How far is fair?

[fairchaser]

What is a reasonable distance to take a shot on a turkey?

Granted there are many variables but the distances have been increasing with modern chokes, scoped shotguns and even handloads of TSS. So, I would like to know your maximum range that you would take a known shot with perfect conditions.

I ask that those tempted to be critical. Don't!

 

[cbhunter]

I'm gonna say 60. Called one in for a friend and he smacked him at 50 with my gun. With that being said, it would be rare for me to attempt it.


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[Roost 1]

I can kill them much further than I do. Only exception being if I'm guiding and have to back someone up. Happened more than once this year which is the reason I use the set ups that I do. Most of my shots are 35yds or less.

 

[Setterman]

I won't take the shot until they're inside 35 yards. I can easily kill one to probably 50, but choose to not as that's not why I'm out there chasing them. I want to look into their eyes as I end it for them.

 

[dgolden]

I've shot 1 at 60 and 1 at 53. To be honest, I did not think they were that far! I prefer them to be within 50. Usually shoot my gun pre-season at 40.

 

[TDW05]

No more then 40 for me. I feel comfortable at 50 but I don't take any chances. I know 40 and in he is dead.

 

[TheLBLman]

Trying to not be critical :mrgreen:

What is a reasonable distance to take a shot on a turkey?

"Reasonable" is a matter of perspective.
Even with TSS and super-tight chokes, the margins for error increase dramatically with range.

I know what I'm shooting COULD easily kill a turkey at 60-plus yards,
but the probability of a bird that goes off and dies unrecovered is much higher at 60 than at 40
no matter what load or choke is being used.

I wish you had had an option for 35-45 yards, as that would have been my answer.
Most I've killed have been under 25, and 45 is my limit.
I'm allowing for range estimate margin of error as well, since they're often a few yards farther than estimated.

For me, the most "reasonable" distance to purposefully plan is about 20-25 yards.

 

[catman529]

My gun only good to 40 and I personally don't really want to kill one farther, prefer the open pattern for closer shots as well


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[PalsPal]

Just for clarification yards and steps aren't the same thing. Most people's stride even when stretching it isn't a yard.

I try to judge 50 steps and let that be my line.

 

[Wrangler95]

I'm in the 40 to 50 yard range but prefer 30 yards if possible!!

 

[Mista Bone]

I like the 35-45yd option LBLman mentioned. I shoot an 870 with no choke which I'm sure limits me. 2 straight years I called in a big one opening morning hanging at 50yds and let him walk only to be shot 15 minutes later by someone else.

 

[Andy S.]

For me, it don't matter in the woods, as they are usually under 35 when they break the crest or when I first see them (foliage, relief of land, curve in the logging road, etc). For fields or openings (not the norm for me), I too like to keep things under 50 of my steps, which equates to about 45-46 yards for me. With that said, every person on here can misjudge one, especially in an open area, under pressure and caught up in the moment. It makes sense to err on the conservative side to make sure you have some insurance in case it is one of those days where you swear he is at 45, but he really is at 53. It happens.

 

[elknturkey]

Oh about 300 yards plus or minus a few [emoji1] . Rifles are legal in Virginia [emoji19]. My average shot is around 28 yards. My limit is shorter than what the gun and shell will do

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[String Music]

Max of 45 yards.

 

[Rjratliff1975]

30 to 40 yds for me.

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . . every person on here can misjudge one, especially in an open area, under pressure and caught up in the moment. It makes sense to err on the conservative side to make sure you have some insurance in case it is one of those days where you swear he is at 45, but he really is at 53. It happens.

Exactly.
For most my life, my range limit was an estimated 40 yards.
I've only felt good extending that to 45 yards with the newer loads, chokes, and optical sights am now using.

If I'm off by 20% (easy for me), then that 45 yards could actually be over 56 yards.

But haven't had to think much about maximum range this year, as I've seen 4 birds drop
at 12 yds, 14 yds, 16 yds, and with the farthest shot being 27 yards.
When they're under 30 yards, you really don't have to wonder if they're within good range.

 

[Andy S.]

When they're under 30 yards, you really don't have to wonder if they're within good range.

............... as I've seen 4 birds drop
at 12 yds, 14 yds, 16 yds, and with the farthest shot being 27 yards.

Correct, just hold tight and don't take your cheek off the stock.

 

[Poleaxe]

I worked my tail off before the season trying different loads and chokes to maximize the guns performance and my confidence. I won't hesitate squeezing the trigger 50-60yrds because I know exactly what my gun does at that distance. I only had to do that once this year and dropped it. Everything else was inside 30yrds. People questioned why I tested shells out through metal tin but when you have loads that are punching through it at 60yrds you know it can penetrate and kill it.

 

[megalomaniac]

40 yds is my max. I will never shoot at a bird I know to be more than 40 yards unless I am following up someone else's cripple. I feel comfortable out to 50, but like Setterman, just have no desire to shoot them a long way away. I want them to come in to the 20-25yd range. That being said, I will occasionally 'oops' a shot past 40 in open land that I flat out misjudged without realizing it and thought was closer only to find out I was wrong after I stepped it off.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

70+ yards.

I capped one at 87 yards on the roost while fanning and dragging decoys behind me in front of my blind. :shock: :stir: