Second year in a row I miss a longbeard on the next to the last saturday of the season at about 10 yards. Before next season I will have either a dedicated turkey gun or different sights for Arianna's Charles Daly. At that range I can't really make out their heads and I think I shot over top this one just the same as the one last year.
Frustrates me because I had worked this bird for over 4 hours and he came in when another hot bird was coming from the other direction. I repositioned for the other bird because I thought he defineately was coming in.
Be patient Bill, and don't move. Still learning!!! :OGani:
I know it sounds odd, but if you missed you did something right. Good luck!
Quote from: guesswho on May 19, 2012, 09:06:46 PM
I know it sounds odd, but if you missed you did something right. Good luck!
Thanks, I have finally got confidence in my calling ability and decision making and completely blew this. Probably saved myself a trip to the taxidermist though. He was a monster!! I doubt I'll get another chance at him.
Quote from: nannas guide on May 19, 2012, 09:20:51 PM
He was a monster!! I doubt I'll get another chance at him.
Don't be so sure. He ain't far from where he heard the boom!
Keep trying. Better luck next time.
Quote from: guesswho on May 19, 2012, 09:50:24 PM
Quote from: nannas guide on May 19, 2012, 09:20:51 PM
He was a monster!! I doubt I'll get another chance at him.
Don't be so sure. He ain't far from where he heard the boom!
I hope you're right, but he'll be a lot harder to fool.
Quote from: nannas guide on May 20, 2012, 07:17:58 AM
Quote from: guesswho on May 19, 2012, 09:50:24 PM
Quote from: nannas guide on May 19, 2012, 09:20:51 PM
He was a monster!! I doubt I'll get another chance at him.
Don't be so sure. He ain't far from where he heard the boom!
I hope you're right, but he'll be a lot harder to fool.
Nah... Give him a day or two. Now you may not see him in that same exact area but I'd bet close by. Good luck!
I use to use a regular small game shotgun for turkey hunting, and it will work for very close shots, but later found that longer shots, it just won't work, had to get a turkey gun. Make the switch now for next spring.
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I already planned on moving a short distance, but I think next weekend will be my handicapped daughters turn so I hope I can call him in for her.
A J, I'm not having difficulty with the long shots. I put a circular rear sight on my daughters shotgun to help her see better, but for the close shots it really blocks out the turkey's head. At longer ranges it centers it well. I guess change the sight, or quit letting them get so close.
But if you read my story from last week my son got a gobbler in the same location at 3 yards. I guess I should have taken him along to shoot it for "Good Old Dad!"
At 10 yards you can body shoot the piss out of them. If you don't have confidence in your gun, aim lower. Head shots at 10 yards are tough.
Quote from: Swamprunner on May 20, 2012, 09:17:20 AM
At 10 yards you can body shoot the piss out of them. If you don't have confidence in your gun, aim lower. Head shots at 10 yards are tough.
That close your shot column is as tight as a golf ball or so, aim just below the Waddles instead of a head shot little bit bigger target and doesnt move so much, if you were aiming head on and he bobbed his head you have a good chance to miss that close
Been there and done that. I now only let them get that close if someone else is shooting. I have decided that I like 30 yards. Good luck on the next go of it. P.S. I just wish I could still hunt here in Missouri.
Thanks for the input guys. I'll know better next time, I hope!
coyotetrpr I'd gladly let you come to PA when your season is out, if you'd let me come to Missouri when our season is out.
Quote from: Swamprunner on May 20, 2012, 09:17:20 AMAt 10 yards you can body shoot the piss out of them. If you don't have confidence in your gun, aim lower. Head shots at 10 yards are tough.
^^^^
This
Seen it happen and done it too many times to dispute it.
It's hard to miss at 10 yards when youre aiming at a 14" wide target.
This is a common question for turkey hunters. Do I create a rig that is maximized for longer range shots, or focus on a great pattern at 20 yards? I would say that more than 70% of my kills have been at 25 yards or less. But, it is nice to have confidence that your gun will cleanly kill a bird at 40 yards or so if he hangs up. I went for the best of both worlds. I have a gun that I did a lot of custom work on and feel very confident up to 50 yards. The problem is that my pattern is small at close ranges. So I ended up with an Eotech which forces me to put that reticle on his head when he is close. I haven't missed one yet since I have been using optics. Plus I have the long range capability if needed. This also requires me to make sure that my gun is shooting dead on at 15 yards, so I pattern it several times a season just to make sure I am shooting right where I aim. Now I feel totally confident no matter whether he is at 10 yards or 40.