Can't hit the close ones
 

Does anybody else have trouble hitting a turkey that is 20 yards or less? It seems like the the last three years that's all I've had and I only got 1 of em and he was 15 steps away (where he fell) and was in flight. Other than that I've had 5 up close misses and that gets under my skin. I know my problem is that I'm not taking my time and aiming correctly. I remember 1 gobbler that was 20 steps away standing next to an old fence row and after I missed him I went back to see if I could tell where my shot went in the briars and turns out I shot about 2 feet high:([:@]

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

I think that's a hunter malfunction rather than an equipment one. I guess you can get Tom fever just like you can buck fever. I just wish all of them would get 20 steps or less. Sorry, but I don't have the same problem as you. If one gets that close, he is going down for good. Not saying that it will never happen to me, it just hasn't yet. I've missed a few, but that was during the first few years I started turkey hunting and they weren't point blank range. Needless to say I learned a lot in those first few years. My day is probably coming though. I'm sure I will eventually miss another one.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Unless you've already got a good site system, I'd start by improving on that or even go to a scope. Then site in using an Improved Cylinder choke tube using inexpensive rifled slugs. Then conferm site in with your Turkey load and Turkey choke. And, keep your cool when he's Gobble'n in your face.:D
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[/align]DO NOT SHOOT SLUGS THROUGH ANYTHING EXCEPT AN IMPROVED CYLINDER CHOKE TUBE
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RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

When i would shoot a turkey with a gun i always aim where the feathers meet the fleshy part of the head, and never had a problem.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Have you tried to go to a range and pattern your gun at that distance. My thinking would be the shot hasnt opened up yet at that close of range. Im might be wrong just an idea.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

The shot pattern will be pretty tight at less than 20yds. If you know for sure all your shots will be close,due to brush etc. you may want to use a more open choke. If you're hunting large clearings or fields you may need to shoot at a greater distance. You should definitely pattern your gun at this distance to see whatyour pattern is doing and if the point of impact of your pattern is the same as the sights.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

I started using a red dot then changed to fiber optic rifle sights and I think that is my problem. I am a wingshooter first and I know where my stock needs to be on my cheek. So when my head is on the stock where it would be if I was sighting down the rib (or wingshooting) my sights are not lined up. I think that is what I'm doing, putting my head to low and just seeing sights glowing and shooting.

I can kill paper turkeys all day long at any range.

I have 3 solutions:
1 Use nothing but the factory bead
2 Don't shoot at anything closer than 30 yards
3 Go back to the red dot or scope

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Forgot to mention, I use standard full choke. At 20 yards the pattern is about the size of a basketball or slightly smaller as I can't find any of my patterns. I also use a full choke to duck hunt with and can hit them just fine.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

I wont shoot at a bird less than 10 yds, i did twice and both times i missed, thank God, i got another shot both times and ended up with birds, but that miss, even thought it was redeemed, sucked !

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

are you looking up before you shoot that causes your gun to go up and you shoot over.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Not sure but that could be it. I do know it's not the equipment it's the driver. I also know that I get gobblin fever so bad I feel like I'm gonna puke or pass out:D

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

I would do three things, and then I could pretty much promise you won't miss again.

1) Stay cool under pressure. Try not to get nervous to he point where your shakin' like a whore in church. Position yourself so you can use your knees or something as a gun rest (this is the hardest of the three)

2) Pattern your gun to make sure your hitting where you suppose to at 15 yards.

3) Change your sites. Put a fixed power scope on your gun. I have a gun set up strickly for turkey hunting, look into it.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Funny you should mention you cheek on the stock! The comb on most field guns is too low causing aiming problems. The scope is a good fix but just shooting at paper and getting comfortable with the comb height will help. You can also raise the comb height with kits or foam and tape on the stock,hope this helps.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Not only do you have to practice calling you might want to practice shooting as well;)

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

id definently practice some close target shooting. if your pattern is tight and not shooting center that would be a problem at close range. to fix either adjustable sights or a scope is needed. or start shootin them a little farther away.

and be more selective of your shots. shooting strutting birds/flying/running birds is pretty much a no no. it can be done but they arent ideal shots..

gotta learn to keep your cool and make the shot. i know its hard when you got a bird close strutting and gobbling in your face..but itll come..just gotta go into a diffrent frame of mind and focus on killin him..once that saftey is off im done watchin the show..its time to put big boy down..i go into a completely diffrent mind set and focus on killing him..breathing..sight picture..squeezing off the shot. what helped me was letting birds come in and NOT shooting them. one day i had a jake come in so close he brushed my pants. no intentions on killing him..it was opening day and there was a long beard strutting infront of me. i let the jake get in my face and faced off till i HAD to blink. i lasted a couple minutes without blinking..tears rolled down my face..it hurt...heart pounding thought i was gunna pass out...but that cured gobbler fever...i still get mighty excited...but not so bad i cant make the shot now..

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Wow did not expect this many replies! I believe I'm trying to combine shooting instinctively and aiming at the same time. The turkey I killed that was flying, I remember telling the guy I was hunting with that I wish they all would fly. It was fluid to me.

I was really just wandering if anybody had the same problem or if it was just me.

Someone mentioned staying calm:D:D When that happens then I have become bored with hunting!

I do like the idea of a dedicated turkey gun but that's not happening for a while because I'm as broke as this morning's breakfast egg.

I'm not real worried about the issue.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Fantail,

Could be the gun, could be you. Lots of good suggestions here, let me add one more.

I missed a bird 4 years ago and I am 99.99% sure its because I picked up my head to 'peak'.

I now have a mantra that I go through right when I'm about to shoot. Believe me, the heart is still pumping and the adrenaline is flowing like crazy but right before I'm about to shoot I take 1 more second to ask myself if my head is down. I even practice it prior to the season just trying to visualize a bird walking into the site and taking that pause. its worked very well for me.

If the gun is sited in like you say and you are shooting two-feeet over then you are likely moving right before the shot to 'see what happens'

Practice makes perfect...................

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

Well picture it this way:

5-10 Yards your trying to hit the turkey with a softball sized pattern

as opposed to

30-35 yards your trying to hit the turkey with a 30" circle of a pattern


It would be alot easier to hit it at a further distance within reason (20-35) rather than up close and personal because the pattern has time to open up.

probably cant in every situation, but why not shoot the turkey as soon as it enters comfortable gun range, instead of waiting for it to get this close. I waited for it to get closer and closer one year and blew my opportunity because after a LONG STORY i didnt even get a shot because i waited too long.

RE: Can't hit the close ones
 

You're probably on to something there. I always did have that very problem with a scoped gun.


I'm glad you mentioned that because I forgot to mention only 1 of these birds was called in the rest were either spot and stalk or just appeared out of nowhere. If they work in slowly I usually don't miss em. The one that was called in was actually a pair of jakes and we wanted a double but either I didn't have a shot or my buddy didn't and that's how they got so close. In my defense on the jake, I did take out a small tree that I didn't even notice.

I don't want anybody to get the impression that I'm a "good" caller because 95% percent of my success comes from spot and stalk. And before anybody jumps on me with both feet, what I mean by spot and stalk is finding them in a field, trying to figure out where they are going, and getting in front of them as my schedule doesn't always allow time for me to really work one unless he's lonely on the roost.