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Steel shot?

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Bottom Hunter

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The farm I am hunting this year is beside the refuge. I might get over on the refuge from time to time (legal to hunt).

You can only use non-toxic shot on the refuge.....

I have some 3.5 " steel shot that I used for ducks a couple of years ago....

I should be fine with distance and knockdown, right?

thanks
 
steel shot is a big reason i quit duck hunting. i heard the pellets hit a mallard about 30 yds out and as far as i know, he spent the winter peacefully in mexico. never missed a wingbeat. i would got some of the modern nontoxic shot if i was hunting where it is required.
 
I plan to shoot the turkey in the head, not the breast...lol.

I too dislike the killing power of steel shot with regards to wingshooting ducks.

I just have never used them on turkeys.

This is my first year hunting here and I may not even go on to the refuge, BUT, if need be, I want to be prepared. I plan to take both steel and lead shot and then when I get on to the refuge (if I do) then I will swap out the shells and leave the lead shot in a designated area, well marked with orange tape to pick up on the way out. I have deer hunted here quite a bit and know the area pretty well....I am really looking forward to tomorrow.

thanks
 
Bottom Hunter said:
You can only use non-toxic shot on the refuge.....
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My recommendation would be Hevi-Shot as I have no experience with steel on turkeys. Always remember #4 shot or smaller is legal shot size for turkey hunting in TN (page 43 in H&T Guide). If you happen to use steel, let us know how it performs.
 
Do NOT shoot steel shot through a turkey choke either.... unless you have the extra cash to buy a new barrel or have your damaged barrel cut off and re-threaded for chokes.
 
Problem with steel is getting a tight enough pattern to effectively kill turkeys. You can't shoot a tight choke safely,
 
Steel 2's won't kill a duck at 35 yards most of the time. Steel 4's would be like shooting sand at them unless part of your choke/barrel hit em. I'm not convenced you have to use non-toxic shot for turkeys on a refuge ether, but I could be wrong. Hevi shot would be better than lead or steel
 
You can not buy anything other than steel or lead shot in Brownsville......within a few miles of a refuge that does not allow lead shot.

Guess I'll be driving 30 min. to Jackson today or just stay off the refuge.....
 
piehole said:
I'm not convenced you have to use non-toxic shot for turkeys on a refuge ether, but I could be wrong.
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I know for certain it is required on Brownsville's Hatchie Refuge, and most likely all other refuges that are utilized for ducks and wetland conservation. See this link, look under General Hunting Regulations. Hatchie Refuge
 
NO!! my buddy did a belly stalk on a gobbler and crawled up a rise within 30 yards of a fall longbeard. He didnt have any turkey loads so he carried steel. well after he shot him 3 times he finally run him down and stomped his head until he killed him. when he picked the bird up hundreds and hundreds of pellets started falling from his feathers. He only had one shot in his head and it was just enough to make the bird goofy enough to run him down, it didnt break bone. And this was at thirty yards. Unless you want a morning full of frustration and heartbreak, order you a box of hevi 13 and be done with it.
 
Bottom Hunter said:
what is the best non-toxic loads I can buy, maybe at Gander Mountain?
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I prefer hevi 13, I shoot the 7s, but the 6s and mag blends are good choices as well. Gander mountain is bad high on prices though.....
 
Bottom Hunter said:
Just need a non-toxic shell I can use on the refuge.....

is the mag-blend the right shells to get...?
Click to expand...

Any of the Hevi-shot loads will work..... MagBlends and Hevi-13 are made by the same people.... the MagBlends just contain 5,6,7 hevi shot in the same shell with the higher velocity.... where as the Hevi-13 loads contain straight shot of either 4,5,6, or 7 shot.
 
Bottom Hunter said:
is the mag-blend the right shells to get...?
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Unless your point of aim does not equal your point of impact (poor pattern), you cannot go wrong with the MagBlends. They are non-toxic as is everything made by Environ-Metal, thus the name of the company. See this link for all of their products. Environ-Metal Inc.
 
I just need non-toxic loads that are NOT steel...thanks.

I doubt that I will be checked while coming in on the backside of the refuge, off private land, but I would feel much better if I was legal.....ethically speaking, of course...
 
Hevishot, magblends.
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Proofs in the pooding.
 

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