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Post by HighCotton on Apr 26, 2010 16:26:30 GMT -5
I got out today for a little "lunchtime turkey rendezvous". I really did not expect to see much, but I'm trying to jam some hunting in whenever I can. It's turning out to be a tough deal timewise this year. So, I set the blind up around 11ish and within 5 minutes I have a hen come to my deke...and another from a different direction 15 minutes later...pecking my deke on the head...then runs about 2 feet right past my blind as a truck comes down a nearby driveway...and another hen within 20 yards later on.
All of a sudden, I see movement to my north at 80ish yards. Big ole Tom comin' in! He sees my deke and comes a little closer. I stay quiet. He turns away and I let out a few soft yelps. He turns back toward me and goes full strut. The closest I range him is 62 yards. I start thinking about Woody and his 55 yard shot - wishing about then that I had his setup. I'm very good to 40 yards and would pop a shot with the Mossberg 500 out to 45 yards in the open. No way I can ethically reach out past 45 yards. A few soft purrs and cuts...the Tom struts around a bit and heads into the woods. I fully expected him to come out later to meet up with my deke but it never happened.
I'm happy to have seen the birds and especially the big Tom (at least a 10 inch beard). Interestingly enough, I never heard a single peep, gobble, spit or drum from any bird at any time! I won't ask for much more on a spur of the moment lunchtime hunt. But, it definitely got me thinking...
What is the farthest shot anyone has taken to put a gobbler down? And, what equipment and ammo did you use (especially when a 3" shell is your limit)?
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Post by crappiepro on Apr 26, 2010 16:46:01 GMT -5
I ve taken 30yrd shots, That was my comfort limit. Last year I had a tom hold-up about 50 yrds out and wouldnt come an inch closer,I didnt fell comfortable with that range. This year I bought a new gun(Because I needed too) and a Kicks Gobblin thunder choke tube. I shoot the 3in, #5 in the winchester high velocity shell. This is a solid 50yrd gun now, I will take that shot now and feel comfortable doing it!! This years bird was 40 or so yards out and I didnt think twice about the shot, I put the scope on him and it was done!!
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Post by throbak on Apr 26, 2010 17:22:50 GMT -5
I set my Jake at 20 used to set it at 10 missed more too close than my farthest 37 step shot with a TK-2000 bp shotgun At 20 or 25 pattern opened up just right keep all the shot in the head ;  |
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Post by firelt72 on Apr 27, 2010 2:46:19 GMT -5
about 40 yds is my farthest. I would not have tried that shot at 62yds.
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Post by ridgerunner on Apr 27, 2010 5:30:03 GMT -5
45yds..and that was too far. I thought it was 40yds..I hate to shoot past 35yds normally..dang sure wouldn't even consider an attempt at 50 or beyond...that would be irresponsible as a hunter IMO.
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Post by hoosiernavy29 on Apr 27, 2010 5:32:14 GMT -5
Mine would be 55yds, took my tom last thursday at 57 paces, walked it off Sunday morning after I took my buddy down there to hunt.
With the right choke and ammo combo 60 yds is very doable out of any gun as long as you have practiced etc etc.
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Post by oldhoyt on Apr 27, 2010 6:30:12 GMT -5
I shoot a standard full choke so my max range is 35 yards, which is somewhat helpful in estimating ranges, because that is also my preferred max range for bowhunting. If I think a turkey is in my bowhunting range, I shoot.
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Post by birddog on Apr 27, 2010 6:56:24 GMT -5
The state record bird was killed at 62 yards,using a Mossberg 835 12 gauge with 3-1/2" # 5 shot,the bird dropped dead in his tracks.I've taken others out beyond 50 yards with no problem.
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Post by parrothead on Apr 27, 2010 9:23:40 GMT -5
I saw an article a while back I think in Turkey and Turkey hunting and the title was 50 the new 40. It was talking about yards and how the new shells and chokes are making 50 yard shots like the 40 yard shots of old
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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 27, 2010 10:07:51 GMT -5
With my present set up I had self imposed a 50 yard limit. I went beyond that with my KY bird at 55 yards... BUT I did not realize it was that far in an open field. I guessed it as 45 yards..
When I shot 3D archery the open field shots were always my downfall.
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Post by tickman1961 on Apr 27, 2010 10:36:13 GMT -5
I saw an article a while back I think in Turkey and Turkey hunting and the title was 50 the new 40. It was talking about yards and how the new shells and chokes are making 50 yard shots like the 40 yard shots of old Truth, weapon and shell combinations will allow shots much farther today than in the past, know your weapon and its capabilites thru practice. |
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Post by Decatur on Apr 27, 2010 10:51:54 GMT -5
It is tough to judge distance in an open field!
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Post by catahecassa on Apr 27, 2010 10:54:31 GMT -5
I saw an article a while back I think in Turkey and Turkey hunting and the title was 50 the new 40. It was talking about yards and how the new shells and chokes are making 50 yard shots like the 40 yard shots of old Truth, weapon and shell combinations will allow shots much farther today than in the past, know your weapon and its capabilites thru practice. Tickman  . Amen. When I shot 3D archery the open field shots were always my downfall. Woody - ALSO a (BIG!) !!! ;D |
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Post by HighCotton on Apr 27, 2010 11:56:38 GMT -5
It is tough to judge distance in an open field! I agree D! And I also noticed I was off on my guesstimate from inside the blind. When I first saw that Tom yesterday, I guessed him at around 100 yards. As he came in, I thought he was at 80+ yards and that turned out to be 62 yards with the rangefinder. In the past, I have turkey hunted very little from a blind. Most of my hunts were hunkered down, back against a good tree or brushdrop. The rangefinder has become a good friend. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2010 15:04:58 GMT -5
I stepped off my shot for my "belly crawl" stalked bird last year at 52 yards. That was my longest by far. My shortest was in Tennessee earlier this month...also a stalk, over the crest of the hill. Popped up and the bird was 10 feet from me.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2010 15:07:27 GMT -5
45yds..and that was too far. I thought it was 40yds..I hate to shoot past 35yds normally..dang sure wouldn't even consider an attempt at 50 or beyond...that would be irresponsible as a hunter IMO. If your gun is consistantly in the kill zone at 50 yards, I don't think there is anything irresponsible about it. If you aren't sure about whether it is cabable of it, then I would agree with you. |
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Post by lonniephillips on Apr 27, 2010 20:29:20 GMT -5
45 yards for my setup , it might kill to 50 but I set my limits to 45
I've killed a few at this range , i also killed 1 grave yard dead at 7 yards , wow it had a baseball size hole at the base of its neck
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2010 8:00:19 GMT -5
i killed a jake my very first turkey at around 55 yards. 3" winchester 5 or 6 shot an 870 and a scope. didnt know it was that far until dad came up to get me and he said that was too far to be shooting at turkeys. he said i got lucky. id shoot one now out to 60 using the new heavy shot 4 shot out of my benneli
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Post by jkratz on Apr 28, 2010 11:44:04 GMT -5
72 steps, probably 65-67yds. Second bird I shot in South Dakota a few years ago. I was using 3 1/2" 10ga. however and it has a bit more range.
Kratz
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