Shooting distance for turkeys

[Ranger J]

First off I am not a turkey hunter or really have an urge to be one. I have been out a few times with friends and I do enjoy the sound of them gobbling on the next ridge. At present I feed a small flock of toms in my back yard area. We had a near total acorn failure in our area and the birds seem to enjoy the corn in my bird feeders. I have watched a lot of 'turkey hunts' on TV and I know enough that they are to be shot in the head/neck area. I spend quite a bit of time watching the turkeys at my feeder and you know that head is a rather small target. At the present time the toms are just interested in eating and are not holding that head still like they may be when they are strutting. Just out of curiosity (it's been a long cold winter and I am getting bored) I have a question for you turkey hunters: at what distance do you shoot at the turkey?

RJ

 

[627PCFan]

Shotguns, the rule is less than 40 yards, less than 30 is prefered but further than 15 with a shotgun as the pattern is still too tight (assuming turkey choke) at that range. Misses are easy up close. Bow hunting is another story.

FWIW baiting turkey is illegal in most states, if you do decide to take one-

 

[Ranger J]

I think if you took time to read my message I stated that I have no interest in killing a turkey! My only curiosity was how far most turkey hunters shoot their turkeys at. Besides you don't kill something that you feed each day and enjoy watching. If I wanted a turkey I can purchase one cheaper at the grocery store for less than the cost of a permit. Besides butterballs come already cleaned. PS I also feed cardinals, blue Jays , juncos, goldfinch, morning doves, house finches, chickadees, titmice, and a lot of LBJs that my old eyesight doesn't allow me to identify. The squirrels get their share too. Don't forget the crows which I thought were a rather large size bird until I saw them along side those turkeys.

RJ

 

[627PCFan]

Just lookin out for you in case you got a little overzealous with the gauge

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

X-tra full turkey choke and good pattern-tested load, 35 yards is no problem.

35-40 yards, pick your shots carefully and ideally/preferably use 4 or 5 shot, not 6 or smaller.

40-45ish yards, pick your shots very carefully, and use a heavy 4 shot load (preferably 1.75-2.0 ounces), and make sure you check your pattern out at this range.

Past that..... No. Sure people knock turkeys down every year at 60 & 70 yards or more, but for every one knocked down at that range, 5 or 10 get away and suffer - it's just not ethical, IMO.

Just my own guidelines.

 

[Todd1700]

It really depends on what type shot you are using and how far your shotgun will hold a good pattern. The rule of thumb for many as far as an acceptable pattern goes is 100 pellets inside a ten inch circle. Whatever distance your shotgun will hold at least that minimum pattern. Now that said lead runs out of killing power long before the newer denser than lead shot. With lead of any size I would not shoot past 40 yards. I have one shotgun however with an Indian Creek choke that will pattern Winchester Extended Range denser than lead ammo well enough to easily kill a turkey at 50 yards if I so desired. DTL type shot will still easily penetrate deep enough to kill at that distance.

 

[Ranger J]

The birds that visit my feeder in the back yard are at the most 30 yards away and while they ar busy picking up corn and their heads are constantly moving and from what I have seen on tv when they are strutting the head is held relatively still even at that distance it is a wonder many are killed. This flock consists of both mature gobblers and some jakes and it is no mystery as to which rule the pecking order. As you might have noticed I really get a kick watching them. It surprised me the other day when one of the turkeys tried to run a fox squirrel away from a pile of corn and when the dust cleared it was the turkey that ended up beating feet away.

RJ

 

[Todd1700]

It surprised me the other day when one of the turkeys tried to run a fox squirrel away from a pile of corn and when the dust cleared it was the turkey that ended up beating feet away.

Them fox squirrels can be mean. I've had them try to run my @$$ out of a tree while bow hunting in Illinois. LOL!

 

[Rodeo4joe]

OP said - I think if you took time to read my message I stated that I have no interest in killing a turkey!

Careful here because You might not realize it but you are killing them. Any time you feed wild animals you are running the risk of them becoming dependent on humans which is killing them, and even if you are not making them dependent you are de sensitizing them to humans which makes it easier for your neigbor to hunt them and to let you fatten up that big Tom before the season opens.

 

[Hangingrock]

We have more than our fair share of turkeys (both birds & people ) in this part of North Carolina. Their in my side yard just about everyday, that is the bird turkeys. Wouldn’t be much of a hunt but I can open a window and shoot one. We allow people to hunt on the property. The hunters have had a so-so success rate with the turkeys but seem to do better with the Deer which we have plenty of also.

 

[courtgreene]

Also in NC, it's amazing to me how easy they are to see in the "side yard" but when I hit the woods they disappear. I guess side yards are their preferred habitat now.

 

[Hangingrock]

Yes it is we’re surrounded by hard woods and cultivated fields. They come in the yard rooting in and around the oak trees. They roost right on the edge of the tree line and if disturbed loft down into the hollow. Yep we got more than we need. I can see them in open fields on the drive into town.

 

[RedBud]

The distance depends on the choke, type of shells and the gun. As most replies indicate, a typical shot is 30 - 40 yards. However, with a turkey choke (extra full), it is possible to kill a turkey 50 - 60 yards away from you. The problem is that the shot can miss the head & neck as you increase the distance. The extra full choke keeps the pattern tight.

 

[sam700]

When I patterned my shotgun with my turkey choke, 40 yards seemed to be the max range that it would reliably put a good number of pellets in the kill zone. Only shot two turkeys so far so not a lot of real experience to go off of.

 

[bobelk99]

X-tra full turkey choke and good pattern-tested load, 35 yards is no problem.

I agree, assuming my gun has been patterned with the load I am using, and I know I have a killing pattern at that range.


I put out range markers (local blowdown sticks) and don't shoot over 35.