We don’t have too many (feathered, avian) turkeys in Alberta anymore. I think they re-introduced some Merrimack turkeys down south and they took off. I think you can even apply in the draws to hunt them now. I am surprised, actually. We have a LOT of coyotes here. I shot a couple with no regrets. They go after the calves, foals and even dogs and cats. They’d go for a turkey dinner in a heartbeat.
Send it!
😂👍
But…rifles? Wouldn’t it do too much damage to the meat? I remember potting gophers with centrefire .22’s and the damn things either vaporized in a red mist - or they exploded in a disgusting chunky mess. I’d just assume they’d do the same to turkeys…? Any of you fellas ever hunt them? If I were to go after them I think I’d use a .22 rimfire…
hunted turkey since I was a wee lad. Never used a rifle though. My favorite turkey gun was a full bore, long barreled 12 ga. H&R bolt action shotgun or sometimes an old re curve 45 pound bow with no sites just smooth wood. I have not looked at any official numbers in years but I know they used to be thick as sparrows. Even had a few that would come up into the barn lot area and eat left over grain here at the Small-Hold but I have not seen one now in years. Along with the quail and prairie chickens they seem to be a thing of the past here now although I did hear some bobwhite calling this Summer so I have hope.
ReplyDeleteHeadshots with a .22.
ReplyDeleteTarget is small, but doable at 50-100yds with a scope. Not that hard if you can shoot at all.
I used to do wild geese that way. No meat damage. YMMV
Lots of body area on a turkey is just skin covering, no meat. Hit the right spot and take out innards with no damage other than a hole in the skin on both sides, Speaking from experience.
ReplyDeleteUse a black powder squirrel rifle. 36 caliber would be perfect. Round ball. You can eat to the hole. And we call that a Texas heart shot down here. A buddy of mine found an Eye-talian Hawken for sale in the late 70's that was way too cheap. He snagged it. Put a 50 cal ball through a deer. The processor couldn't believe how little damage there was to the meat.
ReplyDeleteIn Texas the fall turkey season runs at the same time as deer season. As a result most turkeys taken then are taken with deer rifles. They aren't torn up beyond being edible, mostly. I once got two with one shot from at 30-06.
ReplyDeleteNice!
Delete.22 rim fire has been legal in Utah the past couple years. I prefer it to pellets.
ReplyDeleteKilt one with a 243 while deer hunt. Facing away from me. Was pecking at ground. Timed shot for when head came up. Barley broke back skin and disappeared neck and head. Best shot i ever made.
ReplyDeleteDid something similar in South Texas along the Frio. Took a gobbler with a hit across the backbone at about 50-60 yards with a 243. No meat damaged and the bonus was it had been feeding on acorns. Meat was extremely juicy and beat the taste of the national brand with butter in it’s name.
DeleteCletus Valvecore
They, and deer are like rats around here. They're everywhere. I'm going to have to be really quiet.
ReplyDeleteI’d spot for her as soon as she puts a can on that thing😉
ReplyDeleteI've heard they can be taken at 100 yards with a .36 underhammer with 40 grs of 3FG. But certainly not here in Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteOh man. Or a mule ear rifle...or maybe a sweet Isaac Haines flinter with the swamped barrel... I think you just broke my heart Ayetter... I never did buy a small bore muzzleloader and now I really wished that I had...
DeleteBuilt all of my underhammer rifles complete kits cost about $500
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ReplyDelete"I do not hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to. I would really rather not do it, but I am helpless in the grip of my compulsion" Tom Kelly, The Tenth Legion, 1973
I wish .22s were legal for turkey here in Alabama. Legal arms are shotguns 10 ga. or smaller using #2 shot or smaller. Most people around here use 12 ga. #5's in 2-3/4", 3", or 3-1/2" shot shells. The trick is get a gun that holds a tight pattern and aim for the head. At closer ranges some of those more modern chokes or barrels designed specifically for hunting are like shooting a rifle. The head turns to jelly and there is hardly a pellet in the rest of the bird if a clean shot is made. The season where I live usually runs from April 1st through the 30th.They have added a few extra days this coming season at the end of March and the beginning of May. Also, the fish and game folks have cut the limit from 5 to 4 per year total (I think 7 counties in south Alabama have a fall and spring season).
Hrrrrmmmm... I'd a thunk ya'd need magnum BB loads for them like you do for geese...
DeleteAs others have said, rifles can and do work. I've pulled off a head shot with a .308 before. Also shot one thru the body, very little meat damage as the bullet just zipped clean thru. A .22 rimfire also works quite well.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be a weird thing, for years never saw or heard one, then one year they're all over the place. Two or more big flocks on a little 200 acre plot. Then nothing, then several years later all over again. Don't know how that works.
I believe it. Back when my nerves were steadier and my eyes were clear... I'd pop the odd grouse in the toque with a head shot too. It wasn't very sporting but the eatin was first rate. I never got serious about upland birds for some reason. I wonder if turkeys are considered upland game birds...?
DeleteFriend of mine had pretty good luck and brought me some smoked breast from one. Stuff was ab-so-lute-ly incredible.
ReplyDelete- WDS
I believe there is Turkey hunting down in the west of Sundre area. That is where they released them and being quite a hardy bird still have some as I read in one of our game magazines about guy bagging one.
ReplyDeleteMy cousins in Vermont hunt them every year. Lots of regulations in taking them.
There seems to be lots of grouse this year according to my buddy who quickly limited out the other day. He goes after Ruffies mostly.
Most things have cycles and do well for a few years then there is a coyote flush, or uptick in cats.
He was out after a Whitetail buck the other day and counted 15, yes 15 moose during the morning. He got his already on opener, so he just had to watch them and hope they pushed out a buck for him. In WMU 505 they have not had a cow moose hunt in 30 years so the zone is thick with them.