Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
02-15-2007 | 06:01 PM
#21
Fork Horn
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: Eagleville Missouri
RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
There seems to be a lot of anti rifle folks, for turkeys anyway.Thats my feeling too, if you want a really good hunt, use a shotgun and call. But I'm not the least bit opposed to anyone using a rifle, if it's legal and they want to do it. Shooting a turkey with a riflemight belike going to the store and buying one, except, you do have to go out and find a turkey. It may be a bit harder finding the one you want, than digging through a freezer.You do have to get in range for a good shot, and you do have to make the shot, safely, and without endangering birds other than the intended target. Plus you get some exercise outdoorsand a free range bird that is probably healthier for you than the one from your grocery store, plus you got to hunt with your son. This may not appeal to everyone of course, but getting outside and stalking, or laying in wait for a turkey is more fun to me any day, than sitting in my living room watching tv or going to the store. I don't care how you finish him off, just go get him!
If it were ALL about the HUNT for me, I would give upmy guns anduse a camera. For me it's mostly about getting outside and killing my own dinner. Some hunts are obviously morechallenging, or interestingthan others for whatever reason. Theweapon you used, the people you hunt with, the weather,and how many birds you saw,and which one you killed, are allpart of it. Usually for me, it's the peopleI hunt with or just the alone time that really makes my day, not whether the target was hard or easy, but the day I had, and the kill. As great as all the other stuff is, I'm not just a hiker. If I didn't make a kill regularly on most hunts, I would stop going. There are a lot of controversial methods for all animalslike baiting, using dogs,scents, calls,electronics,trappingand even using a guide, (noREAL hunter would ever use a guide right), but if it's your thing and it's legal, do it, and proudly enjoy it!
If it were ALL about the HUNT for me, I would give upmy guns anduse a camera. For me it's mostly about getting outside and killing my own dinner. Some hunts are obviously morechallenging, or interestingthan others for whatever reason. Theweapon you used, the people you hunt with, the weather,and how many birds you saw,and which one you killed, are allpart of it. Usually for me, it's the peopleI hunt with or just the alone time that really makes my day, not whether the target was hard or easy, but the day I had, and the kill. As great as all the other stuff is, I'm not just a hiker. If I didn't make a kill regularly on most hunts, I would stop going. There are a lot of controversial methods for all animalslike baiting, using dogs,scents, calls,electronics,trappingand even using a guide, (noREAL hunter would ever use a guide right), but if it's your thing and it's legal, do it, and proudly enjoy it!
02-15-2007 | 07:09 PM
#22
Dominant Buck
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 26,323
Likes: 0
From: WC FL
RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
ORIGINAL: MB.prostaff.bgcalls
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!
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!
02-15-2007 | 07:11 PM
#23
Dominant Buck
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 26,323
Likes: 0
From: WC FL
RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
ORIGINAL: superstrutter
That is your choice, but why even use a rifle. I know it may be legal, but turkey hunting is all about working a gobbler into shotgun range. If you are going strictly for meat and not for the thrill of working a big longbeard into close range, then go for it, but I would personally never hunt turkeys with a rifle even if it were legal. I'm not knocking you for trying it though. Nothing like a big longbeard strutting and gobbling 25 yards from you.
That is your choice, but why even use a rifle. I know it may be legal, but turkey hunting is all about working a gobbler into shotgun range. If you are going strictly for meat and not for the thrill of working a big longbeard into close range, then go for it, but I would personally never hunt turkeys with a rifle even if it were legal. I'm not knocking you for trying it though. Nothing like a big longbeard strutting and gobbling 25 yards from you.
02-15-2007 | 07:12 PM
#24
Dominant Buck
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 26,323
Likes: 0
From: WC FL
RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
ORIGINAL: moose1915
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.
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.
02-15-2007 | 07:16 PM
#26
Dominant Buck
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 26,323
Likes: 0
From: WC FL
RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
ORIGINAL: strutnbuck
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!
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!
02-16-2007 | 05:35 AM
#27
Typical Buck
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 998
Likes: 0
From: Nanjemoy, MD
RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
ORIGINAL: turkey guide
There seems to be a lot of anti rifle folks, for turkeys anyway.Thats my feeling too, if you want a really good hunt, use a shotgun and call. But I'm not the least bit opposed to anyone using a rifle, if it's legal and they want to do it.
There seems to be a lot of anti rifle folks, for turkeys anyway.Thats my feeling too, if you want a really good hunt, use a shotgun and call. But I'm not the least bit opposed to anyone using a rifle, if it's legal and they want to do it.
A fewdecades ago, I encountered a spring turkey hunter in the VA woods with his .243, and I got a creepy feeling, wondering if he might have "scoped me" before coming into my position. Well, that guywould not have hadto worryif a gob "hungup" 70 yds out...
As posted earlier, rifles are now verbotten for theVA spring season, butlegal in the fall, and they certainly have their proponents & rationalizations. (e.g.a turk never knows what killed it, head shots demand accuracy, "if you are that demanding of technique - why don't you stick to your bow", etc, etc, ad nauseum). A good friend of mine (not a hunting partner) stillbags VA fall turks with rifle. I'veneedled him, that if he wants a turkey that bad, he should just go to the Safeway. It'sa matter of respect for the game animal, jmo.
I and fellow turkey hunters that participate in the VA Spring Turkey Hunter survey have voiced our support foreliminating rifles for turkey hunting and moving the fall season out of the deer season - voice your opinions to your wildlife mgt agency, they listen, you can make a difference.
-fsh
02-16-2007 | 06:18 AM
#28
Typical Buck
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, TN
RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
I wouldn't use a rifle even if it was legal.
The essence of the sport is calling a gobbler to shotgun range using stealth, woodsmanship, and calling skill. Picking one off with a 22-250 at 300 yards wouldn't interest me at all.
The essence of the sport is calling a gobbler to shotgun range using stealth, woodsmanship, and calling skill. Picking one off with a 22-250 at 300 yards wouldn't interest me at all.
02-16-2007 | 01:38 PM
#30
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
RE: Turkey Hunting with a Rifle
I do agree with you guys about shooting one long range with a rifle but whats the difference from shooting one at 30 yards with a rifle,bow,or shotgun. Its not legal here so I don't use a rifle but if it were I'd maybe try one and keep my shots to under 50 yards just like a shotgun.