Ya big turkey!

[dagger dog]

How many State game laws allow turkey hunting with a rifle.? Does yours?

How many of you fellas out there would use a rifle if the law permits? Tell why you would or wouldn't.

Here's the chance so sound off!

 

[Speedo66]

Shotgun only in NY.

I'd use a .22 rifle or similar, nothing larger because of meat loss.

Perhaps muzzle loading squirrel gun would be the way to go for tradition.

 

[dakotasin]

s.d. permits rifles, and i have used a 22-250 in the past for turkeys. why? dunno... seemed more fun than a shotgun, i guess.

 

[Lagomorph]

Rifles are OK in Texas on Rio Grande birds, I believe. A 25-06 will do the job just fine!

 

[Hungry Seagull]

All that meat would be gobbled up by something too much larger.

 

[WalkAbout]

I think we're shotgun only here in VA. That's all I use anyways. You can use a bow if you want too, but that's too much work for me right now...

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

In Fl. rifles or shotguns. I never cared for shotguns. I prefer a .22 mag.

 

[jbkebert]

No rifles allowed in Kansas. Still prefer archery over shotgun. Gun hunting is limited to at least a 20gauge or larger.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I would use a rifle if allowed, since I've seen them in these large fields; specifically I'd use my Baikal combo gun in .223 under / 12 ga over. Under 40 yards, 6 shot to the neck. Over 40, 55 gr FMJ to the vitals. Sure would like a chamber adapter to turn the .223 into a .218 Bee however; that'd be JUST right.

Anyone else gettin happy after the thought of spring turkeys yet? I am. Anyone heard mating gobbles yet?

Problem is, with all this global warming, their mating season starts well in advance of the April 6 opening day - frustrating - after the first few days of the season, the mating time is all but over. The wildlife dept. needs to look at moving the dates back to coincide. Would like to get one with my bow this year, in any event.

 

[Art Eatman]

If I were specifically hunting turkey, I'd go with a turkey-choked shotgun. During deer season, if I think I can make the hit, I'll use my rifle for a head shot.

I did snapshoot one gobbler with an '06, just behind the legs. It was a broadside view, somewhere around 125 yards. Killed and cleaned, right on the spot. No wasted meat. Helluva shot, if I do say so myself.

 

[bang_bang]

As mentioned earlier, Virginia is a shotgun/bow only state for turkey.

But, I've heard that a .22 Mag or a 300 Win Mag to the neck/head area is pretty effective and wastes no meat.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

For those going for head shots, I say, more power to ya if'n you can do it, and I'm not worthy. And you probably have a lot more turkeys and/or opportunity to hunt than I do. And/or maybe you have a lot less hunting pressure on the birds.

That head, less than 3" wide, bobbing and weaving with every step, and stuck out and back with every gobble is way more of a precise target than I'd like to have to hit when I get my chance at a gobbler. I have some pretty accurate rifles, and I'm a decent shot, and I would still probably have to take 3-4 shots for every hit under field conditions trying to hit the head or neck. Turkeys don't stand still for several seconds in a row like deer do. Usually 1 or 1.5 seconds max, before they move again. Thank you, but I'll take a .223 or similar to the vitals at nearly twice the target size, when I get my chance, even if some meat is damaged.

If I WAS going solely for head shots, and it WAS legal, my gun of choice would be my CZ 453 Varmint in .17 HMR. In this state, during the 1-week fall turkey season, in SOME counties, you can use a rifle. In the spring, it's shotgun or bow only.