I agree with REN and therealspurhunter. A rookie turkey hunter may read a post claiming a kill at 60 yards, and automatically assume that they can also kill one that far. More than likely they won't have the rig or ammo to do it, and end up wounding turkeys. I don't like that thought at all. My gun and ammo will no doubt kill way on out there, but I'm not going to mention some long yardage, for fear of a new turkey hunter may be reading.
Couple turkey gun questions.
- Thread starter Nsghunter
- Start date
REN said:
Because somewhere along the way people decided it isn't impressive to be an ethical hunter and see how close you can get them. It's impressive to see if you can kill them farther and farther away. If you feed some to the coyotes along the way, who cares? I'm so appreciative of OG's rule about 40 yards. It definitely keeps the "tommy toppers" quiet. Deer hunters are even worse. They would rather brag about a 400 yard shot than a 40. Isn't the idea to solve the puzzle, get in close, figure out what makes him tick, use woodmanship, know the terrain, be stealthy?
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
I used to be that dude that wanted that long shot in turkey and in deer hunting but I like seeing how close I can get them. No doubt my rig now and the one I'm building now after I get done with it will for sure no doubt kill a turkey at 60 yards but I want them now close enough to hear them spittin and drumming. I'm not by any means going to question someone's ethics though. Not my place to do so. All I can say is before you even think about taking that 40-60 yard shot please shoot your gun and make sure your equipment can even do it before you send a prayer shot down range at a turkey. If it can't make the shot don't take it. And don't feel bad or anything a lot of guns and choke and ammo combos cannot make that shot. Pattern your gun before you go hunting. IMO its the same as sighting in your rifle.
like i said man i don't know what your gun can do so by no means am i judging you and how ethical a hunter you are...i don't know you from adam and it would not be fair to do so based on a post on a message board.
Having said that I would just like to see what it does pattern if you ever shoot it at paper again just to have something to look at. I personally have never seen anyone shooting lead 4 shot be able to put up a pattern that would go past 40-45 but again I don't know your gun or set up so I can't say its not possible.
To clear up my comments i have no issue with a long shot if you have a set up that can do it and at no point am i trying to suggest my way is the way everyone should hunt or there is a very specific rule to how you need to turkey hunt. I will be honest in that i still don't understand why someone would want to shoot at one that far besides the fact of just either saying you did or just to feel the rush of killing something. If you are shooting a straight bead i even wonder what you are actually aiming at as the bead would cover the whole bird at that range.
again the thrill TO ME is the up close and personal ones but i can't say I've never shot one at 40yds as i did last year when that was the last opportunity i was gonna have so i get it. To each his own and by all means hunt the way you want to make it enjoyable.
just hunt with what your confident in and please pattern your weapon so you know what its limitations are.
Having said that I would just like to see what it does pattern if you ever shoot it at paper again just to have something to look at. I personally have never seen anyone shooting lead 4 shot be able to put up a pattern that would go past 40-45 but again I don't know your gun or set up so I can't say its not possible.
To clear up my comments i have no issue with a long shot if you have a set up that can do it and at no point am i trying to suggest my way is the way everyone should hunt or there is a very specific rule to how you need to turkey hunt. I will be honest in that i still don't understand why someone would want to shoot at one that far besides the fact of just either saying you did or just to feel the rush of killing something. If you are shooting a straight bead i even wonder what you are actually aiming at as the bead would cover the whole bird at that range.
again the thrill TO ME is the up close and personal ones but i can't say I've never shot one at 40yds as i did last year when that was the last opportunity i was gonna have so i get it. To each his own and by all means hunt the way you want to make it enjoyable.
just hunt with what your confident in and please pattern your weapon so you know what its limitations are.
cool, what you get? you still shooting the 4's or did you switch it up? not many people shoot 4s anymore so it will be cool to see what they look like on paper.
FYI if your still shooting the 4's you may want to test out some of the Winchester long beard shells...saw this today and looks pretty dang good for cold temps and 4's
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/t ... cseen.html
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/t ... cseen.html
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
x 2REN said:
Then there is the dilemma.
If you purposefully set up your gun for 50-plus yard shots, you are handicapping yourself on those "up close and personal" opportunities.
I've said for many years, and continue to believe, that more novice hunters would kill more longbeards with a factory full choke than any of the after-market extra-full "turkey" chokes, simply because they would be more likely to hit the birds that present.
I know there are different circumstances, but in many of the woodland circumstances of turkey season, a good set-up commonly will not even allow a shot past 35 or 40 yards. When you're set up on a ridgeline, it is common to first see that red head rising above the horizon at about 25 yards. Part of why I've told so many beginning turkey hunters to simply use the shotgun they're familar, as at the ranges most turkeys are killed, the ability to shoot well outweighs how far the gun COULD kill a turkey.
Oh I totally agree. I set mine up to shoot 40 but I love trying different combos to see what is the best I can get from my gun looking for the best most even pattern possible. That's a part I love about turkey hunting but without question most if what I do is way overkill. I've killed 1 bird ever out to 40 as most all mine have been 36yds and in however if he is at 40-45 I know without question it will put a hurting on the ol boy
I don't care what gun, choke or ammo you use just pattern it at distances you are comfortable with so you know if it will kill the bird. It's not a very expensive exercise (if shooting lead) and you gain a ton of confidence doing so.
I don't care what gun, choke or ammo you use just pattern it at distances you are comfortable with so you know if it will kill the bird. It's not a very expensive exercise (if shooting lead) and you gain a ton of confidence doing so.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
x 2REN said:
And it is for this very reason I feel little handicap, and a lot more "carrying pleasure" in most of my future turkey hunting being with a featherweight 20 gauge. Loaded with Federal #7 HTL loads, it's actually very effective out to 45 yards, and a true pleasure to carry compared to those huge, cumbersome specialized rigs marketed as "turkey" guns.
How many have even considered the difference in weight carrying 20 ga shells afield compared to those 3 1/2" magnum 12 ga? I assure you it's noticeable in a nice way when you switch over to a 20 ga. Even nicer when you pull the trigger and don't feel you were just kicked by a mule.
FARMTOFIELD
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I handload for my 10 bore, the reason being is that of right now I can load as cheap as I can buy nitros or magblends. I can kill turkeys at distances that would make people shun me but I just can't do it. I killed with that load last spring at an impressive (dont bash me please) 32 and 41 yds 
I did kill a fall longbeards at 45 yds and I miss judged a bird one time a bit farther than that.
I had one longbeard I hunted all season last year had him struttin for me and I couldn't pill the trigger he looked sooo far away. I stepped it off after the hunt at 52 yds. I did not regret letting him walk
I did kill a fall longbeards at 45 yds and I miss judged a bird one time a bit farther than that.
I had one longbeard I hunted all season last year had him struttin for me and I couldn't pill the trigger he looked sooo far away. I stepped it off after the hunt at 52 yds. I did not regret letting him walk
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
One simply has to experience having a spitting, drumming, strutting Tom at 15 yards vs. 50 yards to appreciate the difference in the adrenaline rush.
Wes Parrish said:
Oh man it's so awesome.
I've said it before but my next gun will be an M2 20g that ill deck out for hunting. Gonna roll with the SBE2 for now though lol
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
REN said:
Later, as you progress more in proficiency hunting, you will be drawn to a lightweight 20 gauge.TheRealSpurhunter said:
Seriously, it's mostly marketing hype regarding the "need" for 3 1/2" magnum "turkey" guns.
Rockhound said:
52 yards is a long shot with a shotgun. I wonder how many of these 60-80 yard turkey kills actually are lazered.
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
Spurhunter said:
not very many very few people take a range finder with them turkey hunting.
Deerhunter10, that's interesting. Almost every turkey hunter I know carries a rangefinder in their vest.
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
Spurhunter said:
I only know 3 and that me and two other people that are extremely crazy into it all the others ive never seen one with them at all. and I know a bunch of them. if you ever go to the nwtf convention ask some of those people up there not to many people at all carry them from what ive seen and heard of. id say a whole lot of people on here even don't carry one.
FARMTOFIELD
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Spurhunter said:
Yea its a long shot, I could have killed him with confidence and still have a pattern past that but not me.
I dont take a rangefinder, mostly because I never owned one. I pick out a few 40 yd landmarks when I set down
TheRealSpurhunter
Well-Known Member
Spurhunter said:
I use a laser rangefinder on every kill, just so I can keep educating myself on distance.
TheRealSpurhunter
Well-Known Member
deerhunter10 said:
Rangefinder and binoculars are the 2 most important tolls I carry in the turkey woods.
