Couple turkey gun questions.

TheRealSpurhunter said:
. . . . I would say it would scare you how bad your pattern in at 50 or more yards, I urge you to put the shots to paper and see that.
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A few years ago I spent most of February and March shooting at mainly 50 yards, testing various chokes and turkey loads. I shot nothing less than 3 1/2-inch shells, experimenting mainly with different brands (Hevi, Winchester Extendeds, Federal Heavyweights, etc.). I was amazed at how bad things got quickly beyond 40 to 45 yards, including the pattern inconsistencies from shot to shot. This was when I made the switch from copper-plated lead to HTL.

In that particular gun, I'm now shooting either straight 7's (HTL) or the Magnum Blend (HTL). While I know this rig COULD possible kill a turkey at 60 yards, I believe the killing range for 90% effectiveness (with a single shot) is right at 50 yards. I believe it's less than 50% at 55 yards, and approaching 20% at 60.

So I believe I can claim I have a 50-yd turkey gun, but I do not plan to take a 50-yd shot on turkey. I'm still looking for up close & personal. Just have a bigger margin for error than in times past.

Then there's my 20 gauge rig. With it, shooting #7 Federal Heavyweights, it's a solid 45-yd gun, but I try to limit my shots with it to under 40 yards. Using a rangefinder and very certain about the distance, would be willing to add up to 5 yards to that 40. The problem is, even using a rangefinder, it's easy to be off a little, which is why I feel better about drawing the line a few yards less.

Finally, I agree with others regarding the necessity for better sights when shooting these super-tight patterns at a turkey's head, not just at longer ranges, but up close as well. Most of my turkeys were taken many years in the past, using just a single bead sight, factory full choke, and 2 3/4" shells. It was a very good set-up with #5 copper-plated lead, approaching 40 yards, which was my limit. I've also killed several turkeys with three different 16 gauge shotguns, some using #7 1/2 dove loads (just used what I had). It may matter little what you're shooting under 35 yards and only going for head shots.

But what I don't want to do is turn my turkey hunting more into a venture of shooting than an adventure of hunting. To me, it's more about the hunting, and the circumstances surrounding the kill, than just making a kill.
 
i killed two jakes last year and have killed a fair share of longbeards in my life. The first one, i had worked the bird for over an hour off the roost. Gobbling (not a jake gobble) every two min or so. I finally got the bird within range in a thicket and when i seen the red head, (yes he was with two hens, no other birds) i shot. It was a jake. I was upset and said i will not do that again. Went two days later and worked another bird, gobbling all the way in (again no jake gobble) and sturutting. I could see his fan but not his chest. Full fan, finally close enough, i clucked, he stuck his head up, boom, another jake. So it can happen even when we dont intend for it too. They still ate very well.
 
I havnt killed one one quite a while now, but since I hunt woods most of the time, its bound to happen again. When they do everything they are supposed to, and show up gobbling, RED HEAD = DEAD.
 
elkman said:
i killed two jakes last year and have killed a fair share of longbeards in my life. The first one, i had worked the bird for over an hour off the roost. Gobbling (not a jake gobble) every two min or so. I finally got the bird within range in a thicket and when i seen the red head, (yes he was with two hens, no other birds) i shot. It was a jake. I was upset and said i will not do that again. Went two days later and worked another bird, gobbling all the way in (again no jake gobble) and sturutting. I could see his fan but not his chest. Full fan, finally close enough, i clucked, he stuck his head up, boom, another jake. So it can happen even when we dont intend for it too. They still ate very well.
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I had those exact 2 scenarios happen to me in one season
 
knightrider said:
so your telling me you guys just shoot at a red head? I believe you better make sure it has a beard no matter what color head it has!
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Nope, not just a red head. Other factors are included. ;)
 

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