I see tons of advertisements and people posting targets, counting holes and all. How far will you shoot at a turkey?, simple question. Mistakes happen I know, but what distance do you consciously set up to shoot? My sweet spot is 25-35 yards. I do a lot of patterning and choke work so I am prepared. Just curious. Z
25 with the .410. An easy 35 with the 12ga. That allows for a spur of the moment bad guess Since I generally always use a decoy I have a good idea of his range since I've stepped off the distance from the decoy to the setup tree
I personally set a limit not to shoot a turkey over 100 yards. To do so, I think is unethical because you have not really beaten him if he is beyond 100 yards.
All joking aside - and the above was a joke, if he gets inside forty, he has had a bad day. Have killed most of my birds over the years somewhere between 25-35 yards, the majority of which were 30-35 yards away.
40 is probably the most ideal range for my setup. I prefer 30ish simply because it will really powder there head there. I have plenty of margin to be wrong ... but personally do not want to go beyond 40.
35 yards with a .410,
40 yards if using a 20 or 28 gauge. This is using a quality TSS load. I carry a rangefinder and will scan a few trees after getting set up if I have time.
Prefer 30, but 40 is my max and I make that a hard, non negotiable for my boys. They have watched several walk away that I know they could have killed. It's good for kids to have to watch one walk away every now and then.
I do my level best to keep it inside 40 yards with my 12 and Hevi 7's. Personally I want them at 25 to 30 for optimum range. Inside 25 and I have to really concentrate on Aim Small, Miss Small.
My son in law is still mad at me because I said the bird was too far for me to be comfortable with the shot down in a swamp. We paced it off and it was 43 yards. Another time I told a nephew if that hen had been a gobbler, I would have shot. Paced it off - 40 yards on the dot. That is my limit. Most are killed 25-35 over the years with a 12-47 yards range and the 47 being a misread of my marker bush I had paced off. I killed one other bird at 41. He was a big bird and I misread a bit, but he took a truck ride.
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Inside 40 .... i pattern at 30
I only shoot a 20 since TSS
No blinds and no decoys out to 40 yards.
Rarely shoot 40, probably average around 30. Killed a couple in 30 plus years around 50.
Killed 7 last year, one at 40 the rest 20-30.
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40 yards maximum. That's more than normal, most shots are 25-35 yards.
When I first started hunting turkeys many years ago, it was with an improved cylinder 12 gauge and 2-3/4" #6 lead duck loads. I had to train myself to limit my shots to around 30 yards. I now use a 20 gauge with a Super Full choke and 3" #9 TSS shot shells. I understand that I can certainly kill a gobbler out there quite a bit further with my rig, but I defer to my original 30 yard calibration that has served me well through the years. Maybe I have just gotten better at calling them in close...
Cheers ;D
FullChoke
0-35. Outside this, he walks, but I'll be back! :fud:
With a 12ga, 40yds. With the 20ga 30-35yds. Just copper plated 5s.
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I set up for a 20-25yd shot. Most shot have been 25-30 yards. The farthest shot was 38yds, closest is 11yds.
I don't know about others, but here is my "reality":
I think it is great that we preach the "forty-yard max" mantra. We should stick to that...and the reason we should stick to that is because, based on what I have personally seen, the great majority of turkey hunters probably have no clue as to how the shotgun they are shooting performs. However, I think most modern shotguns will kill a gobbler out to forty yards with a "turkey load"...and I would hope that those hunters in that majority class would at least be that conscientious.
Most of us here are not them, I would hope. I have a pretty good idea as to how far the shotgun and loads I use will kill a gobbler. It is considerably farther than forty yards. Still, I try to have the self-discipline to not pull the trigger beyond our agreed-upon mantra distance...and at least nine times out of ten, the question of my self-discipline does not ever come into play because, when I pull the trigger, the gobbler is well within that distance.
On the other hand, under the circumstances I usually hunt, I almost invariably have to judge the distance a gobbler is at by using the "mental imagery" set in my brain over the years which tells me he is either in range or he is not. The fact is, circumstances related to terrain, vegetation, lighting conditions, etc. have thrown off my mental calibration a few times over the years and I have pulled the trigger beyond forty. In all of those cases except one, either the gobbler has died on the spot or I have missed because of "user error".
The one case is etched in my brain, though. I did not miss and the gobbler ran off obviously hit hard...and I did not recover him. If there is any good that came from that incident, it is that I will no longer ever pull the trigger when my mental imagery tells me a gobbler is out of range...or even remotely looks like he might be.
Wild turkey gobblers are too majestic a bird and too valuable a resource to be taking "golden BB" shots at them...and no matter what weapon and load one uses, there is a point where a shot taken fits squarely in that realm.
Shot my 20ga longbeard xr today 6 shot today.
20 yards...nasty
40 yards...not so nasty. So 40 yards absolute max for me.
After shooting today try to keep it 30 and in.
I stick to the 40 yard rule as best I can judge.
I try to keep shots 40 and in. Based on my patterning, I'm pretty confident I could consistently kill them at 60 if I chose to though. I pretty much wait until I can look at the turkey and say "yup he's definitely in range" before pulling the trigger. In my experience that is usually around 35 yards before I have that "no doubt" feeling. The vast majority of my birds are killed between 20-35 yards. With that being said, I would have no problem pulling the trigger on a bird that I knew was at 50 yards.
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40 yards Max for me. Ideally I like the thirty yard shot that's my sweet spot. If the bird doesn't get to within 40 yards he lives another day. In the words of the late great Gene Nunnery " He wins today we'll play the second inning tomorrow "
I'm going to drop the hammer in that 35-40 range if given the chance.
Missed one at 12 and 9 steps so going to reach out and let my pattern open up.
40 yards is the maximum ethical distance.
And 35 and in is better.
When you read about these guys killing birds 60 and 70 or more they don't include the stories of the ones they wounded shooting at ridiculous distances.
Last spring my cousin shot a nice gobbler at 60 yd. It was a long shot, and right at the extreme maximum of range, but he made the shot. I usually don't shoot beyond 45 yd or so. With my archery setup, I generally don't shoot beyond 30 yd.
I've misjudged distance before and shot one at 53 yards but 40 yards is max for me. My pattern is a touch left which was a simple scope adjustment and I missed a pellet but 255 in the 10" at 40 yards. I could kill them farther but it's just shooting one at that point in my opinion (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250402/3ea617cf94fd9fe8f1980058ebc3e873.jpg)
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5.7991E-15 Lightyears is the farthest I've ever killed one.
Once again I'm going to say ditto to Gobblenuts post. I done this long enough to know if I can kill him or not. My problem is I do not want that bird inside 20 yards if I can avoid it. I have completely missed birds inside that distance. My pattern just does not open up until after 20. If they move at just the right time, zip the load goes right by them or over them. Most of the time it doesn't but it happens. My desired range is 30-35 yards and I am eating them up at that range. I cannot even tell you my gun's max range, because I have never tested it nor patterned it beyond 40. it's just that 40 is the limit, why know anything beyond that and just tempt myself to take a chance. When I sit down I start picking reference points for range. Looking down a gun barrel is not a good time to determine range, you vision and depth perception is compromised at that point. If I can see his eyeball clearly and him blink he's dying.
Quote from: dzsmith on April 01, 2025, 02:11:33 PM40 is probably the most ideal range for my setup. I prefer 30ish simply because it will really powder there head there. I have plenty of margin to be wrong ... but personally do not want to go beyond 40.
I've seen your gun - that gun will kill one, clean it for you, and vacuum seal it for the freezer at 40 yards. Total canoon! :funnyturkey:
Normal set up is 25 yards. Comfortable range of 40 yards.
I've killed a handful past 40 yards but that sweet spot is always under 35.
Heavily wooded, my shots tend to be 15-30 yards.
Rolling oaks and meadows (more open areas), 30-40 yards.
Personally, I find more open terrain more difficult to get birds in tight. I am not super comfortable with a 40 yard shot, unless the bird gives me a very good presentation.
I am shooting a bead, and am to some degree limited by what I can physically see while shooting. 40 yards is the limit that I can get a "hard focus" on the base of the neck.
Most here know the drill, and I truly believe that most turkeys are killed between 15-35 yards. Every hunting situation, except in the blind with my wife, I am shooting a tight choke. Worst case scenario is where I want to be. So I shoot a little tighter choke. 25 tards is pretty tight but I am confident that if ole nasty is at 38 yards I can kill him cleanly if I do my part. I actually loosened up from .520 to .525, as mentioned above, why worry past 40. Get your best pattern there and shoot straight, lol. Good luck to everyone. Big birds for the kids, vets and my teammates. God Bless. Z
I like to keep the shot inside 40 yrds and most are around 30 yrds.
If I could get em all 8 yards away I would. I like em close and set up for close shots. And yea I've shot a bunch under 8 yards but the majority are prom 25-30 yards.
40 to me, an old standby, and ethical, is just too far. Not to kill em but for the true turkey hunt experience imo.
I like my deer w a bow under 10 yards too so maybe that shows my mentality.
When I was a kid I had 4 arrows. I missed 3 longer shots that morn.
Found one arrow but was told not to use it dull so I had one arrow.
That afternoon I saw all kinds of deer. Until 5 ran in, 3 veered off at 20, 2 stopped right under me. I drew back fully expecting it to run. Let my fingers slip, watched the arrow go straight through and make a red ring coming out.
Never forgot how intense that was and feel less connected when they're out there a bit past 30. My first turkey was maybe 15 yards as well and I can still see it tip toeing closer. Hmmmm and with a 10g ugh. Good memories with that gun. To each his own I have no prob with anyone staying within effective range of their equipment and their abilities
if hes clear inside of 45/50 yards im pulling. most shots are either 40 or 15 for me
Distance equals money...Think about golf clubs, baseball bats, bows, or even ED medicine to go longer. Think about putting 2 3/8 oz of powder into a light load 7/8 oz shooting match shell, you'll win every time, and break your shoulder in the process!!! Basically they market a great shell, when in reality, If you look over the years the shell structure has improved very little, but you keep adding that much powder to a regular shell or any shell and it's gonna impress you, no doubt! The biggest influence for me is the barrels and chokes on the guns, without those improvements you could shoot 2 3/8 oz shell at 40 yards long and have a 40 yard wide pattern. No matter what shell I pattern, it will be hair high at 40 for operator range error. It's been many a years since I've shot one over 35, but i like to know it's there if I mis range. No matter what our opinions are here, your free to choose what you shoot and how long. Note: I'm not promoting any certain clubs, bats, bows, barrels, chokes, or ED medicine, unless there's money involved. Then we can go the distance! :) Good luck all!
The majority of mine have been 20-30ish. Had one on a Merriam's at 50 last year, but I didn't think he was that far. Definitely didn't look like it until I started walking up to him. I have a harder time judging distance in the open country out west. Much different than where I hunt most of the time.
(https://i.postimg.cc/15dvVv9d/IMG-6759.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I've made a mistake or two on them field birds as well. 30 is definitely my sweet spot.
Short answer, when in range.
Long answer, have several guns that are different and depends on what I am carrying that day.
I have a 10g that I do not like to have a turkey under 35 yards. 20g's are 40-30 yard guns and the 410 is a 35 to 20 yard gun.
That being said. I have played with the 10g a lot. It will kill a turkey a long ways. I have made mistakes with it and killed turkeys further than you should. The field turkeys can get you for sure, no matter where in the country you are!
I too prefer the magic 40 yard line. Now, once they hit that line I am rubbing the trigger!
Field turkeys always hard to judge. My solution has been to use a decoy and step off it's distant to my set up spot. I also carry a small range finder. We seldom run and gun anymore so this works for us. Have more problem now with birds getting too close where the pattern is softball sized. Repeating that I'll always use TSS in my .410 but if carrying the 12ga it's TSS days are numbered. No need for it 40 yards and under IMO.
Quote from: kytrkyhntr on April 03, 2025, 08:05:49 AMif hes clear inside of 45/50 yards im pulling. most shots are either 40 or 15 for me
This is my thoughts. 50 is my top end of what i think is long range. I could no doubt shoot farther with my gun setup but that just ain't it for me. And 50 in a pasture is alot differant than 50 in the timber. I don't think I'd shoot over 30 in the timber. Last year I was in a conversation with a fella bragging about shooting a turkey at 100 yds. Whether or not he was truthful it was obvious he thought it was cool. I had to bite my tongue in that conversation. 50 max in a pasture. 30 max in the timber. Toted one out yesterday that I shot at about 15.