Here is another Scenario question.
How many carry rang finders turkey hunting. Do you determine range before a gobbler comes in? What are some tips to knowing when to shoot that gobbler?
For me I like my birds between 25 and 30 yards, with my gun I still have a dense pattern that is open enough to allow a little wiggle. I usually determine what 30-35 yards is when I first set up by using natural markers like trees. I have carried a range finder when hunting open fields as that is where I misjudge most.
I carry a rock with a string out to 40 yards walk around the shooting area of my blind and put a decoy at about the middle of that far area and in about the center of that area. Anything between them is in my range.
I carry a 6x Nikon rangefinder. I also like to range different objects after setting up. I find it very helpful and eliminates some of the guesswork when a gobbler comes in. I also like the 6x magnification as the old eyes aren't what they used to be. They are compact and take up less room that binos.
I use the bead on my shotgun, if the Gobblers head is the same size as the bead or bigger he is within range 40 yards or less. Takes zero extra movement don't have to carry anything extra and works 100% of the time doesn't matter if the Gobbler is up hill down hill standing in the brush the bead and his head will be the same relative size compared to the distance. Some Gobblers obviously have slightly bigger or smaller heads but not enough to make a difference.
Quote from: LaLongbeard on April 09, 2020, 06:51:37 PM
I use the bead on my shotgun, if the Gobblers head is the same size as the bead or bigger he is within range 40 yards or less. Takes zero extra movement don't have to carry anything extra and works 100% of the time doesn't matter if the Gobbler is up hill down hill standing in the brush the bead and his head will be the same relative size compared to the distance. Some Gobblers obviously have slightly bigger or smaller heads but not enough to make a difference.
I've never heard of that, will have to try it, keeping it simple thanks.
All I need is my scope! It has the "range" built in to it. The Circle of Death
I have a few other ways, but just goes by my set.
MK M GOBL
Quote from: DP42912 on April 09, 2020, 06:59:24 PM
Quote from: LaLongbeard on April 09, 2020, 06:51:37 PM
I use the bead on my shotgun, if the Gobblers head is the same size as the bead or bigger he is within range 40 yards or less. Takes zero extra movement don't have to carry anything extra and works 100% of the time doesn't matter if the Gobbler is up hill down hill standing in the brush the bead and his head will be the same relative size compared to the distance. Some Gobblers obviously have slightly bigger or smaller heads but not enough to make a difference.
I've never heard of that, will have to try it, keeping it simple thanks.
You will have to check your site on a life sized Gobbler head target, barrel length and bead size will also effect the size/distance. Goes without saying you can't just use any bead without testing first. But they make many different bead sizes and they are cheap so finding a combo that works should be no problem
Quote from: MK M GOBL on April 09, 2020, 07:54:23 PM
All I need is my scope! It has the "range" built in to it. The Circle of Death
I have a few other ways, but just goes by my set.
MK M GOBL
Good grief. Is there anyway you could weigh all your accouterments used to kill a turkey? I'd really like to know how much you carry around in decoys,chairs, blinds, and who knows what else. I'll ballpark a guess of 50 pounds?
I am attempting to kill a bird with a pellet rifle this year, and range is a bit more important.... Guns shoots dead flat at 20-30 yards, and a hair low at 40 (still withing the size of a quarter)... Also due to some barrel drop (which I will address after the season) it shoots low at 10-15 yards (enough that I will have to compensate for).
What I have found using a range-finder is that I was over-estimating how far birds were. Terrain can play tricks on you as well. I now immediately range find some terrain markers, and have a good idea of where I need to put the cross-hairs on any given bird... What I have also found is that after a few times of practicing this, that the range-finder is becoming less and less necessary, and I am generally able to gauge distance within a yard or two out to 40 yards.
Quote from: LaLongbeard on April 09, 2020, 08:11:52 PM
Good grief. Is there anyway you could weigh all your accouterments used to kill a turkey? I'd really like to know how much you carry around in decoys,chairs, blinds, and who knows what else. I'll ballpark a guess of 50 pounds?
All I know is I'm anywhere from 20 to 50+ more pounds going out. (this double went 54lbs 6oz)
"A few details on these longbeards :) Bird on the left#1 weighed in at 28lbs 4oz / 1 1/8" spurs / 11 3/4" beard and #2 was 26lbs 2oz / 1 1/8" spur (the other was busted up) / 10 5/8" beard. YUP!!!"
MK M GOBL
I have always carried a range finder so from my blind I range a few trees or rocks and such for max distance. Old eyes do not guess well any longer. What a brace of turkey Mister. Those are some good looking birds. Kudo's
I carry a rangefinder because I hunt an area with large ag fields that are easy to misjudge distances.
I use a range finder. I hunt the central Forrest and I range trees for max distances at new spots.
Yep, I`ve used one to range objects to use as reference points. I have an almost unreasonable fear of shooting at a bird too far and crippling him. If I`m setting a decoy, it`s also an excellent range marker as well.
My method isn't very scientific. If it feels too far, I don't shoot.
I keep both eyes open to be able to tell depth perception and there's usually a time when he's coming in where I say "okay I feel comfortable from here" and really settle into the shot. Honestly if he was "in range" and I didn't take the shot it doesn't bother me. I know that bird was on the edge of "in range" anyway. I did give my buddy some greif last year though as I called a jake and longbeard off the limb. The longbeard hung up and I was practically screaming at him to shoot but he was in front of me. He finally shot the closer jake and I said "DIDN'T WANT THE LONGBEARD HUH!?" He had his rangefinder so i told him to range it....39 yards hahahaha. He said "man I thought that was like 60!"
If you call them close enough (for those who still call), a rangefinder is simply additional weight to tote.
some one once told me when you see him blink he is close enough
Quote from: silvestris on May 02, 2020, 05:19:18 PM
If you call them close enough (for those who still call), a rangefinder is simply additional weight to tote.
From your posts and knowledge presented, I assume you are a fairly seasoned turkey hunter....
Many hunters maybe have 1-2 opportunities per season, and they are lucky to have that.
As a bird and wing-shooter, when I started turkey hunting, those birds looked A LOT closer than they were. As I have gained some experience, and called birds into good range, they now often look a bit further than they are.
I often take some experienced hunting friends (who have limited experience turkey hunting), and they often want to shoot that bird way too early. That big bird with that bright red head at 60 yards is a tempting target for an inexperienced turkey hunter.
This season, when I hunted with the pellet rifle, I carried a range finder, with a shotgun, it gets pulled from the vest (more due to the risk of losing it, rather than the weight)... But this season has been interesting for me in seeing how deceptive ranging birds can be in different types of terrain.
And to the OP... DO NOT try and range a bird you are wanting to shoot... Range the terrain before the bird arrives. When he is closer than "that rock" and he is within 30 yards... "That tree over there" is 40 yards, etc...
QuoteAnd to the OP... DO NOT try and range a bird you are wanting to shoot... Range the terrain before the bird arrives. When he is closer than "that rock" and he is within 30 yards... "That tree over there" is 40 yards, etc...
QuoteI usually determine what 30-35 yards is when I first set up by using natural markers like trees.
Good advice and that is what I meant when I posted the above, I should have been more clear. Thanks for clarifying that, you are right.
If it looks too far it probably is, how I determine shot opportunities. Kinda like pass-shooting geese, you know it when you see it with experience.
If i can see his eyes , i know i'm good .. time to shoot .... :drool: