keep you moving and from getting too tired. And, it comes preassembled right out of the box, and is made in the USA – there really isn’t much not to like.
If you have a larger budget, don’t mind the extra weight, and just really want the extra features and quality a high-end bow offers, check out the Barnett Whitetail Pro STR. It packs a 400 FPS into a 165-pound draw and offers some of the best build quality and features you’ll find in the price range, such as Trigger Tech, Fiberglass Composite Step-Through Riser, and machined aluminum flight track, among others. It’s pricey, but worth the upgrade.
