Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

I know we all like to pattern our guns to 40 yds to see what they do,and we all have ideal distances we want birds to be at when we pull the trigger.But in REALITYwhat distance/ range have you killed most of your birds in(on average)I put myself in the 15-20 range.Have had a few over 30 and a few close enough to count nose hairs,but on average thats about where I am.

**This post/poll was created for no other reason than pure curiousity**

I responded 30+.  When he breaks the 40 yard barrier, I take the first good shot I get.  Y'all are welcome to sport f*** em if you'd like, but I go ahead and punch their ticket.

I'd guess I right around a 30 yard average.

I like them at around 30. Less chance of missing when you're shooting patterns like golf balls but my shots are usually 15 to 20 yards due to the jungle I live in.

I put myself in the 15-20 range.  As other have said, I've shot some closer and some farther.  I like them right about 20 yards.

15-20 on average for me...but I still absolutely pattern at 40 yards, cause you just never know how it's gonna go down.

My avg. range is 20-25 yards. I try to shoot all turkeys within 40 yards. But I have misjudged range a time or two. My longest was 49 yards in a field. My shortest shot was 2 yards. 

I think on avg id be in the 25-30yd range. Looking back at my notes over then last few years only had one at 40 and one at 35ish. Two birds 15 and the rest were 20-30

I normally like the 15-20 yard range. Normally I wait until I can see their eyes before I pull the trigger if I can stand too.

Average for me is about 40 to 45 yards

I've killed them from 6 yards out to...well lets just say it's the 40 yard fudge factor.  Anyway When they hit 40 I start looking for the chance to punch my tag. 

I've killed 80% of my gobblers between 15-20 yards. That's because I hunt in the SE with decoys most of the time, and that's how far I set my dekes at. My closest was 8 yards, and longest was 54 yards.

I'm just guessing here, but going to say I'm in the 15-20 range. Quite a few shorter than that with a bow, but quite a few longer than that with a gun too.

i like em' about 20-35 yards..i missed one at 7-8 yards about 8 years ago,he seen me and started to boogey...he looked like the road runner after i fired my 3rd shot...Ben Johnson in Seoul...

I'm not messing around with him! I've killed them alot closer than 30 yds and farther than 30. But if he gets too close to me(under 10 yds), the heck with trying to tear his head off, he's getting the body shot!! They don't run or fly with a fist size hole in them!!

I find it awful hard to watch them after they close to under 40, so when he stops after that Im shooting.

Quote from: M Sharpe on January 28, 2014, 04:38:32 PM
I'm not messing around with him! I've killed them alot closer than 30 yds and farther than 30. But if he gets too close to me(under 10 yds), the heck with trying to tear his head off, he's getting the body shot!! They don't run or fly with a fist size hole in them!!

X2!

I would say 15-20 myself but have shot one at 5 or 6 yards once I thought he had turn down the hill and next thing I know he come out from behind the tree in front of me so he went home headless...lol...longest shot 49 yards with a 12 ga and 44 with a 20

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my average is probably around 35yds I take the first good shot I get. I do them same thing with deer first good shot I get there's gonna be meat on the ground!

25-30 yards is where my shots have been on my birds. Like most, once he breaks 40, I take the first clear shot.
I don't care for them under 20 yards.

Had been 30+ yards with the field and pasture turkeys , yotes are thick there. But  since switching to decoys and blinds with the young fellas 15-25 is the kill shot now. When in the timber 20 yards average.

Avg for me is 20-25yds.

On average about 25 to 30 yards. I have killed some closer and some farther but that's average.

Quote from: WildTigerTrout on January 28, 2014, 10:21:07 PM
On average about 25 to 30 yards. I have killed some closer and some farther but that's average.

That's about exactly what I was going to say.

20-25 where i like to have them like most everybody ive killed them closer and farther killrd one year before last that was close enough i might near could see him blink. he came in from behind me

 Most of my shots are in the 30 yd. range. I very seldom shoot at turkey beyond 40 yards even though my shotgun can easily kill them out to 60 yards.
I also try and not let turkeys get too close. Too many things can go wrong when they in too close. When a gobbler gives you a clear shot inside 40 yards , take it. That would be my advice.

I would say my average is right around 25 yards

Had you asked average miss distance it would have been easier to answer and that would be 0-15 for me, and on multiple occasions. Some may ask how that can happen but in thick woods and narrow trails I can make it happen. So, my answer to your question is 25-30 and I like closer to 25 than 30. Anything can happen when they get too close including the time a cardinal landed briefly on my cap bill  and another time a bird of some description landed on my gun barrel. As stated above, when in range and your ready , make it happen.

Quote from: Ruger M77 on January 28, 2014, 06:33:07 PM
my average is probably around 35yds I take the first good shot I get. I do them same thing with deer first good shot I get there's gonna be meat on the ground!

Me too

I voted 25-30 but I'm not really sure.Before i switched to the 20 I never thought about it.My first with the 20 was 20 yards. Last years bird was 40 yards.The only other one I remember was my first gobbler that I took at 63 paces with a 12 ga.I had no idea how far he was and have no doubt it was luck.

I was torn between the first two choices and figure 10 to 20 would have been a better option.

For the most part about 20 yds but I can remember an outlier or two

Some longer and some shorter, but I'm going to say 20-25 is my avg.

I figured out my actual, exact lifetime average shot distance (spring & fall combined) a few years back.

IIRC, it was 28.5 yards over about 30 years of turkey hunting.

I voted 25-30, but like most of you I have killed them from too close to too far!

The last 3 or four years is probably 20 yards or so.  I have gotten more patient as I have grown up, lol!

I'm not going to let one get too close to me..........I'm afraid he'll hear my heart pounding in my chest!!!!!

With the tight chokes these days I don't like close shots more likely to miss close than at 40

From a close of 4 to a long of 48. Most seem to be in the 15 to 20 range though. Down in the Florida swamps I don't even see some till they get within 20. :newmascot:

Last year I killed several inside 10 steps and also killed a few in the 50-60 range.

Personally, I don't like em inside 30 but sometimes it happens. I guess if have to say, my average distance would be 30 yds.

In the thickets I hunt regularly I hardly ever see birds until they are at 20 yds. My son and I doubled last year on a field and misjudged distance, they were  at 40.

I would have to say 25-30

Most of mine are in the 20-30 yd range.  I like to get them fairly close.