FLYING FALL WILD TURKEYS--TOUGH OR EASY TARGETS??

[quavers59]

Both my Brother in laws have hunted turkeys in the past-- but no longer do due to medical conditions. Mark took many Fall turkeys on the wing. But Bill only took 1 wild turkey in his life. I am glad that his dog-CODY- a golden retriever flushed up a flock of turkeys while we were pheasant hunting. It was a station 8 high house type of shot. Down came a jenny! Again-- I am glad that he got his one and only turkey.

[owlhoot]

Used to when populations were up.

Kansas had 4 bird limit  shoot same day if wanted. Low pheasant kill one day so 4of us got 16 turkey.
Jumped  by Brittanys .toms ,jakes and jennie some were taken on the ground.Lots of fun with lots and lots of turkey.Shooting in the air is not that difficult , just pick your shot and shoot for eyeballs and they don't do much but fall to the ground.

[quavers59]

One Fall day, I remember that the combine had just finished the afternoon before with harvesting corn. I gave the turkeys time to make it to the field with all the excess corn on the ground.They were close when I got to that field edge from a woodsroad. One hen that was some ways to left left of the whole group saw me. I flushed the flock and had a perfect shot at a hen as she crossed and flew in front of me. Her crop was just busting with corn. Think I made a wingbone from one of her wings that very day.

[Uncle Nicky]

I've shot at a handful on the fly, not one has been recovered, at this stage of the game I'm not shooting at them unless they are on the ground. I'm a decent shot at the trap range, not sure what the problem is, but I've seen feathers fly enough time without a bird dropping, that I'm not interested in trying to kill them this way. My theory is two-fold: 1). Turkey choke is too tight  2). Shot is too small (you don't shoot at geese with #4-6 shot, and turkeys are even bigger). I know guys kill them on the fly, it's definitely do-able, just doesn't work out too well for me.

[Hooksfan]

Not sure why turkeys should get a pass on being shot on the wing.  if you are confident in your wingshooting abilities, go for it, if not....watch them fly away...., and most important of all, don't worry about how others legally hunt.

[g8rvet]

I shot one flying one morning in the spring.  We had seen him while we were headed back to the truck on a rainy opening day and we knew he was likely headed to one of two places so we each hot footed to those spots.  Just as I went to sit down a hen came by and spooked.  The tom followed her and I missed him running at about 10 steps. He took off and I thought to myself, let him get out where it is just a simple passing goose shot and I folded him with a head and neck shot - just like goose hunting.  Easy peasy.  Was probably only my 3rd or 4th spring bird.  He tasted fine. 

I shot a flying fall Osceola with a 30-30 back in the 80s.  My dad shot one with a 22Mag flying.  I was not a turkey hunter then, I was a deer hunter and it was meat.  Day after Thanksgiving. 

[owlhoot]

I've shot at a handful on the fly, not one has been recovered, at this stage of the game I'm not shooting at them unless they are on the ground. I'm a decent shot at the trap range, not sure what the problem is, but I've seen feathers fly enough time without a bird dropping, that I'm not interested in trying to kill them this way. My theory is two-fold: 1). Turkey choke is too tight  2). Shot is too small (you don't shoot at geese with #4-6 shot, and turkeys are even bigger). I know guys kill them on the fly, it's definitely do-able, just doesn't work out too well for me.

I like that attitude. If you aren't comfortable with a shot,don't take it. As for the rest of post shoot him in the eye ball. Concentration on that eye it is your target ! Use a load of 4's ,  better for wing busting and you can shuck one into the chamber quitely after you get to walking . Keep your range and pass on the up the pipe shots. A lot easier shots are when you can see  the eyes.

[g8rvet]

you don't shoot at geese with #4-6 shot,

I have killed honkers with #3 steel many times.  Like Owl said, you are shooting at the eye (I actually look at the bill).  #4 lead would be poison on geese.  But if I know we are targeting honkers, I use BB or #2 if there are ducks around. 

But all you said is correct and not all turkey hunters are hard core wingshooters (I am more of a wing shooter than anything). 

[appalachianstruttstopper]

 I grew up quail and grouse hunting with English setters and Brittany spaniels and in the fall if your bird dog flushed turkeys, those where the slowest easiest targets we had. I have personally never missed a flying turkey, but fall hunting we was always walking or standing when they flushed and wasn't crouched down against a tree in an uncomfortable position. Don't have any dogs any more, grouse or quail either so I primarily stick to the spring gobbler season now.