It really depends on the range the bird is at how high up I aim. If its a little further out I'll shoot at the head. At 10-15 yards though I shoot at the neck just to try and put the head and neck both in my pattern. As long as you're using a shotgun there will be pellets in the head and neck, you might consider getting some turkey head targets and seeing how many pellets you have in this zone aiming at different points.

Every gun is a little different even 1 870 to the next. It doesn't take 2 min to pattern your gun though.

I have always aimed for the neck in hopes of getting the neck and head with the pattern, I see I am not alone on this. I would def get out and pattern your 870 with the choke, if you haven't already

I aim at the feather line on the neck -- about the same as Beekeeper's wattle hold. If I miss a little high, which is the most common aiming error, I'll still hit the head. If I'm on target, I get the head and the neck. Also, if you're using a shotgun with a plain bead, holding on the head completely obstructs your view of the bird.

Phil's advice is right on I aim for the featherline also. Many guns naturally tend to shoot a little high. If you raise your head on the stock and aim at the head you will miss high. Aim at the neck and you will still hit the head. Here's another tip Just before you shoot give a cluck with a diaphram call. The gobbler will raise his head extending the neck and giving you a better target to shoot at.

Aim for the center of the neck and then if you shoot to high you will hit the head. But if shoot to low you will hit the base of the neck.

I agree w/ most of you. It does depend on your sight/gun combo. My gun has fiber optic sights, and I line up the 3 dots w/ the head and a bit of the neck above them. I use a loud PUT PUT right before I shoot, or my kid's shoot because I can do it easily w/ or w/out a call n my mouth.

shoot for the base of the neck. if you're aiming for the head, the turkey might move right before you shoot, and you'll miss. the base of the neck won't move unless the turkey's legs move.

I forgot to say the above site is for Bow hunting turkey only!! :-)

It depends on how close the bird is to me. If it is within 20 yds, base of the neck, right where the feathers start. Beyond 20 is the head for me.

It really depends on the distance and angle and all that, i would rather just just below the head because I have shot low before and paid for it, I shot the beard off, only about 2 inches were left

I have two Winchester 1300 in 12 guage. A 26 inch barreled in full choke for fall and one in 18 inch barrel in extra full for spring. Either way I put the bead about the "chin" or base of head on neck. This usually puts the pattern on all of the head and neck, not hitting the breast at all and usually not requiring a second shot unless the birds 35 -40 plus yards away.

Well it all depends on how far you are. If you are close letas say 15 yrd your pattern dosent have time to fully deploy so I would aim at more at the base of the neck and try to not hit the meat. If im 25 to 45 yrds I tryi to aim for the middle of the neck or even the head if its more on the 25 yrd range.

the only problem with shooting at the base of the kneck is that your probably going to ruin some meat in the breast, which is usually the best part.

It is to late to weigh on this, but that has never stopped me before- I take a different approach than most do- I use a REmington 11-87 with a low-power scope, loaded with 3" shells, one and seven-eights of # 4 lead. When I have a stationary tom, which has been all 7 of my birds to date, I hold the crosshairs on the tom's head and then, as I began to squeeze the trigger, raise it up a tiny bit higher. Part of my success with this tactic has been luck, admittedly...but I have never missed a bird, nor have I ever had to chase a bird...and 6 of those, when plucked for the table, lacked a single BB hole in the breast.

OK, OK, some day I will probably miss one...

I have to go with the low to middle of the neck like most everybody else. Your pretty much guaranteed a dead bird!

Deer Fever!! What ever!! Hearing a turkey fly down and gobble with-in 50 yds. Priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Know your gun. Know your pattern.
I missed a shot 2 yrs ago because I had to wait for the three toms to spread out. Missed from 15 ft because the load did not spread. Took a tom at 50 yrds that ran the wrong way.(the other 2 ran to the woods).
Good Luck!!

Base of the neck is the way to go for any pattern - you're pattern with a full choke will encircle the neck and head, but if you focus on the head half or more of you're pattern (depending on how close of course) will pass clean over the birds head. Quick kill shot with base of the neck.