shotgun for turkey abatement?

[mainecoon]

I have a turkey problem with my crop and am considering a shotgun to get rid of the pests. Will killing a few of the birds make them go away, or do they just come back? We are talking families of 30-40 turkeys every morning just trashing the place.

 

[Texan Scott]

Without knowing the legalities vis a vis turkeys where you live, I'd actually suggest a light RIFLE for this. A scoped semi -auto .223 of your favorite flavor and body shots - flat shooting, certainly lethal. Not sporting, maybe some of the birds wouldn't even be edible... but this is simple population control. The ones you shoot will never come back, for sure. Shoot as many as you can, but aim for the hens first.

If it HAS to be a shotgun, a highcap semi-auto with a tight choke and lots of #4 Buck. Again, body shots. On the smoker might be what you WANT them to be, but DEAD is all you NEED them to be.

 

[buck460XVR]

Do you have a permit and/or is it legal to shoot them? Then any type of shotgun will do as long as you can hit them in the head with a load of fives. Turkeys, unless starving, will not tolerate being harassed. So if it is not legal for you to shoot them, or to shoot more than one or two, either chasing them outta the fields a few times either by yourself or with the help of a dog, will work just as well.

 

[Sav .250]

You had better check with your state DNR before you start shooting anything!

 

[Patocazador]

In Florida it's legal to HUNT turkeys with a rifle. A very popular choice is a .22 magnum. It kills them and doesn't 'blow-up' a lot of meat.

The State of Maine has probably spent a lot of time and money transplanting turkeys to re-establish the population. It may be difficult to convince the Game Dept. to give you a permit to cull them.

 

[MCgunner]

Without knowing the legalities vis a vis turkeys where you live, I'd actually suggest a light RIFLE for this. A scoped semi -auto .223 of your favorite flavor and body shots -

I'd use my semi auto .22 magnum, personally. But, in Texas, I can do that except for eastern birds that don't exist here.

 

[MtnCreek]

A well setup shotgun w/ the Right choke and load is a 50yd gun. A 22 lr, if you know your holds, is an easy 150 yds and it is effective if put into the wing and through the chest. The bird needs to be at the right angle to go through the base of the wing and the chest.

Look into your laws on this. Years ago the State of NC Wildlife was 're-establishing' turkeys and they were Rabid about anyone messing with their birds!

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I think I would try an air cannon or firecrackers, or maybe a dog that's trained to chase them away. Our dogs totally ignore turkeys, even if they walk right by.

I know it took about 30 years for Colorado to get Rio Grandes established along the Arkansas river in southern Colorado.