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.
What kind of gun do you use for turkey?
For a dedicated turkey gun, 22- or 24-inch barrels are common. If you’re looking at an all-purpose gun, a 26-inch barrel provides a happy medium that performs well in the spring turkey woods or during fall waterfowl and upland seasons. If you’re looking at an all-purpose gun, fit is an important consideration.
What caliber is best for turkey hunting?
For a dedicated turkey rifle, though, the best choices are going to be in the lower velocity . 22- to . 25-caliber range, though there can be exceptions to that. High-velocity varmint calibers and bullets are made for explosive expansion on small game and can tear up a turkey.
What gauge is a turkey gun?
What are some of the characteristics that draw hunters to the 20-gauge for turkeys? Read on for a look at why the 20-gauge shotgun has grown to be a new favorite among turkey hunters across the country each spring.
What do you use for turkey hunting?
Gun or Bow
In most states, choices for method of take for turkeys are shotgun, muzzleloader or bow. Thanks to modern turkey loads and turkey chokes, both 12 and 20 gauge do a good job at taking down a turkey. With Federal Premium Ammunition’s TSS turkey loads, even . 410 shotguns are viable turkey guns.
Is a 410 A good turkey gun?
“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.”
Does barrel length matter for turkey hunting?
In general, a longer barrel allows the projectiles to harness more energy from the explosion of the gunpowder and to fall into a truer flight path. 20″-24″ barrels: These short barrels are best left to turkey hunters, who are taking careful aim at standing-still birds.
Can you use a 22 for turkey hunting?
22 is illegal. There are only a few states where hunting turkeys with a rifle is allowed, and even then it is often only during the fall season. Aside from it being illegal in many areas, there are other reasons why it isn’t the best idea to hunt turkey with the rifle from your boyhood.
Can you hunt turkey with a AR 15?
A standard AR-15 is a perfect rifle to take a turkey with. And you can be the head of your local chapter of “.
How far can you shoot a turkey?
With lighter, underpowered loads of soft lead pellets shot out of a 12-gauge shotgun with a full choke, 30 yards was the maximum range for a lethal shot on a turkey.
Do you need a camo gun for turkey hunting?
Color. A matte black gun is fine if you’re shooting from a blind. But if you’ve set up in natural cover, you might appreciated the extra concealment of a camo-colored gun. Many dedicated turkey and waterfowl guns come in camo, which costs a bit more.
Is a 12 or 20-gauge better?
Because a 12 gauge shotgun shell has more volume than a 20 gauge shotgun shell, it fits more powder and bigger projectiles. This means you will get a harder-hitting shot at a greater effective distance with a 12 gauge than you will with a 20 gauge.
How far does a 20-gauge shoot?
Twenty-gauge lead loads can take toms inside 40 yards, and do it in a lighter, slimmer shotgun while delivering a much softer kick to the shooter.
What does a beginner turkey hunter need?
A vest is like a turkey hunter’s arsenal of gear. You absolutely need one to place shells, calls, face masks, and everything else you need to carry with you. Turkey hunting is a long sport, so be prepared to bring snacks, water, and even reading material if you’re not hearing anything.
Is turkey hunting hard?
Turkeys are supposed to be tough. That’s why it’s the best hunting tradition for some of us – the difficulty adds to the pleasure. It’s all good – the scouting, locating, sitting on birds, calling to them and sometimes even tagging one.
What do I need for my first turkey hunt?
Turkey Decoys and Calls
Those are the basic equipment items you’ll need for your first time turkey hunting. But honestly, being able to use a turkey call and having a turkey decoy in-place will really improve your chances at bringing a turkey into shooting range.
Where do you aim in 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.
Why do people use 410 for turkey hunting?
410 bore firearm is way more affordable than a 12-gauge, has almost no recoil, and the ammo is way more accessible. Because so many of us started in the outdoors hunting with a . 410, it’s also a nice way to get back to our roots in the turkey woods.
How far can a 410 shoot a turkey?
The full choke tightens the pattern as expected, but also adds a bit of extra reach when hunting the big toms. These choke options will also help when upland-bird hunting. When used for its intended purpose, the extra-full choke provides turkey lethality out past 25 yards with lead shot.
Should I put a scope on my turkey shotgun?
A scope makes a hunter shoot a shotgun more like a rifle than a scattergun, which is exactly what is needed for turkey hunting. An important plus for a scope is that it’s easy to sight in, which is important when patterning a smoothbore.
Do you need a choke for turkey hunting?
“Turkeys are a lot different than hunting pheasants. They’re a tougher bird and you need to get pellets into their vital areas to kill them cleanly and a tighter choke will allow you to do that, allow you to throw a dense pattern so you put more pellets in the turkey’s head or neck, in his vital areas.”