With all the ads of 40, 60, and 75 yard kills and effective range, I'm just curious how long you would say your average kill is? I would estimate mine to be 30 yards. I was just wondering this as I was struggling to find a combo for my wifes 20 ga that gives a useful pattern at close range and at 40. It didn't seem worth it to shoot a slug at 20 yards to get a 40 yard pattern if we don't shoot that far. Just getting cabin fever thinking about the season!
12-15 yards. I use the longbeards 3" #5 but still like to be able to see them blink
My average shot is probably about 20.
I have a 20 Encore that shoots Nitro Co. and H13 straight 7s with a sumToy 562-5 tube real well , and its not overly tight at 20yards
:fud: :newmascot:
I'm well prepared for a 40 yard turkey war...give or take a few yards for range mis-estimation.
I'm gonna guess most are in the 30-35 yard range.
Between 20 and 30 yards
30ish
25 to 35 yards
30 yards black powder. :)
Have shot exactly one bird pushing 40 yds. Everything else has been 25 or less
Within 30. Longest shot ever - 52 yards. I personally never want to repeat that.
:TrainWreck1:
20 yards. I am ashamed at Winchester for touting the purported 60 yard performance of the Longbeard XR. A pellet fired at a particular muzzle velocity only retains so much energy at a specific distance. Turkey hunting should be an up close and personal endeavor.
For the record, I am not condoning long range shots like we see in some of the ads. I just wanted to see who else likes them in tight. I wish I could say I killed them all at 15 steps, but 30 is probably my honest average because we hunt alot of open fields here in KS
As close as I can get 'em. The longest shot I ever took was around 40 and I lost him. (shooting Win 1&3/4 copper plated #6s). I'm real reluctant to try long shots again, even though since switching to Hevi 6s or 7s, that won't be a problem. I mainly hunt tight cover where there's not a lot of opportunity for long shots anyway. I have killed way more inside of 25 yards than beyond that. The closest was 6 yards.
Jim
Quote from: silvestris on January 22, 2015, 01:11:15 PM
20 yards. I am ashamed at Winchester for touting the purported 60 yard performance of the Longbeard XR. A pellet fired at a particular muzzle velocity only retains so much energy at a specific distance. Turkey hunting should be an up close and personal endeavor.
This ^^. Even if the performance is there at those distances,with the sliver of a second it takes the shot to travel from barrel to bird,and that fact you are shooting at something the size of a soda can,that might be moving around like a soda can in the wind,a lot of things can and will happen,and usually not for the good.Paper and formulas are one thing.....a real life moving target is a whole new game.
20 - 25 yards. The last three birds I got were from the exact same set-up spot; 13 yards.
I would love to get them closer but 30-40 yards is normal for me hunting Osceola's. Wary as heck they are.
Average, 21yards.
On average my shots have been around 25ish, but it has been going up since I started "cyber hunting". How far will I shoot? Not sure, but I won't hesitate to take any ethical shot presented to me. A few years ago after seeing a box of the Winchester XR's for like 25 bucks, I decided to jump on the World Wide Web and look into them. That's when I discovered this site and how far behind the times I was on bringing my turkey gun's performance up to her full potential. Back then I shot plain, on clearance lead turkey shot in 5's or 6's and if a bird was 35 yards away he was safe. My patterning was done (not often at all) on whatever box I found in the woods and probably at about 25 yards. I never felt like that was inadequate or that anything else was much better. I also hardly ever missed or crippled birds. Once I started to research what was out there and how much more performance I could get out of a shotgun, I jumped in with both feet and was on a quest to turn 300 with my 12 gauge. That goal has still eluded me with my 12's, but I can get 325 plus every time with my 10 gauge (I never hunt with it). What I have gained is a huge dose of confidence in my well-tuned, specialized turkey guns as well as a nice collection of choke tubes. The patterning and performance hobby is something I got into just because I was intrigued by the thought of target shooting with a scattergun. Having tried everything short of hand loading TSS I'm fairly certain I've maxed out the performance of my 12 gauges. What has this meant in the woods? Not much on 95% of my hunts, but it has meant the world on a few of them.
With my bow average is around 10 yards
With the 20 gauge the average is around 25 yards
With todays loads (Federal Heavyweight #7s) and a sumtoy choke in the Benelli M2 I have taken 40 yard shots on birds that hang up without hesitation.
In my opinion it's all about knowing your recipe for success and taking the time to find out what effective range your weapon has. I will not ridicule someone for shooting further, hopefully most will test their weapons for consistent results at further ranges and know their self limitations.
Good luck this coming spring to everyone and hope those who are shooting the new loads on the market are putting a box through your gun on the range before going afield. :fire:
About 35 yards average. Might could of pulled the average down a bit more on a couple birds but the excitement was just too much for me. Couldn't wait any longer & had to pull the trigger.
35-40 yards
20-30 yards average, some a little closer some a little farther, that's what makes it interesting, you just never know!!
25 give or take 20
Closest was about 3-4 foot! Literally at the end of the barrel and that was a freak thing where he walked a downed log like a chicken to my left shoulder (left handed) and ended up basically in my lap...Boom!
Unfortunately my longest was 52 yards (I know the rules) but it wasn't on purpose. I was hunting a lease road and he came in quite. I was sitting there thinking a bush was in my way of seeing down the road after a few calls. So I laid the gun down walked out and was breaking the bush and he came out. I crawled back to my gun and sit down and couldn't see where he was (bush still in my way) so I made a few calls and nothing ! After 5-10 minutes of thinking he busted me crawling back I decided to crawl back out where I could see and eased up and then he actually busted me then which he had originally. After he putted once and turned toward the ditch I sent the magnum blends that way thinking he was 40ish but no more than 45. Turns out after retrieving him and grabbing the rangefinder I had shot 52 yards.
Now that I've seen it can happen I don't trust it and chalk that up to LUCK! Almost every other bird has been 10 yards to 20 yards since. Just like the bush story I set up where I have cover and can keep him from hanging up as much as I can by not allowing him to see where my calling is coming from at a longer distance.
Average distance, 25 to 30 yards. I've killed some closer and some farther away.
My average is under 20 yds
I'd say average is that 25-30yd range
20-25yd. I pretty much only hunt in the hardwoods. 40yds seems like a awful long ways when looking a turkey in the woods. I've never taken a shot at that distance.
Average shot is 20-30 yds. I like calling them in closer and watch the show. :firefighter:
20 -30 yards
Normally I like to see their eyes before I pull the trigger. Different circumstances call for different shots. Normally dont try for 40 yards but I know the ole mossy will deliver there and more.
25-30 yds
Usually 90- 100 yds. If the wind is at my back I'll go to 120. But hey you need to know your limits.
Seriously this conversation has been done to death.....
80% of my kills have been at 20 yards or less.
The rest of my kills have been between 30-40 yards.
I have a couple of kills that were around 54 yards, but neither of them was intentional.
For me, the game is getting them up close and personal.
Quote from: Snoodsniper on January 22, 2015, 08:38:32 PM
Usually 90- 100 yds. If the wind is at my back I'll go to 120. But hey you need to know your limits.
:lol: ;D :TooFunny:
:fud:25-30 yards. Longest shot was 52 yards. This was a miscalculation on my part, I never want to shoot that far. I will carry a range finder from now on and keep it to 40. The bird's head hit the ground before the body. It was the most devastating kill I have had, only 15 birds to my name. Even knowing this, I won't try it again. I shoot 3.5" longbeard #5's and love them but could never forgive myself if I lost even 1 bird. I am teaching my soon to be 8 year old the ethics of turkey hunting and want to lead by example. This means get them as close as possible and ensure clean kills. Good luck to all and let your conscience be your guide. Al Baker
I've killed them from 6 yards to over 50, but 25-30 is my average. If I remember right, last year 28 yards was about my average shot.
I'll let em get as close as they want to...but if they hang up I got something for that to...I don't like to see em walk off.... Bash away. :OGturkeyhead:
as close as i can get them. average shot probably 20 yards. the whole point of turkey hunting is the bird closing the distance from 60 yards into your lap. if you are taking 50-60 yard shots you aint doing it right
I like 'em about 20 yds or so. Although, in the last few min. of the last hour, of the last day of the season, I'll try a shot, even at longer yds.
Ya never know what a shot like that will get you.
I need to edit this; I miss-spoken at originally posted yds. Sorry,
Quote from: ShortSpurs on January 23, 2015, 11:23:38 AM
I like 'em about 20 yds or so. Although, in the last few min. of the last hour, of the last day of the season, I'll try any shot, even at 100 yds.
Ya never know what a shot like that will get you.
a shot like that will turn the bird into predator food
Quote from: ShortSpurs on January 23, 2015, 11:23:38 AM
I like 'em about 20 yds or so. Although, in the last few min. of the last hour, of the last day of the season, I'll try any shot, even at 100 yds.
Ya never know what a shot like that will get you.
I hope you're just stirring the pot and not being serious. Although it does seem sincere. If so, then thumbs down.
My confident killing range of my 3 1/2" 12 ga. is around 40 yards maximum, with most shots never over 35 yds since I hunt pretty brushy country. Did not wish to ruffle anyone's feathers with OP comments, sorry.
Quote from: ShortSpurs on January 23, 2015, 11:23:38 AM
I like 'em about 20 yds or so. Although, in the last few min. of the last hour, of the last day of the season, I'll try any shot, even at 100 yds.
Ya never know what a shot like that will get you.
I'm assuming this is not a joke, so take this as friendly advice. If you like OG and want to stay active, don't post things like this. Shannon (Old Gobbler, if you don't know) has no problem banning people for things like this.
JB and others,
sorry for miss-worded OP, as sometimes words don't come out right, no matter how hard we try.
Original post has been edited,
How far do I shoot? Why all the way to the turkey of course. ;D Seriously though, I prefer 20-30 yards.
Depends on the gun I'm carrying and where it drops below 100 pellets in a 10" circle.
I'd say my average over the years would be about 30 yards, and I definitely don't like them closer than 20!
The last three seasons I've killed birds inside 12 yards, one at about 8! It gets dicey when they are that close!
20-30 yards. My Mossberg patterns very well at 30.
The last three seasons I've killed birds inside 12 yards, one at about 8! It gets dicey when they are that close!
[/quote] :morning:Yes, but the adrenalin level sure is fun when they are that close :icon_thumright: :gobble: :gobble: :gobble:at 8 steps , man i cant wait!!
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on January 25, 2015, 07:08:38 AM
Depends on the gun I'm carrying and where it drops below 100 pellets in a 10" circle.
This.
average 20-30 yds
40-45 is my personal limit
To be honest I've never shot one, or even at one in my life! I hoping to change that this year, but I would feel real comfortable around 25-30. Any closer and I use an improved cly. and 7 1/2 birdshot. If they all come in as close as 15yds, there be no need for turkey shot, or any such chokes!
I'm really surprised Shannon hasn't chimed in yet with a reminder.
:funnyturkey:
Quote from: Gooserbat on January 25, 2015, 10:58:47 PM
I'm really surprised Shannon hasn't chimed in yet with a reminder.
Agreed gooser. I know people make mistakes on judging yardage sometime but I've read a lot of swinging for the fences posts on here. Its not just here though, I know people with these new bows talking of shots at deer 60yrds and some further. A lot of animals are being crippled and it's one thing to do it by pure accident thinking the animal was closer than he was, and it's another to be sending haymakers out there and wounding one even if you've already killed 3 others doing it.
I wanna add that a novice and newbie might read of a "super kill" on here and think his unproven gun (poa/poi) is deadly at 60 with Longbeards or 75 with Magnum Blends just because the box says so.
Quote from: Gooserbat on January 25, 2015, 10:58:47 PM
I'm really surprised Shannon hasn't chimed in yet with a reminder.
Lordy Lordy Don't shoot over 40 ! :TooFunny:
But wonder why SOME people hunt with a 10 Ga ? ::)
Quote from: turkey buster on January 26, 2015, 06:40:36 AM
I wanna add that a novice and newbie might read of a "super kill" on here and think his unproven gun (poa/poi) is deadly at 60 with Longbeards or 75 with Magnum Blends just because the box says so.
people that are willing to fling unproven shots, whether its a shotgun, bow, or rifle are going to do it because they dont care not because of adds. we all now the guys that that tell the stories "he wouldn't get closer so I let one lose and just hoped to hit something important"... never heard of anyoen that said "I always try and be ethical and safe in the woods but the box told me I could".
That said there is no set distance that can be set as a rule of thumb for everyone that encompasses all equipment available..
I see no reason for a shot any further than 45 yds. If the bird is working then he'll come to 20 in no time. Makes a good clean kill and you dont have nearly as high a risk for injuring the bird.
I'd guess that my average shot is about 20-25 yards.
Average is probably 20ish. When they commit it's just a matter of patience and they'll be in your your lap at 20. Shortest was probably 5-7 and longest was 52. I shot him in the middle of the open with very little to judge distance on. It reminded me why I like hunting the tight coastal swamps where 35-40 is where you first see them and 20 is the norm on shots
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