RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

well i have to agree with the croud, shotgun. but lets not forget our forefathers and all the turkey that was taken with pached ball. from a stand point of challenge, getting a movingturkey in the head with a 22 would be quite a challenge at any range.

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

I've hunted w/both rifle and shotgun. In VA you can't Spring Gobbler hunt w/arifle but you can in the fall. My two huntin' buddies and myself would use .223s (model 7s. (the short length is what appeals to me)) and would try to break their backs to keep from messing up too much meat. It worked and I enjoyed it. But like most of these guys have already said, once you have a big gobbler struttin' 25 yards in front of you and you blast him w/ashotgun you'll quickly realize there's nothing like it.

Either way you chose you're gonna have a ton of fun!

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

It's legal here in Florida, but I have never used a rifle. I think everybodys expressed the true thrill of harvesting a turkey is the hunt itself. Calling, working the birds, getting them close and using a shotgun is the way to go. My 10 year old son and I were sitting in the deer stand this fall, during which deer and turkey season were open. We some turkeys come in and he asked if he could take one. I told him no and he asked if it was illegal w/ a rifle. I asked him if he remembered the feeling he gets when hearing a gobbler while hunting in the spring, to which he smiled and said yes. I then asked him if he was feeling that same feeling now, to which he replied no. He decided that he wanted to take his first bird with a shotgun.... Not lecturing, just a proud dad!

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

Funny you should mention it. I just sent off an e-mail to the Missouri Dept of Conservation, asking why we couldn't have a rifle season for turkeys, since the fall hunt is by deer methods anyway, and we can kill either sex, there is no reason to get them up close. I prefer calling them in close, but would be happy to shoot them with a rifle for fall season when you are basically walking the woods and flushing them or sitting in a stand. It's basically sight and stalk unless you have better luck than I, calling in the fall. And stalking close enough to a turkey for a shotgun is very tricky, unless you are sitting under their tree when the sun comes up or catch them in the trees as the sun goes down.
If you are in good turkey country you should be able to sit in a stand. But if you want to speed things up and have a rifle, stalk the field edges and catch them feeding in the fields. From experience a 17 HMR takes two shots to the body, three would be better. They leave small trails through the meat and don't tear it up much. A 223 does a better job with one shot with still little damage and a much better range. You should be able to spot a good gobbler with binoculars at 350 yds and cull him from the flock at the same range. Waiting patiently for the right shot, so you don't kill two or three is the hard part.Most of my knowledge comes from friends who hunt other states, but I have hunted oklahoma too.

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

Ya, its not legal here, but that would be my last option, i like the rush of the bird coming within ten yards from me!:D

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

There's an art to turkey hunting & a rifle ain't the brush u use[:'(]

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

if i could use a rifle, there would be absolutely zero fun involved, let alone challenging

where i hunt there are 4 to 10 gobblers 100 to 200 yds out in the field everyday. it would be (for me) unsportsmanlike to sniper them .

just my opinion, not bashing anyone but, a rifle just makes it too easy.

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

For me!That would be likeshooting a sitting rabbit or a grouse on the ground that wasn't flushed. There's no challenge in it. Not to mention the saftly aspect of it. I'd never do it!

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

I wouldn't mind using a rifle but I'd still call them in close like I do with a shotgun or a bow.

RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
 

it has been said a couple times ; gettem close is what it's all about. I like to get them close enough that my BPS 12 ga. shoots like a rifle.:D;):D;):D.

I wish Fla. would stop rifle hunting for turhey for one reason ; I had my decoy shot in front of me[:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]; I'm just glad he was not shooting stright in my drection.another reason, lots of birds are lost because of bad hits and not much blood trail to follow.

( OK , now you rifle hunters can get aboard and hit me real hard; I'm already bent over and ready):D:D:D:D:D
just had to say that to let you all know I'm not against the way you hunt.I have taken birds with rifle( befor my decoy was shot ). if it's legal then go for it.