Read a post where folks were discussing whether to aim at the head or not..I learned that if aim at his head half the pattern goes over his head. I aim where the feathers stop on his neck so the whole pattern hits the turkey. Very few shot in the breast and they drop like a rock..
I also have a visual on exactly where his head is when I pull the trigger as some of my guns have tru glo sights and beads. Cuts down on misses and bad hits.
A few pellets in the breast doesnt bother me because if were in a position to have to hunt for food it would be cheaper to just buy a butterball at the grocery..they taste better too. I hunt because I love to hunt and harvest game. I agree you should eat what you kill but to say you "hunt for food" like that's your only source of food is kinda ridiculous. If I add up how much I spent total for turkey season: gas, food, travel, leases, camping, shells, guns, camo etc. And divide that by the edible pounds of turkey meat. That would be some high dollar table fare..
Your exactly right. I do the exact same.
I agree with everything you wrote...other than the whole butterball tastes better than wild statement. ;)
Quote from: JUGHEAD on June 23, 2011, 04:10:26 PM
I agree with everything you wrote...other than the whole butterball tastes better than wild statement. ;)
X 2!
Ive eaten wild turkey all over US and some prepared by chefs..I've never tasted a wild turkey that if a butter ball were cooked the same way it wouldn't taste better. Try this..bake a whole wild turkey in the oven and a butterball the same way. First try the legs as an appetizer and tell me how that goes..Serve both turkeys to your family and see which one they like. It takes a tremendous amount of seasoning, injection or deep-fry to make a wild turkey taste good. Wild turkey is dryer, tougher, and has a wild game taste.
Quote from: Longshanks on June 23, 2011, 04:24:21 PM
Ive eaten wild turkey all over US and some prepared by chefs..I've never tasted a wild turkey that if a butter ball were cooked the same way it wouldn't taste better. Try this..bake a whole wild turkey in the oven and a butterball the same way. First try the legs as an appetizer and tell me how that goes..Serve both turkeys to your family and see which one they like. It takes so much seasoning to make a wild turkey taste good it's ridiculous. Wild turkey is dryer, tougher, and has a wild game taste.
I live in Alabama. We don't bake anything. Hot grease my friend. ;D
You can deep fry just about anything and make it taste decent. My point exactly..not the best table fare it that's one of the only ways you eat it..butterball fryed is much better. ;D
Put the crosshairs on the neck right above the wattles is the best shot placement IMO.
Quote from: chatterbox on June 23, 2011, 04:52:16 PM
Put the crosshairs on the neck right above the wattles is the best shot placement IMO.
Not so easy to see the waddles on a turkey coming through the woods right at daylight. Easy to see where the feathers stop. I've had better success picking a easily seen definate small target. No matter which way he's facing it's easy to dial into a definate target like where the feathers stop. Above the waddles is only a couple of inches higher but you are going by something you can't always see. To each his own I'm just saying what works best for me and the easiest way to describe where to shoot to the novice hunters I take out in the woods.
I'm a noggin shooter.
I shoot a good bit with shotguns and rifles and tend to be pretty calm when it comes time on big game animals, but when it comes to turkey about all I can tell you is I put it on their noggin. May be the beak, the left eye, waddles, or maybe the snood, I'm so dang shook when it happens that I just put the dot in that general vicinity and let 'er rip :D The red makes a good bullseye. I'd like to say I take perfect aim and place the center of the ten inch from the feathers to the top of the head, but it doesn't seem to work out that way when big tom fever sets in. I guess the practice pays off as it hasn't let me down lately(knock on wood).
Quote from: Reloader on June 23, 2011, 06:14:26 PM
I'm a noggin shooter.
I shoot a good bit with shotguns and rifles and tend to be pretty calm when it comes time on big game animals, but when it comes to turkey about all I can tell you is I put it on their noggin. May be the beak, the left eye, waddles, or maybe the snood, I'm so dang shook when it happens that I just put the dot in that general vicinity and let 'er rip :D The red makes a good bullseye. I'd like to say I take perfect aim and place the center of the ten inch from the feathers to the top of the head, but it doesn't seem to work out that way when big tom fever sets in. I guess the practice pays off as it hasn't let me down lately(knock on wood).
You do realize??.. that if you aim at a turkeys head..half of the pattern goes over his head..
I always aim just above the base of the neck by alittle.
I usually aim at the middle of the neck. But if you have your shotgun patterned, you put it anywhere on his head/neck, you will kill him.
Quote from: mossybird on June 23, 2011, 08:25:06 PM
I usually aim at the middle of the neck. But if you have your shotgun patterned, you put it anywhere on his head/neck, you will kill him.
I have seen a many a hunter shoot over the turkey by "aiming at the head". Guiding you get a chance to see over and over and over..what not to do..
If you already have half the pattern going over his head..and you pull up (raise your cheek off the stock which is very common) you get to watch the turkey fly off..I would much rather hit the turkey with the majority of the pattern from top to bottom..and if the hunter pulls up a bit(most common pull) turkey still rides home in the truck.
I hve never intentionally shot at the body, but the closer he is the lower I aim , on the neck, a bobing head with a super tight chike can lead to much mor dissapoiment than picking shot out the meat.
I have found it comical over the years when I hear folks talking about the reason they hunt is to "feed their family". I heard a guy say that this spring..he was driving a 40,000 4 wheel drive, 1500 shotgun, 8 dollar shells in his gun and every high tech gadget you can think of. He was also on a 1200 dollar turkey hunt. I told him if feeding his family was what he was after there is a much cheaper way to do that and feed them much better food than the wild turkey. He realized immediately the primary reason he was there was far from feeding his family. The love of the hunt and to harvest trophy animals was why he was there. In 2011 where hunting is very expensive..feeding the family doesn't exactly fly unless that's the excuse your trying to tell your wife you are out there. This guy had been watching the Outdoor Channel a little too much. He thought "feeding the family" sounded honorable. Eating wild turkey was not within the top 5 reasons this guy was in the turkey woods. I believe a hunter should eat what he harvests and leave a place better than he found it but be honest about why you are out there and don't apologize for being a hunter.
Quote from: Longshanks on June 23, 2011, 08:33:15 PM
Quote from: mossybird on June 23, 2011, 08:25:06 PM
I usually aim at the middle of the neck. But if you have your shotgun patterned, you put it anywhere on his head/neck, you will kill him.
I have seen a many a hunter shoot over the turkey by "aiming at the head". Guiding you get a chance to see over and over and over..what not to do..
Well Ive been turkey hunting for 5 almost 6 years now, and all the turkeys ive killed, ive put it on their neck. And all of them dropped, except two. If you have your pattern centered around your bullseye, and you put it somewhere on their head or neck, they will go down if there is no shooter error.
I aim where the feathers stop on his neck too. I do not hunt for food. But I do prefer wild turkey over store bought turkeys.
I hope you don't mind me jumping in on the rabbit chasing, my family eats what we kill and catch, we eat a mess of fish 2x a week during the spring and summer, and several bags in the freezer for the winter, that really helps out as far as money is concerned, we eat some small game , rabbit, dove, and tree rats, about 15 times a year, don't spend or save much on that, now we eat a right smart of deer meet, my sons and I ( mainly the boys) put 6 deer in the freezer a year, a good bit of hamburger, and sausage , we eat that about every morning for breakfast, and the at least 2x more a week for super, but I process my own, I don't think you can come out money wise if you don't.
I just love to hunt turkey, a fine meal of turkey nuggets , is just a celebrating fellowship of a successful hunt, I cant afford not too, cause it has no price tag, one of life's greatest moments.
Quote from: Preacher on June 24, 2011, 09:59:25 AM
II just love to hunt turkey, a fine meal of turkey nuggets , is just a celebrating fellowship of a successful hunt, I cant afford not too, cause it has no price tag, one of life's greatest moments.
:z-winnersmiley:
Thought provoking subject is it not?? I hunt for so many more reasons than eating Wild game. The outdoor experience, thrill of the hunt, fellowship, time with family, introducing new hunters to the sport, teaching kids about the outdoors, and the list goes on and on..eating wild game is just a bonus and in my experience more important to the overall hunting experience than it is "what the family prefers to eat."
I have a buddy claiming his wife prefers wildgame over anything else..I said "you want to bet". We took our wifes to Ruth Chris steak house and grilled venison tenderloin the next night. After the venison dinner we asked them which meal tasted better?? They said "are you kidding??" the venison wasn't even a comparison to the fillets we had the night before..she hated to hurt his feelings but this "wildgame preference" was all in his head. He was acting like he was the great white hunter and his family was enduring eating wildgame all the time to appease him.
I was taught to always shoot to kill so I shoot at the neck also where the feathers stop. On the taste of a wild turkey the one I shot last year we brined it for two days and then I injected it and smoked the bird. All I can say is I want another one to smoke even though I have thighs and legs (domestic from the store) smoked and in the freezer.
When pellets hit the breast area I get out my fly tying forceps and remove the shot, not a big deal. Good POSTS.
I wouldn't be surprised if "this shell isn't worth a darn, I shot the turkey, rolled him over only to watch him get up and run off," isn't often the result of aiming at the head.
Quote from: Quax on June 25, 2011, 10:57:02 AM
I wouldn't be surprised if "this shell isn't worth a darn, I shot the turkey, rolled him over only to watch him get up and run off," isn't often the result of aiming at the head.
Your right..that is normally not the result... but a turkey flying off "untouched" is a result i see quite often when folks make the head their target. If you aim at a turkeys head and your using beads or rifle sights.... It covers the turkey completely and you cant even see what you are shooting at. Also you are guaranteed to shoot half the pattern right over his head by making his head your target. Even guys with scoped guns who are able to see their target completely..shoot half the pattern over their head by aiming that way. Come down a little around the feather line and the waddles and the entire pattern(top of pattern to bottom of pattern) hits the turkey.. Its a question of whether you want half of your pattern to go over the turkey or in the turkey..cuts down on shooting over the turkey as well...Just trying to save you some turkeys...
Longshanks, I was agreeing with you; I was saying that this is most likely the case in a lot of these "I'm done with these particular shells" stories: aiming at the head and half the pattern (if not more) flying over the head and not enough pellets on target.
Rolling a turkey over and him running off is normally the result of a bodyshot in my opinion. I misunderstood what you were saying. Sorry. I thought you were saying aiming at the head would prevent roll overs..which it will..you either put him down or miss..it just creates a whole list of other problems: misses, target obstruction, loss of efficiency of the pattern, etc.
No, it was my fault: I see the double negative lol. I've seen "head shot AT turkeys" roll and get up and run off, and I hate to admit, but once was down the end of my own barrel. Some lessons are best learned the hard way.
Most of the knock downs I see are people shooting too far. Like you said, thats when you hear allot of that "need to switch shells". Ive seen allot of folks miss aiming at the head and I did it as well when I was a kid. The funny thing is that they always say the same thing when the turkey flies off.... "I don't know what happened".
Quote from: mossybird on June 23, 2011, 08:25:06 PM
I usually aim at the middle of the neck. But if you have your shotgun patterned, you put it anywhere on his head/neck, you will kill him.
:agreed:
Quote from: Spuriosity on June 25, 2011, 07:15:39 PM
Quote from: Longshanks on June 24, 2011, 11:10:30 AM
Thought provoking subject is it not?? I hunt for so many more reasons than eating Wild game. The outdoor experience, thrill of the hunt, fellowship, time with family, introducing new hunters to the sport, teaching kids about the outdoors, and the list goes on and on..eating wild game is just a bonus and in my experience more important to the overall hunting experience than it is "what the family prefers to eat."
I have a buddy claiming his wife prefers wildgame over anything else..I said "you want to bet". We took our wifes to Ruth Chris steak house and grilled venison tenderloin the next night. After the venison dinner we asked them which meal tasted better?? They said "are you kidding??" the venison wasn't even a comparison to the fillets we had the night before..she hated to hurt his feelings but this "wildgame preference" was all in his head. He was acting like he was the great white hunter and his family was enduring eating wildgame all the time to appease him.
Gee. Compared to the prices charged at Ruth's Chris, my $50/lb venison tenderloin is sounding better and better.
The point of that was that a quality beef filet was preferred by all 4 people sitting at the table including my buddy claiming that "the family prefers venison". You can buy quality beef much cheaper than going to Ruth Chris.
if they are in tight on me (sub 20 yards), I shoot them right above the beard in the body (facing straight at me) or between the wing butt and the wattles if they are walking broadside to me.
if they are out past 20-25 yards I shoot right at the feathers where they meet the neck.
i shoot much lower than most guys do when they are too close but i don't see much meat get wasted. my patterns inside 15 yards are the size of a quarter dollar.
it may not be a palletable or acceptable mentality for some, but it has proven highly effective for me.
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on June 26, 2011, 11:03:45 AM
if they are in tight on me (sub 20 yards), I shoot them right above the beard in the body (facing straight at me) or between the wing butt and the wattles if they are walking broadside to me.
if they are out past 20-25 yards I shoot right at the feathers where they meet the neck.
i shoot much lower than most guys do when they are too close but i don't see much meat get wasted. my patterns inside 15 yards are the size of a quarter dollar.
it may not be a palletable or acceptable mentality for some, but it has proven highly effective for me.
:icon_thumright: Thats how you put em down! Rarely miss that way as well. I killed one this year inside 15yds and aimed a few inches above his beard. The pattern was the size of a baseball or smaller. Turkey didnt even flop. Normally im on the feather line but adjust when they get that close.(< than 15yds)
If you miss turkeys by aiming at the head, you need to spend many hours on the range.
I'd say out of the last 30 turkeys I've killed in the past few years, the only high miss was because the turkey was too close and it happened too fast. Luckily I killed that bird with a follow up.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with aiming at the turkeys head. I could care less that part of the pattern is going over his head, part of it is going left or right as well, big deal. That's why we have patterns and not single projectiles.
Pellets in the breast would be far more common if I where to aim at the base of the neck. More beards would get slaughtered as well. I aim at their head and frequently get pellets in the top of the breast. I also commonly get a pellet in the base of the beard knocking a few strands out. Aiming lower would increase both.
The beauty is everyone can aim where they chose, none are wrong.
Reloader
I've killed way over 100 longbeards in my life and have seen at least twice that many die in front of gun. When people with 40-50 years of turkey hunting wisdom try to share their experience with you might want to at least have an open mind and consider what they are saying..last time..a little common sense.
Most of the turkey guns that folks shoot these days will put the entire pattern in a 10" circle at 20yds. At 15 yards and less that pattern can be 6-8 inches. Being satisfied that half your pattern is all you need..you would only have 3 or so inches as a margin for error..if you don't think you could get off target 3 inches or so on a moving target you are very mistaken..it wouldn't matter if you slept at the gun range and shot every day..
It's going to be o.k., really.
:agreed:
Quote from: Spuriosity on June 27, 2011, 01:23:29 PM
Quote from: Longshanks on June 27, 2011, 11:34:52 AM
I've killed way over 100 longbeards in my life and have seen at least twice that many die in front of gun. When people with 40-50 years of turkey hunting wisdom try to share their experience with you might want to at least have an open mind and consider what they are saying..last time..a little common sense.
Most of the turkey guns that folks shoot these days will put the entire pattern in a 10" circle at 20yds. At 15 yards and less that pattern can be 6-8 inches. Being satisfied that half your pattern is all you need..you would only have 3 or so inches as a margin for error..if you don't think you could get off target 3 inches or so on a moving target you are very mistaken..it wouldn't matter if you slept at the gun range and shot every day..
Easy big fellow. Ronnie likes to shoot them in the head and stacks 'em like cordwood every year. And my family really and truly prefers venison to beef. It's going to be o.k., really.
Ronnie needs to respect his elders a little more.... lol
sent from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk
Quote from: Reloader on June 26, 2011, 11:08:14 PM
If you miss turkeys by aiming at the head, you need to spend many hours on the range.
I'd say out of the last 30 turkeys I've killed in the past few years, the only high miss was because the turkey was too close and it happened too fast. Luckily I killed that bird with a follow up.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with aiming at the turkeys head. I could care less that part of the pattern is going over his head, part of it is going left or right as well, big deal. That's why we have patterns and not single projectiles.
Pellets in the breast would be far more common if I where to aim at the base of the neck. More beards would get slaughtered as well. I aim at their head and frequently get pellets in the top of the breast. I also commonly get a pellet in the base of the beard knocking a few strands out. Aiming lower would increase both.
The beauty is everyone can aim where they chose, none are wrong.
Reloader
Ronnie,
I tend to agree with you but I will provide this alternative perspective.
Even the tighest shotgun pattern inside of 15 yards is not nearly as small as a single rifle projectile. That being said, I do not have the luxury of shooting every turkey off the steady rest of my knee. Occasionally, my body is contorted, my arms are tired, I'm shaking from the pain of the discomfort, and the last thing I want to be worried about when I finally get the chance to shoot 'em in the face is how smoothe my trigger pull is.
Consequently, I see no reason to aim at a 3" wide head given the totality of those circumstances.
I allow myself to believe that I am a fairly proficient shooter and tend to shoot several times per month. That being said, I will never incur the chance of a head shot miss at point blank range in favor of shooting at a larger mass (i.e. the areas I mentioned in my earlier post).
If someone wants to do so, by all means that is their perogative and I have no qualms with any of it. But....a bird shot at 5 yards with a shotgun shell size hole through its head is just as dead as my bird with a shotgun size hole high in its body. I just tend to shoot there at extreme close range because it is a higher percentage shot, especially when movement is factored into the equation.
butterball at the grocery..they taste better too.
Not me.Dont get me wrong i like butter balls to but wild turkey is the best.Wild turkeys dont have all the extra stuff injected in them to make them grow big in a shrt amount of time.Theres a difference in my opinion.
I aim at the wattles on a wild turkey (if hes facing me) im shooting a little high anyway.Never seen a problem.
Longshanks,
I've killed piles of the rascals as well and called many more to the gun. I'm not knocking your experience nor your aiming point, just simply stating there's more than one way to skin a cat :D
Keep shooting them in the neck and I'll keep holding that dot as close as I can to the noggin and we'll both keep stacking them up.
The only time I ask folks to shoot them at the feather line is with newbies or kids on close range birds and neither should have a super tight turkey rig in their hands IMO.
VA, I agree with you on the close shots, I prefer them out past 20 myself. Killed a nice 3yo a couple seasons back at 12yds and had one slug like hole through his neck right below his head. Call it lucky I suppose.
Have to agree with you fellas that like the wild turkey taste over the steroidballs. Seems everyone gobbles up the wild turkey when we cook them. Can't say that about the store bought birds at Christmas time, but the dogs sure like the leftovers. I prefer venison to beef as well. Luckily we don't have to buy any meat with the cattle farm in the family and all the big game adventures every year.
Ya'll have a good one,
Reloader
I agree with reloader. I shoot for the head. The lower half of my pattern takes care of the neck. The head is a very cozy aiming point, for me..Each to his own..Mike
Why so much anger over shotting a turkey?
I hope I stay young and dont get old and mad about everything like you older folks :lol:
I shoot for the head. When I patterened my gun. I sighted it in so the top of my 10" circle touches the bottom of where I am aiming. That way half the patterned dosent "fly over his head.
I guess you might as well say I aim for the middle of the neck.
Quote from: Reloader on June 27, 2011, 04:49:59 PM
Longshanks,
I've killed piles of the rascals as well and called many more to the gun. I'm not knocking your experience nor your aiming point, just simply stating there's more than one way to skin a cat :D
Keep shooting them in the neck and I'll keep holding that dot as close as I can to the noggin and we'll both keep stacking them up.
The only time I ask folks to shoot them at the feather line is with newbies or kids on close range birds and neither should have a super tight turkey rig in their hands IMO.
VA, I agree with you on the close shots, I prefer them out past 20 myself. Killed a nice 3yo a couple seasons back at 12yds and had one slug like hole through his neck right below his head. Call it lucky I suppose.
Have to agree with you fellas that like the wild turkey taste over the steroidballs. Seems everyone gobbles up the wild turkey when we cook them. Can't say that about the store bought birds at Christmas time, but the dogs sure like the leftovers. I prefer venison to beef as well. Luckily we don't have to buy any meat with the cattle farm in the family and all the big game adventures every year.
Ya'll have a good one,
Reloader
Are you saying that you have newbies and kids shoot at the featherline because thats an easier shot for them to make and they will have a better chance of killing the turkey that way?? I think you just supported my reasoning for shooting at the featherline/ waddles....because its the HIGHEST PERCENTAGE SHOT. If you are shooting red dots or scopes... visibility is not a problem but if you have beads or rifle sights and the turkey is 35-40yds and you aim at his head you can see absolutely nothing when you pull the trigger..if the turkey has made a sudden move you never even see it..
Quote from: Gobble! on June 27, 2011, 05:54:57 PM
Why so much anger over shotting a turkey?
I hope I stay young and dont get old and mad about everything like you older folks :lol:
I shoot for the head. When I patterened my gun. I sighted it in so the top of my 10" circle touches the bottom of where I am aiming. That way half the patterned dosent "fly over his head.
I guess you might as well say I aim for the middle of the neck.
Just curious.. but why wouldn't you just sight in your gun so that the center of your pattern is where you are aiming..that way you have more visibility of the bird when you shoot..you would instead aim at the featherline/ waddles and be able to see more of the turkey when you make the shot..I guess if you have a scope... visibility is probably not an issue but i would always have my POA/POI on..
boys,
we all aim where we do for a multitude of reasons and clearly, based on the number of pictures on here and the sheer number of turkeys we killed in the contest, we ain't too bad at it.
just keep on aimin' in those spots. keep on makin' em flop :fud: and keep on havig constructive conversations that provide provoking perspectives.
keep on keepin' on.
Quote from: Gadget on June 27, 2011, 01:43:08 PM
Quote from: Spuriosity on June 27, 2011, 01:23:29 PM
Quote from: Longshanks on June 27, 2011, 11:34:52 AM
I've killed way over 100 longbeards in my life and have seen at least twice that many die in front of gun. When people with 40-50 years of turkey hunting wisdom try to share their experience with you might want to at least have an open mind and consider what they are saying..last time..a little common sense.
Most of the turkey guns that folks shoot these days will put the entire pattern in a 10" circle at 20yds. At 15 yards and less that pattern can be 6-8 inches. Being satisfied that half your pattern is all you need..you would only have 3 or so inches as a margin for error..if you don't think you could get off target 3 inches or so on a moving target you are very mistaken..it wouldn't matter if you slept at the gun range and shot every day..
Easy big fellow. Ronnie likes to shoot them in the head and stacks 'em like cordwood every year. And my family really and truly prefers venison to beef. It's going to be o.k., really.
Ronnie needs to respect his elders a little more.... lol
sent from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk
X2, Ronnie :whip2:
Longshanks; let it go what does it matter where others aim ? It's not worth arguing.
Quote from: gatrkyhntr70 on June 27, 2011, 08:30:32 PM
Quote from: Gadget on June 27, 2011, 01:43:08 PM
Quote from: Spuriosity on June 27, 2011, 01:23:29 PM
Quote from: Longshanks on June 27, 2011, 11:34:52 AM
I've killed way over 100 longbeards in my life and have seen at least twice that many die in front of gun. When people with 40-50 years of turkey hunting wisdom try to share their experience with you might want to at least have an open mind and consider what they are saying..last time..a little common sense.
Most of the turkey guns that folks shoot these days will put the entire pattern in a 10" circle at 20yds. At 15 yards and less that pattern can be 6-8 inches. Being satisfied that half your pattern is all you need..you would only have 3 or so inches as a margin for error..if you don't think you could get off target 3 inches or so on a moving target you are very mistaken..it wouldn't matter if you slept at the gun range and shot every day..
Easy big fellow. Ronnie likes to shoot them in the head and stacks 'em like cordwood every year. And my family really and truly prefers venison to beef. It's going to be o.k., really.
Ronnie needs to respect his elders a little more.... lol
sent from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk
X2, Ronnie :whip2:
Longshanks; let it go what does it matter where others aim ? It's not worth arguing.
Its worth it to me to discuss topics like this that promote the improvement of all facets of turkey hunting. I think that is what this site is all about. This one just happens to be on the topic of shot placement. We are all grown men who can handle a debate with out getting their feelings hurt.. i hope. Im always open minded to ideas and strategies if folks can show me that it works and explain to me how. I believe that teaching young folks is the future of our sport. If there is a more effective way to convey this to them i want to know about it..Discussing shot placement will assuredly help someone reading this to become a better shot and also for others to give it some thought as to where they aim. Ive asked hunters from time to time where they aim and they said "I dont know". Some of the best turkey hunters in the country putting their heads together to discuss what works best is always a productive conversation.
Have the summer doldrums set in already?How long till fall season?
My fall season starts October 22, so just shy of 4 mo. I am already practicing my kee-kees and whines, thanks to Scott Ellis!! Hope to get back on the "calling cam" on skype with my personal trainer too.
LS, dude, seems like you are just trying to win now. Do you kill turkeys? Yep, you sure do. OK, don't change a thing. Do we kill turkeys, sure do. OK, we won't change a thing. Good discussion. Start a new one. Just not about blinds, rifles, ambushing, or roost shooting.
Quote from: Longshanks on June 28, 2011, 03:39:14 PM
Quote from: sugarray on June 28, 2011, 08:19:33 AM
My fall season starts October 22, so just shy of 4 mo. I am already practicing my kee-kees and whines, thanks to Scott Ellis!! Hope to get back on the "calling cam" on skype with my personal trainer too.
LS, dude, seems like you are just trying to win now. Do you kill turkeys? Yep, you sure do. OK, don't change a thing. Do we kill turkeys, sure do. OK, we won't change a thing. Good discussion. Start a new one. Just not about blinds, rifles, ambushing, or roost shooting.
It was a good discussion. You missed it..next time why dont you participate in the discussion if you have some information, experience, evidence, or facts to bring to the table. That would be much more productive than leaving a smart comment at the end after the discussion is done.
Quote from: Longshanks on June 27, 2011, 09:02:54 PM
Quote from: gatrkyhntr70 on June 27, 2011, 08:30:32 PM
Quote from: Gadget on June 27, 2011, 01:43:08 PM
Quote from: Spuriosity on June 27, 2011, 01:23:29 PM
Quote from: Longshanks on June 27, 2011, 11:34:52 AM
I've killed way over 100 longbeards in my life and have seen at least twice that many die in front of gun. When people with 40-50 years of turkey hunting wisdom try to share their experience with you might want to at least have an open mind and consider what they are saying..last time..a little common sense.
Most of the turkey guns that folks shoot these days will put the entire pattern in a 10" circle at 20yds. At 15 yards and less that pattern can be 6-8 inches. Being satisfied that half your pattern is all you need..you would only have 3 or so inches as a margin for error..if you don't think you could get off target 3 inches or so on a moving target you are very mistaken..it wouldn't matter if you slept at the gun range and shot every day..
Easy big fellow. Ronnie likes to shoot them in the head and stacks 'em like cordwood every year. And my family really and truly prefers venison to beef. It's going to be o.k., really.
Ronnie needs to respect his elders a little more.... lol
sent from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk
X2, Ronnie :whip2:
Longshanks; let it go what does it matter where others aim ? It's not worth arguing.
Its worth it to me to discuss topics like this that promote the improvement of all facets of turkey hunting. I think that is what this site is all about. This one just happens to be on the topic of shot placement. We are all grown men who can handle a debate with out getting their feelings hurt.. i hope. Im always open minded to ideas and strategies if folks can show me that it works and explain to me how. I believe that teaching young folks is the future of our sport. If there is a more effective way to convey this to them i want to know about it..Discussing shot placement will assuredly help someone reading this to become a better shot and also for others to give it some thought as to where they aim. Ive asked hunters from time to time where they aim and they said "I dont know". Some of the best turkey hunters in the country putting their heads together to discuss what works best is always a productive conversation.
That was over huh?
Quote from: Longshanks on June 27, 2011, 06:03:01 PM
Quote from: Gobble! on June 27, 2011, 05:54:57 PM
Why so much anger over shotting a turkey?
I hope I stay young and dont get old and mad about everything like you older folks :lol:
I shoot for the head. When I patterened my gun. I sighted it in so the top of my 10" circle touches the bottom of where I am aiming. That way half the patterned dosent "fly over his head.
I guess you might as well say I aim for the middle of the neck.
Just curious.. but why wouldn't you just sight in your gun so that the center of your pattern is where you are aiming..that way you have more visibility of the bird when you shoot..you would instead aim at the featherline/ waddles and be able to see more of the turkey when you make the shot..I guess if you have a scope... visibility is probably not an issue but i would always have my POA/POI on..
My reasoning is I want 0 pellets in the breast. Aiming at the waddles will put pellets in the breast. I don't eat the head or neck so I might as well load those up with pellets. I use a red dot and always know what I'm shooting. I don't really consider it not having my POI and POA the same unless I aim at the turkeys feet.
I think we should argue about whats the best seasoning for turkeys. That would be much more productive and beneficial to old and new hunters.
Quote from: Gobble! on June 28, 2011, 09:40:35 PM
...
I think we should argue about whats the best seasoning for turkeys...
I like to season mine with hevi shot. It adds a nice crunchy texture, so I aim for the "food parts". :D
Quote from: stinkpickle on June 28, 2011, 09:46:13 PM
Quote from: Gobble! on June 28, 2011, 09:40:35 PM
...
I think we should argue about whats the best seasoning for turkeys...
I like to season mine with hevi shot. It adds a nice crunchy texture, so I aim for the "food parts". :D
Oh wait... http://www.seasonshot.com/ (http://www.seasonshot.com/)
Quote from: stinkpickle on June 28, 2011, 09:46:13 PM
Quote from: Gobble! on June 28, 2011, 09:40:35 PM
...
I think we should argue about whats the best seasoning for turkeys...
I like to season mine with hevi shot. It adds a nice crunchy texture, so I aim for the "food parts". :D
I tried my buddies he seasoned with hevi shot but the #7s kept getting stuck in my teeth. I can believe he even uses #7s. They are too small for turkeys. I'm sure the larger sizes would add a nice texture though.
:icon_thumright:
Well I aimed at the dot on this turkey target. I'd bet money it would'nt matter much if I aimed at the head. But to put the most shot in that piece of paper aiming where I did maximized the pattern on that paper and the turkey head and neck. That's a no brainer to me. That's providing that you have your gun shooting good centered patterns at your aiming point. There is approx 76 shot in the head, neck, beak region. That was shot at 40yds taped. That's the backside of the target so you can better see it for your viewing pleasure. That pattern was shot with my 870 3" 2oz #7 Hevi-Shot load with a Pure Gold .670 choke.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF0239_Medium_.jpg)
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on June 28, 2011, 10:26:19 PM
Well I aimed at the dot on this turkey target. I'd bet money it would'nt matter much if I aimed at the head. But to put the most shot in that piece of paper aiming where I did maximized the pattern on that paper and the turkey head and neck. That's a no brainer to me. That's providing that you have your gun shooting good centered patterns at your aiming point. There is approx 76 shot in the head, neck, beak region. That was shot at 40yds taped. That's the backside of the target so you can better see it for your viewing pleasure. That pattern was shot with my 870 3" 2oz #7 Hevi-Shot load with a Pure Gold .670 choke.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF0239_Medium_.jpg)
Yup, i thought it was a no-brainer as well when it comes to maximizing the pattern on the turkey. Most of the guys i hunt with see it that way. Glad someone out there understands what im talking about.
base of the neck
I prefer to aim right where the feathers start. I love seein' the feathers fly!
I do the same. Aim where the feathers meet the neck close my eyes and pull the trigger :-)
Quote from: Longshanks on June 23, 2011, 04:24:21 PM
Ive eaten wild turkey all over US and some prepared by chefs..I've never tasted a wild turkey that if a butter ball were cooked the same way it wouldn't taste better. Try this..bake a whole wild turkey in the oven and a butterball the same way. First try the legs as an appetizer and tell me how that goes..Serve both turkeys to your family and see which one they like. It takes a tremendous amount of seasoning, injection or deep-fry to make a wild turkey taste good. Wild turkey is dryer, tougher, and has a wild game taste.
I make mine into jerky most of the time, great taste, high protien, low fat snack.
I say there is nothing like a good tenderizer.
Quote from: JUGHEAD on June 23, 2011, 04:42:28 PM
Quote from: Longshanks on June 23, 2011, 04:24:21 PM
Ive eaten wild turkey all over US and some prepared by chefs..I've never tasted a wild turkey that if a butter ball were cooked the same way it wouldn't taste better. Try this..bake a whole wild turkey in the oven and a butterball the same way. First try the legs as an appetizer and tell me how that goes..Serve both turkeys to your family and see which one they like. It takes so much seasoning to make a wild turkey taste good it's ridiculous. Wild turkey is dryer, tougher, and has a wild game taste.
I live in Alabama. We don't bake anything. Hot grease my friend. ;D
Yezzir same here in Tn. And I have never ate a butterball or anyother farm grown bird that was juicier than a wild bird.
I aim at the middle of his neck. Low pellets hit the base of the neck and high ones the head.
It all depends on where the turkey is. If he is under 15 yards I am shooting a softball pattern so I am where the feathers and neck meet. If he is out past 20, I aim middle of the neck so I can see his head over the bead.
I prefer to aim at the waddles. Room for error when aiming there.
:fud:
Roy
Quote from: rtsj on February 17, 2012, 04:34:23 PM
I prefer to aim at the waddles. Room for error when aiming there.
:fud:
Roy
X2
I put the bead where feathers meet skin.
Put an apple on a post!!! The turkeys head is the apple and the post is your front bead :you_rock: :you_rock: :you_rock:
Quote from: Daman on February 17, 2012, 03:41:36 PM
It all depends on where the turkey is. If he is under 15 yards I am shooting a softball pattern so I am where the feathers and neck meet. If he is out past 20, I aim middle of the neck so I can see his head over the bead.
[/quote
Same here. Long shots, I aim middle neck. Closer, where his head meats his neck.
I'll take a wild turkey over a steroid injected butterball any day. We cut the breast up in strips, dip it in buttermilk, roll with flour and some Tonys creole seasoning. It dont last long at our table.
Quote from: rtsj on February 17, 2012, 04:34:23 PM
I prefer to aim at the waddles. Room for error when aiming there.
:fud:
Roy
x3
I aim for the base of the neck but my scope is set to pattern a little high. That way I get the majority of the pellets in the head and neck and a few "in case" pellets still catch the top of the body.
I shoot at the waddles. I shoot a red dot that's dead middle of my pattern and with heavyweight #7s there's hardly ever any shot in the breast, because they blow right on through.
My stoeger p350 has a huge big ugly red bead on the end of it for a sight. When I cover up the birds head I let her rip.
Quote from: chatterbox on June 23, 2011, 04:52:16 PM
Put the crosshairs on the neck right above the wattles is the best shot placement IMO.
Me too