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What is with adults using youth guns to hunt turkeys?

Jed headed out after the field gobbler…lol
 

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Santa brought me a youth 870 20 ga over 20 years ago and it got a lot of use. Later received a Browning Gold so the 870 never got much use. After moving to TN, I wanted to get into turkey hunting for many reasons. I figured that youth model would make a good turkey gun hiking through TN woods. Searching the internet for chokes made me realize how popular these guns are now. I imagine many others had same idea and it started catching on. For the ones questioning or hating it's like the old saying, "Don't knock it til you try it". It's amazing what this little gun can do along with its durability.
 
I hate the whole hunting em with sub-gauges too. Turkey hunters are gettting as bad as fly-fisherman now. So you killed your turkey with a .410 and #8 shot, then you went trout fishing with your one weight and caught trout on a size 20 fly?

It's like robert ruark said, "Use enough gun."

Man this made me laugh and as someone who doesn't fly fish slightly attacked.. ;)

I can kind of see your comparison though it reminds me of this snooty old man response when I was telling him about a tarpon I landed on the gulf coast "ahem but did you catch him on fly...?" When turkey hunters start saying "but did you use a .410?" I'm out lol.
 
I am a large adult and full time guide. I have been using youth .20 gauge guns for almost 20 years. I have red dot scopes and mostly use heavi-shot shells. My clients have taken over 100 birds using these set ups. Love them!
Drawbacks are minor. Small and easy to forget where they are on your back crossing creeks or ducking limbs...other than that I believe they are the best "thing" I have added to my trips. I do carry a 12 "full size" and have it available in case the clients don't believe in the other set ups
 
Is the committee on here that decides what gun you can turkey or deer hunt with elected or appointed? I never knew you needed approval.
 
I almost posted this same comparison but didn't want to dirty the waters anymore than they already are. Should we all be shooting .300 Win Mags? Sure, a .243 or 7mm-08 or 6.5CM will kill them just as dead with less weight and recoil, but those are wuss guns. 😂
I agree 100%, growing up I was the chunky kid, the neighbor that took me hunting and showed me the ropes was the All American Badass Marine and had me shooting a Remington 600 in 350Rem Mag. Quite a lot for a 12 year old in my opinion these days although I'd love to have that gun. (He has since passed on)
Since I've hunted with a 7Mag and 300 win mag but did finally come to my senses and love the little 7-08 as dead is dead is dead.
Plus much easier to tote around.

As for turkey, I remember everyone going with the 10Ga, I always went with my 870 shooting 3.5's, now my 870 20Ga is the favorite. That is until this past Friday. My girlfriend bid/purchased a Benelli M2 20Ga at a DU banquet with the FFii and has enhancements from Rob Roberts.

All is all, each should shoot what they choose to shoot and like.
 
Man this made me laugh and as someone who doesn't fly fish slightly attacked.. ;)

I can kind of see your comparison though it reminds me of this snooty old man response when I was telling him about a tarpon I landed on the gulf coast "ahem but did you catch him on fly...?" When turkey hunters start saying "but did you use a .410?" I'm out lol.
and I have to believe there will be lost birds because of this bull, but no one will ever come back here and admit it.
 
and I have to believe there will be lost birds because of this bull, but no one will ever come back here and admit it.
Just like there will be lost birds to lead from a 12 gauge and no one will come back here and admit it.

If you aren't willing to see the science behind TSS, just continue to live in the 1990s and be happy.
 
Just like there will be lost birds to lead from a 12 gauge and no one will come back here and admit it.

If you aren't willing to see the science behind TSS, just continue to live in the 1990s and be happy.
More TSS is downrange is better than less though right?
 
Will be more birds injured and lost from macho man with his 3.5 trying to kill birds at 80 yards, than the guys who tote the 410 and know their limits
What about 410 that don't know their limits?

Numerically though, you're absolutely right. I'm not a big fan of either of those negative scenarios...
 
Till now anyone who shot a .410 at turkeys was either a youth hunter or someone who is pretty knowledgeable. Either way, they probably stick to the gun's limits.

But .410's are now marketed to the public by the likes of Bass Pro and friends. Will be interesting to see if there's any change in who buys them.
 
and I have to believe there will be lost birds because of this bull, but no one will ever come back here and admit it.
Excluding honest mistakes, which we aren't talking about here, one thing causes turkeys to die without being recovered: unethical shots. And it doesn't matter if you are shooting lead, TSS, Hevishot, or steel duck loads out of a .410 or a punt gun. Not patterning your gun with the load you plan to use and limiting your shots to a reasonable effective range of that load are the problem. I don't know why this is so hard to understand. I had a guy tell me 20 years ago his 10 gauge would put 150 pellets in a 10 inch circle at 80 yards. I guess any birds he crippled shooting lead at 80 yards was the fault of a .410 and/or TSS which wasn't even available then.
 
Will be more birds injured and lost from macho man with his 3.5 trying to kill birds at 80 yards, than the guys who tote the 410 and know their limits

I'm sure folks use tss from a 410 at 80 yards

It is deadlier at longer ranges than lead or steel

There is nothing unethical about shooting a turkey past 40 yards if you can drop them dead (with a shotgun and fine shot)

In some states you can use rifles, pistols or slugs and don't have to worry about which shot will drop a turkey at 50-100 yards
 

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