40 yards is the typical shot distance for most turkey hunting scenarios, and so many turkey hunters start at this distance.
What is the effective range of a 12 gauge with turkey load?
Lead Turkey Loads
A good compromise is #5 copper-plated lead pellets loaded in a 12-gauge 3-inch magnum shot shell. With this setup, you’ll be good out to 40 yards, and perhaps 50 if your gun is patterned tight. If you want better range and lethality, you’ll need to consider using tungsten shot.
Where do you aim at on a turkey?
When hunting wild turkeys with a shotgun, greater success is achieved when hunters shoot at the head and neck area of the bird. The most effective firearm shot for a turkey is to the head and neck. The preferred shot angle for bowhunters is broadside, aiming for the heart or lungs.
How far can I shoot with a turkey choke?
Moving to a full choke will give you a . 695 choke diameter; you’ll get more energy and a tighter pattern, allowing lethal shots out to 35-40 yards. Moving to an extra-full choke pushes your limit even farther. A lot of birds are killed by hunters at 40-50 yards plus with specialty extra-full turkey chokes.
How far does a turkey shoot?
The shoot is most commonly held using shotguns aimed at paper targets about 25–35 yards away. Original turkey shoots, however, date at least to the time of James Fenimore Cooper and were contests in which live turkeys were tied down in a pen and shot from 25–35 yards.
Is 4 shot good for turkey?
4 shot, with more than enough energy at then-accepted turkey killing ranges of 40 yards or less can glance off bone. Bourjaily goes on to write, “as a rule of thumb, lead 6s are reliable to 35 yards, lead 5s to 45.
What is the best choke for turkey hunting?
Full choke has tight constriction. The shot holds together even longer, making this choke good for squirrels, turkey, and other game shot at 40-yard and longer ranges. Turkey hunters sometimes use Extra Full or Turkey choke for even denser patterns at long range.
What is the best time to turkey hunt?
A turkey’s peak breeding season is in the spring. Hunters are targeting male gobblers. This time frame is when the toms are strutting around and showing off to attract the hens, making spring the best time to hunt turkeys. April – May is prime turkey season for most states and states like Florida are as early as March.
What kind of gun do you use for turkey hunting?
shotgun
The firearm most turkey hunters use is a shotgun, which is the only firearm allowed on most wildlife management areas (WMAs) during spring turkey season. Some people choose to hunt with archery equipment or pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns.
Where do you hit a turkey with arrow?
When a turkey is facing straight towards you, place your arrow between the base of the beard and the base of the neck. There is often a thin vertical line formed by the breast feathers that can act as an aiming point.
Can you shoot a turkey at 60 yards?
However, just because we… Given the state of turkey chokes and loads, we can now kill turkeys to 60 yards. However, just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should, and the best range to shoot a wild turkey remains 20-30 yards.
Is a turkey choke tighter than a full choke?
It may seem a small amount, but it is actually quite a bit of constriction when you consider all that shot has to squeeze through that narrow tunnel. So, a full choke is . 030 of an inch tighter than cylinder and most turkey chokes are another 30 thousandths of an inch tighter than full chokes.
Can you shoot birdshot through a turkey choke?
You can, but you might cause damage to your shotgun. The buckshot speeding down the barrel must crash into the choke constriction and squeeze down to pass through. All the while, the pressure in the barrel is still pushing it.
Can you shoot a turkey at 70 yards?
With the right shotgun, choke, and TSS load, it is possible (with a lot of time spent patterning) to kill a turkey at 70 yards.
What is considered a good turkey pattern?
Opinions vary on what a good turkey-killing pattern looks like at 30 yards. Some say it’s consistently having at least 100 pellets in a 10-inch circle. Others say it requires X-amount of pellets within the kill zone—the brain and vertebrae—of the turkey target.
Can u shoot a turkey with a rifle?
Getting back to politics briefly – here’s a note: In California, you cannot hunt turkey with a rifle, but you CAN hunt them with an air rifle? Which makes about as much sense as other gun related laws in California.
Is steel shot good for turkey?
But steel shot has some advantages over lead and can certainly be deadly on turkeys. Steel shells contain more pellets than their lead counterparts of the same size. The popular No. 4 steel load may contain as many as 300 pellets depending on the charge, while a lead shell of the same size contains just over 200.
What shotgun shell is best for turkey hunting?
After some intensive testing, here’s our list of the best turkey loads out there.
- Best Lead Load: Winchester Longbeard XR 3-inch, 1¾-ounce, No.
- Best Lead Shot Penetration: Remington Magnum Turkey 3.5-inch, 2-ounce, No.
- Best Shotshell for Beginners: Kent Ultimate Turkey 3-inch, 1¾-ounce, No.
What is the best turkey ammo?
Here are the year’s best turkey loads and guidance on how to pick the right one for your needs.
- Best TSS: Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS Turkey Shotshells.
- Best for 12 Gauge: Winchester Long Beard XR Turkey Shotshells.
- Best Lead: Remington Nitro Turkey Shotshells.
- Best Non Toxic: Boss Tom Tungsten Shotshells.
Do turkey chokes make a difference?
For best results, always use turkey loads when possible, along with extended choke tubes for the extra constriction. The right amount of choking can result in a denser pattern downrange at longer distances, and hopefully result in more shot pellets lethally penetrating the turkey’s head [and neck].
Can you turkey hunt with a 410?
“TSS pellets make hunting turkeys with a . 410 a very viable option,” he says. “It provides the performance of conventional 12-gauge loads with a significant drop in recoil.”