Shoot Your Gun!

[GobbleNut]

To preface: forgive me for getting on my soapbox for just a minute...

This topic is directed more at newer guys that may be thinking about taking up turkey hunting, but also for those "casual" guys that grab whatever shotgun they may have and go turkey hunting on occasion. (I know a number of them)

Right now...or between now and turkey season...is the time to take your gun to the range and learn how it shoots! At the very least, get a box of inexpensive game loads or less-expensive turkey loads, set up targets at various ranges out to forty or so yards, and see where your gun patterns and how it patterns. If that pattern is not centered based on the way YOU aim your gun, either change guns or put some sort of sighting device on your gun and get comfortable using it.

I have just seen too many turkeys missed...or worse yet, possibly crippled...from guys that just pick up whatever shotgun they own, grab a box of cheap "turkey loads" from Walmart, and go hunting. If you are gonna go, at the very least learn how (and where) your gun shoots. The turkeys you might shoot at deserve as much.

...now jumping off soapbox... 

[Notsoyoungturk]

Good soapbox GobbleNut.  Fail to prepare; prepare to fail.  Wild game is a precious commodity and one we shouldn't take for granted.  I go out every year before turkey, deer, etc and check my guns.  With my turkey guns, I will check the basic alignment with lead then a final shot with the TSS that I will shoot in the season.  There are a lot of variables in hunting; the accuracy and capability of your gun should never be one of them.

[Davyalabama]

Preparation over planning ---- It isn't just shooting it, that's almost a given, the bare minimum.  You also need to be able to move it, s-l-o-w-l-y, shoot at weird angles, possibly other shoulder than your dominant side, etc.  Preparation, turkeys will show up very rarely right in front of your gun, they love to do the odd things. 

Your plan: He's coming right this way, I'll pull my gun up, or have it ready, he will come past that tree, I'll be ready to drop him. 

Turkey's mind and plan: Why can't I see that hen or other gobbler, what's that blob on that tree I was picking those worms from yesterday, where is that hen or gobbler, my eyes aren't that bad, he/she was just all fired up now nothing?  Hmm, I think I will walk around out here a bit and move off this way and come back.  I'll move out this way and come in another direction and look for them.

You're still on your plan ----- nah, you better be prepared.

[Twowithone]

Great advice I also know a few of these people.Why just this deer season fellow shot at a deer 40 yds away missed both times said shot was low both times tells me he didnt hit the range cost him some meat and this nimrod hunts gobblers also Ill have to nudge him to the range.

[Tom007]

The soundest advice a turkey hunter can get. Prepare, prepare, prepare. During the moment of truth, you want your gun to perform at its best. Knowing your pattern, and POI is the most critical thing in getting a clean humane kill on a wild Turkey. I spend many hours and dollars on range time and ammo, but I know exactly where my gun will pattern and I know my effective range of all my turkey guns.

[Kypossum]

Very good advice. Pattern what you plan to hunt with.

[eggshell]

Hmmm what am I going to use for an excuse when I miss with a well patterned gun?

[Davyalabama]

A skeeter got in your eye just as you fired. 

[Tail Feathers]

I'm a little obsessive about sighting in.  I check it every pre-season.
Good advice above.  Know what your gun will do and where it will hit before season starts.

[bigwoodstom]

I go as far as keeping notes on each gun and load and their quirks.

Pattern centers low on dirty barrel.

Pattern is centered at 30 and a hair right at 40.

Choke tends to loosen after several shots.

Gaps in pattern after 5 or 6 shots. Keep clean.

Etc etc etc

[Ihuntoldschool]

Turkey's mind and plan: Why can't I see that hen or other gobbler, what's that blob on that tree I was picking those worms from yesterday, where is that hen or gobbler, my eyes aren't that bad, he/she was just all fired up now nothing?  Hmm, I think I will walk around out here a bit and move off this way and come back.  I'll move out this way and come in another direction and look for them.

This is highly accurate.  We look like a big blob to a turkey. And he sees a big blob whether you're wearing the latest high tech $1000 camo suit or the cheapest military fatigues you found at the surplus store.  Don't be fooled by the marketing in the camo industry. But it's when that blob moves he panics Game Over.

[nso123]

This is sage advice for all types of hunting. I am always amazed at how many people go buy a box of ammo for a rifle the night before deer season and hit the woods with it the next day without ever shooting the rifle.  Same thing with shotguns and turkey season. I was hunting deer with an outfitter this past December and they had 3 people miss deer completely at 100 yards or less during the two days I was there.  They decided to implement a policy that requires hunters to shoot a target before they will let them go out to hunt.