I've seen that the "longest shot" thread was getting alot of hits, but let's see how close we have all gotten our birds. Getting a gobbler close is good ethics at it's best, and usually makes for a heart pounding hunt when you can see his eyes blinking at you or your decoys.
My shortest distance turkey was about 15 yards...at that distance it really didn't matter what I took him with, but it was an 870 12 gauge with a Rem extra-full choke and Winchester Supreme 3" 1-3/4 oz of #4's. That shot "killed on both ends" if you know what I mean :o
I took one at roughly 7 yards. We had our decoys set off to my right and I was on a field edge, and he came up the very edge of the field right across in front of me from the left. His head was only held on by a small piece of skin.
Killed one 7 FEET from me one morning. Flew down right on top of me and went into strut looking away from me. One cluck and a shot in the back, he was flopping.
Remington 870 20 gauge
Remington X-full
Remington or Winchester #5's
7 steps. Circled behind me. I never moved the gun, as he was nice enough to walk into my scope. I don't like these shots anymore than the long ones. Looking back on it, I should have let him walk away a little bit before the shot. It wasn't pretty.
Three feet from end of gun barrel !
5 steps in a full strut coming right at me.. Felt like self defense...Turkey had a 13.5 in beard and 1.25 in spurs. Shot him right above the beard and shot some of the beard out..longest beard turkey i have ever killed. Watched the turkey the day before pitch out on this narrow ridge and the next morning i was sitting there. Couple of clucks and a tree yelp and he landed in the same place on the ridge and headed in the same direction as the day before. Nice when a plan comes together.
10 yards thjs year with a20 gauge :pow-mia:
my dad killed one right about he was to attack the decoy while my buddy was in front of it. 10 yrds ish range. blew his head off!! 10.5 in beard 1 1/4 hook daddy spurs
Closest for me was with my 835 and 3/2/6's at about 5 yards. ERASED THAT BIRD'S FACE!! Got the picture somewhere. I'll have to dig it up and get it scanned. Next closest with the same gun/load. Took a kid hunting and he shot a big jake at about 7 yards...watched the wad smack into his head. It was cold and damp and snowing huge wet flakes and at the shot there was this big pink mist cloud that hung in the air for a few seconds. It was soooo cool to get to be able to see it as it happened! Thin piece of skin was the only thing holding his head on. It was like somebody set a grenade of in the birds neck!
4 steps. first bird and biggest to date
six steps, it was ugly!
3 yards
2 yards not a pretty scene!
Roughly 5 inches or so from the end of the gun barrel.
It walked in from behind on my left side (I'm left handed), and stopped smack dab in front of the barrel....serious damage.
Had a friend shoot one I was calling at my feet. Said he thought it was going to step on me.
I was hunting this year with another member on the forum, He shot his jake at 7 or 8 feet. His pattern hit low for what ever reason, I think if it would have hit the birds head it would have taken it off LOL.
Bout 15 yards. Not sure I would want to shoot any closer. Pretty messed up noggin on that bird.
Quote from: 30_06 on May 07, 2011, 10:14:09 PM
Roughly 5 inches or so from the end of the gun barrel.
It walked in from behind on my left side (I'm left handed), and stopped smack dab in front of the barrel....serious damage.
5 inches?? Are you serious....looks like turkey hunters can shorten the truth as well as fisherman can stretch the truth. :TooFunny:
Quote from: Crappiepro on May 08, 2011, 11:14:52 AM
I was hunting this year with another member on the forum, He shot his jake at 7 or 8 feet. His pattern hit low for what ever reason, I think if it would have hit the birds head it would have taken it off LOL.
If he had a sight on his shotgun, and has it sighted to hit POA at say 40 yards, it will shoot low, usually a couple inches from where he aimed as the dot/crosshairs can be as high as 2 inches above the muzzle.
Quote from: I hate turkeys on May 07, 2011, 11:16:05 PM
Had a friend shoot one I was calling at my feet. Said he thought it was going to step on me.
That sound really unsafe!! I just had a "friend" shoot past me from left to right at a bird thatwas on my extreme right and I heard the shot go by me! actually shooting a bird that close to another hunter is down right dangerous and stupid!
Quote from: mightyjoeyoung on May 08, 2011, 12:38:04 PM
Quote from: I hate turkeys on May 07, 2011, 11:16:05 PM
Had a friend shoot one I was calling at my feet. Said he thought it was going to step on me.
That sound really unsafe!! I just had a "friend" shoot past me from left to right at a bird thatwas on my extreme right and I heard the shot go by me! actually shooting a bird that close to another hunter is down right dangerous and stupid!
Im with you..anyone who shot at my feet would no longer be hunting with me.
Quote from: Longshanks on May 08, 2011, 11:34:53 AM
Quote from: 30_06 on May 07, 2011, 10:14:09 PM
Roughly 5 inches or so from the end of the gun barrel.
It walked in from behind on my left side (I'm left handed), and stopped smack dab in front of the barrel....serious damage.
5 inches?? Are you serious....looks like turkey hunters can shorten the truth as well as fisherman can stretch the truth. :TooFunny:
I guess you dont have to believe it, its not really that great of an accomplishment. Its still a little more than four feet from me.....I know tons of people that have had an animal that close.
About 6 feet......with a SP-10. Kinda ugly.
this one was about 7 yards....
Get you a warbird turkey call and you can get them that close too
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab208/bigwayne17/2011%20Turkeys/DSC00102.jpg)
NICE!!! :z-guntootsmiley: I just GOTTA find that pic of my "eraser head" bird!!
15 feet
Quote from: Longshanks on May 08, 2011, 01:51:09 PM
Quote from: mightyjoeyoung on May 08, 2011, 12:38:04 PM
Quote from: I hate turkeys on May 07, 2011, 11:16:05 PM
Had a friend shoot one I was calling at my feet. Said he thought it was going to step on me.
That sound really unsafe!! I just had a "friend" shoot past me from left to right at a bird thatwas on my extreme right and I heard the shot go by me! actually shooting a bird that close to another hunter is down right dangerous and stupid!
Im with you..anyone who shot at my feet would no longer be hunting with me.
Should have stated he was sitting beside me (same tree).
4 yards with a bow.
Had one coming in straight to me. I said I was gonna let him come as close as he would. At 20 yards I said....."That is close enough" He did a flip. Any closer and the shot might not have been out of the FC wad yet.
In Maine last year, I shot one at 10 yards and one at 11 yards. Those were close. However the closest was shot at 7 yard with a Parker 12 gauge made in 1900. I missed that bird at 11 yards and killed him at 7 yards. ;D
About 10yrds. while hunting in NC this year.
Quote from: poorcountrypreacher on May 10, 2011, 05:19:58 PM
If a turkey gets inside of 30 yards on me, it is due to an error in my setup. I have lost several turkeys over 47 years of hunting them and nearly every time it was due to the turkey getting too close and seeing me, then me shooting at them running or flying. I try to have the discipline to just let him go now if that happens, but it is hard to do once you commit yourself to shoot. Give me a standing turkey at 40 yards any day over one at 15 yds.
That is one of the problems with the new craze over the tightest patterns,chokes,etc.. To me, there is nothing like a big gobbler at less than 10 yards, it just gets the heart pounding like nothing else. It is a shame that people are setting up to AVOID that close bird. Talk about heart pounding. JMO, and definitely not a dig on you preacher, it is just the nature of the beast with the new choke/ammo technologies. Which is why I would rather a gun set-up that is good to 40 or so and still decent at really tight ranges, than one that will pattern at 60 and is the size of a nickel at those close ranges.
I get a much bigger thrill when a bird is at 30 vs. 60 yards. No comparison. I will play around with them if I can tell they are not too nervous. This is the fun part of turkey hunting to me. After the shot, it's just a dead bird. Each of us takes what we want from hunting, so I'm not judging. If a bird is past 45 yards, he's walking away. I'll get him next time. That being said, he is not gonna get inside of 20 if I can help it. That's just asking for trouble.
This Osceola in Greenswamp East, Fl. WMA. He popped out of the thick stuff staring at me at about 5yds. I had no choice but to move on him in a deliberate, smooth, move and pull the trigger. Actually think I missed him and he flew up on a 45degree angle and I killed him on that shot. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/GOBBLERS/20lb20012.jpg)
youth hunt 6 yards
otis