Turkey with a rifle?

[WhitewaterDuck]

So I’ve been thinking about the convo on my Rio thread, and I started thinking about what it would be like to actually use a .17 for turkey hunting out here. At first, I completely shunned the idea, but after thinking about it, I realized the only part about it I don’t like is the fact you can, if you choose to do so, shoot one at a very long distance without ever really working the bird. That said, to each his own, and if someone wants to do that where it’s legal...go for it; I’ve ambushed a turkey before, so if it’s legal and floats your boat, who am I to say don’t do it.

But at this point, I personally enjoy the dance. I want to hear them gobble and communicate with me, but most of all I want to fool them...that cranks my scooter. So I worked that Wyoming Rio away from his hen and had him gobbling like mad, and I got him to strut into 82 yards. That, I feel, was a pretty good feat considering terrain and such. I took a long shot and very well may have gotten lucky with the kill. So, what if I had been using a .17? That, to me, would have still been just as awesome an experience, but the shot and kill or miss would have involved no luck; it would have been a clean head-shot kill or a clean miss.

On future hunts out here, if I were to call them closer, using a .17 be more difficult from 45 in, as the precision factor would need to be much greater. There would be no swinging and shooting of a bird that snuck in close and busted you over the shoulder. There would be the added element of having to really calm the adrenaline before the shot etc. There would be the added element of having to pass shots that did not have short-distance, solid backstops where that bullet could travel any unwanted distance past the bird. Heck, it seems like it would be an added challenge in every way other than having to get the bird to 50 or closer.

So, if you didn’t intend to Hill-crawl and ambush a turkey from 100 yards out, and you only shot turkeys that you were able to call in, what’s your opinion on using a .17 or .22 turkey hunting where it’s legal?

[dixiedeerslaya]

turkeys were made to be killed with shotguns.

[Rabbitman09]

So you're saying you killed a turkey a 82 yards with a shotgun?

[FEETDOWN]

[SCswampCAT]

So you're saying you killed a turkey a 82 yards with a shotgun?

Yeah and not many people gave him to much shit about it. I assume hes "in" around here.

[mudnut1970]

I killed a couple with a rifle in Texas many years ago during deer season. Also killed one quail hunting with 7 1/2 shot out there.

[PharmHunter]

turkeys were made to be killed with shotguns.

This.

And I totally missed that you shot that turkey at 82 yards in the original post. Whoa

[ziggy]

if it's legal...do whatever floats your boat.

not sure there's much difference with a souped up 12ga with nitro loads

[Rabbitman09]

Bishop Bullwinkle got a message for anyone claiming they killed a gobbler at 82 yards...

[Gut_Pile]

LOL @ Rabbitman

[Chuck the Duck Slayer]

What's Bishop's message?

[cleancutredneck]

[Spur hunter]

Not for me, rifles sort of taboo for turkeys since outlawed in SC in the 80s so I've never even considered using one. You can do some damage to various nuisance critters with a .22 rifle with a mil dot reticle though and I find enjoyment in that. Kentucky windage makes it a fun challenge.

[murraywader]

You haven't turkey hunted until you take down a gobbler in the fall at 920 yards with a 6.5

[Highstrung]

I would shoot the s*** out of a turkey with a rifle.

[Spur hunter]

Would you use a trumpet though?


Trying to throw you a rope.....

[PharmHunter]

Are we talking during turkey season?

In or out of a truck or deer stand?

These factors could change things up a lot.

[skrimp]

I was told the best way to kill turkeys is to limb line them with corn. The challenge is hitting them in the head with a 9 iron to make them quit flapping.

[Highstrung]

The only thing I know about a trumpet is that Louis Armstrong was pretty badass.

[Spur hunter]

Close enough. I would like to add that I chased down and killed a chipmunk a couple weeks ago with my ball cap and just added a field mouse to the list this morning. Not sure what sort of slam that is but I am working toward a multi species list.