Setting Up for Turkey
 

Hello all, I'm new to this forum and am just starting to get more into the hunting and firearms world.

I was thinking that I would like to try turkey hunting come the spring season (live in KY) and I have a browning BPS 12ga that I use for dove and was wondering what it would take to set it up for turkey and anything else I need to know before getting out there would be helpful too!

heres a pic

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

First off you gotta leave that bottle of Jim beam on the table.:DNice gun!Real shiny..and that's one thing a turkey will notice too.I'm sure you wouldn't want to put tape on such a beautiful gun.Maybe a sock or camo dress up kit.I'm assuming it has screw in chokes.You will need to get an extended turkey choke.Such as Kicks,undertaker,star dot...most any of todays chokes are good.Next you will need turkey shot.You will have to shoot several loads to see which one patterns best in your gun.I like WInchester High Velocity Shells.I prefer #4's because they are heavier and have more knockdown...down range than 5's or 6's.Hevi-shot is also a popular choice,but you need to make sure your choke is compatable with it.You might want to invest in a set of tru-glo metal fiber optic sights.That'll get your gun going.Then after you get all the calls,clothes,and run yourself ragged,read alot of books on turkey hunting,learn alot from these good 'ole boys,Hopefully you'llget a bird after alot of hard trying.Ease back to the house,and crack that Jim beam open.'Cause you will deserve it.;)

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

I gotta agree with ranchand99 He hit the nail on the head.

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

:D
Well said!!!

I have a BPS 3.5'' and the best choke combo that I have found for it is a COMP-N-CHOKE XXX FULL. Comp-n-choke is a sister company of KICKS. I really likes the Winchester 3.5'' XX 2 1/4 oz #6's.

As mentioned, the STAR DOT amazed me on my Mossberg 835, to be a $20 choke. You really need to get read of that shine. The key to a turkeys eyes are movement. We are going to move, period. So, you don't need the sun glairing off of your barrel when you do move.

If you have the extra money, buy you a shorter barrel, I like the 24'' myself. It is hard lugging around a 28'' barrel all day and it kills the arms if you have to hold it up for a while. Finding a gun/choke/load combo may take a lot of time and money, but normally just about anything is good enough to kill a turkey at 25-30 yards, we just want the "Best" out of everything.

Although reading books and listening to other people is good, nothing can count for actually getting in the woods.

The first turkey I killed:

A friend of mine tried to drag me turkey hunting for years, but like others, I assumed that turkey hunting was like dove or duck. You just shoot them off a limb or something.

So, he lent me some of his turkey hunting videos and I got interested. I went out and bought a call about a week before our opening day. It was the Knight and Hale alumistrut. Couldn't really call. All I could do at this point is yelp.

Opening day came and my friend has a ritual of hunting his own property on every opening morning. So, I went to a place that I knew had turkeys and called myself.The first time I heard a gobble, I thought it was a dog barking. It kept getting closer and closer as I called. Long story short, 15 minutes after day light I was walking out of the woods with my first long beard.

I have been hooked ever since. It is adictive.

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

ive got a 12 gauge bps with a modified choke. would that work for turkey??

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

Yes it has screw in chokes. I use a modified choke for dove, so I am guessing that I should get a full choke or something to get the pattern tighter?

Yeah hopefully soon I will be able to get myself a beater shotgun if you will, I would like something in camo since I have read how turkey's have great eyesight. But right now I am shopping for a rifle. By next season though.

Yeah turkey seems really fun, not to mention I love turkey, especially deep fried! Anyways my dad got me started with dove and now I want to branch out and try some deer and turkey!

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

Get you a "better gun". Dang, that BPS you have is one of the finest guns made. I love mine. :D
Maybe you are talking about getting you a gun "better suited" for turkey hunting? The camo stuff is good, but I don't really like camo guns. I like the black ones. All of my turkey guns are black. I am not sure why, I just never really liked the camo stuff. Like I said before, the key to a turkeys eyesight is movement.

RATMAN-
I would buy a turkey choke. If money is a problem, save up $20 and buy a STAR Dot.

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

my bps doesnt take screw in chokes. but i have and over-under that does and i have a couple chokes for it. could i use an over-under?

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

Ratman:

It must be an older BPS. Yeah, you can use an o/u for turkeys. Theres no "must use" rule of thumb. There have been plenty of turkeys killed with a Mod. choke, but I wouldn't like using one. They are mostly for wing shooting. A turkey is a hard critter to kill, so it is better to have a little tigether pattern than a wingshooting gun.

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

A turkey choke tube and some turkey loads and you should be good to go. It doesn't hurt to throw some truglo rifle sights on it and pattern the thing.

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

Ratman if you have to use that gun I would guess it's affective range to be 30-35yds.You'd have to pattern it to make sure.Yes,you can use the over and under,and it will probably have alot better pattern.

sturdi87,you're right on.You want a tight choke..but at the same time a very very tight choke can be just as bad.Hear me out..If it is so tight that it is like a slug at 25 yds..that's good and bad.The bad is if that jittery fellow moves at the moment you shoot you will miss him.The "FAD" nowadays is to pack as many pellets in a 10" circle,but what I like about my stardot..(Besides the price)Is that it is tight enough to be comparable with alot of the other brands that cost 3 times as much(IN my case I have outshot a kicks vs..stardot..on my gun,and the other guys gun).It also has a very even pattern.I usually test patterns at 40yds..after that it gets a little harder to be pinpoint with open sights.Some guys like scopes.I do pattern my gun to find it's max yardage,and with my gun,and combo it is around 65yds.60 or less and he's mine;).When I pattern a gun I count the 10" circle,but I also count the 30" circle.That shows how well the pattern is distributed.Incase he moves you still have got him.My gun was shooting high and left,and I was getting inaccurate pattern counts.When I put the tru-glo sights on I centered my pattern correctly,and really started knocking them down.Before when I shot it was ...Drop and Flop...but now there's just something about squeezing off on a tom...watching his head get snatched back while he's still standing...like the headless horseman....and then his feet come up in the air kicking while he does a backflip..Man I can see it now!:D

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

strutnbps, i didn't mean better gun i mean't beater gun, something i don't have to worry about messing up etc. I love my BPS! I meant i was thinking about getting a cheap gun to use. I was looking at the mossberg 835 that comes in camo with the extra rifled barrel.
Yes as far as looks are concerned I am definitely more traditional I like the wood stocks and the engraving etc. as you can seebut I thought camo would be better for turkey, or black like you said. for utility purposes not as far as cosmetics.

I am really looking forward to the spring season, I am going to try and get some of the mentioned chokes soon and some of those sights. For now I am going to sit at my computer, practice my calling (I bought a turkey call a week ago) and drink some whiskey!

RE: Setting Up for Turkey
 

If you decide to get a new gun for turkey, The 835 would be a great choice for the money!