Pass up the shot because !
 

because you can' t see the Whole Bird to shoot at, Had Client out today and he was a first time turkey hunter , we called in a Longbeard at 30yards and the bird stopped to look at the decoy, my Client could only see the head and half of the upper body and did not shoot because he could not see the whole bird.

For all beginners of the sport , when patterning your gun , head to a woods and staple a turkey target to a tree that will only give you a view of the head and neck, pace off 30 yards and take a shot at it to see what your gun will do to a small target. I think you will be surprised.
I don' t believe that turkey hunters try out the capablities of there guns right in the turkey woods and don' t understand how his or her shotgun will work on a smaller type target. These are the types of shots your going to get in the late season.

This is not on safty just the shots that one can take...BT

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

are you saying you should or shouldnt shoot its kinda confusing the way its put...at first it sounded like you agreed he did the right thing...then you kinda sounded like you are against that and say its a fine shot....what side are you on?? i passed up a shot my first year...3 jakes at 15-20yds...stood there going nuts strutting gobbling and just going nuts lookin for the hen....it was my first year and i had a 20ga and there were a few small things in the way i didnt like so i didnt shoot...but tree rat hunting that year blowing limbs off that were massive compared to the ones in my way turkey hunting and still blowing the rat off the limb proved i could taken the shot and easily killed the turkey i shot at....i passed up alot of shots with my 12ga because i didnt like them....now i kick myself daily for it beacuse i could have 5 turkeys dead opposed to 1 but now i know...them shots i thought were though were easy and just the way things happen.....i watched to much tv and wanted that perfect wide open shot at 15yds...now i learned.....i agree its smart to see what your gun can do before you hunt....it cost my a bunch birds i should have shot at....get in real life situations and see just how many pellets do make it throgh the grass or them little twigs in your way....seeing the limbs ive blown down with 12 ga field loads and 20ga 3 inch mags i agree with BT and think you will be surprised...but if you dont like the shot i think your smart for passing it...no reason to chance it and wound or miss....theres always another day.....

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

Very good point BOSSTOM.

I had a similar situation this year. I was closing the distance on a bird I heard gobbling. When I eased out of the woods, I was thinking the gobbler would be well to my left and I was going to ease into some brush. As it turned out I spotted his tail fan about 30 yards in front of me---just over a small ridge. Right next to him was another gobbler who I guess was keeping watch. All I saw of him was head and neck. I thought I was busted for sure. I went down to my knees---got my shotgun ready---and when I eased back up---I saw the fan of one and the head and neck of the other again. I shot the head and neck and got my third nice bird of the season.

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

I agree with ya BT,all you need is a clear shot at the head to make a killing shot.I once shot a gobbler through a 6" hole in the brush that he stuck his head into.
Just remember that in many states you must see a beard to be sure that it is a legal bird.

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

I agree with BT on this one, I too have shot birds that I clearly seen a beard on but when they came in the last bit because of brush or the top of a knoll all I could see was his head and neck.

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

I witnessed a similar situation 2 springs ago on an outing with a novice turkey hunter co-worker. I called in a nice gobbler for him at about 20 yds. or so and he didn' t shoot because he didn' t have the perfect shot because of some small branches and undergrowth. I guaranteed him later after the bird walked off that a 3" mag 12 ga. with 2 oz. of shot would have had no problem taking that bird down on the spot despite the brush. He learned a good lesson on that hunt and we still had a great time!

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

I recall my first season of turkey hunting (maybe my 4th time out) I struck a bird with a push call and it came waltzing in. I watched in absolute amazement as it strutted towards me covering about 30 yards....I had never seen such a site! It approached my decoy and I had a shot at about 15 yards....with brush in between. It finally spooked as my legs and arms quivered like a rag doll in the wind.

My inexperience taught me a great lesson that day, one which I learned in hindsight. I could have easily nailed that bird...I guess I was waiting for the " perfect shot" , which many of us have learned the hard way, rarely occurs.

Good point is made my BT' s post...don' t let " perfect shot syndrome" keep you from bagging a bird...

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

Have to go w/ you on this one. The shooter should already know what his gun will/won' t do before he sets foot in the woods,period. Plus how many times are you going to see the whole bird anyway? All I remember is seeing the head because thats your point of aim

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

funny, i just posted about that in the thread , what have i learned.......

openin a.m. , i passsed up an awesome longbeard because i was afraid one palmetto leaf was going to screw it up and wound him....even though it would of taken him out instintly.........i went back to my area after all the hunts were over and relived my hunt.....one thin leaf would of not stopped a thing, but i worried......next time if i see red and i know it' s going to get him, i' m shootin' ......

RE: Pass up the shot because !
 

I guess I can chalk this one up to inexperience too... Opening day this year I called in a nice tom, but instead of coming straight to my decoy, it circled around and came in from behind. It strutted behind some brush/small pines for a good half hour-45 minutes all worked up and gobbling his head off. His head and neck would come in and out of view, but I was facing the wrong way and didn' t think I could turn around without getting busted. Had I taken the shot left handed. I might have had a nice bird. Finally after he disappeared behind some trees, I thought he was coming my way and I got my gun up, but he never came out. A few yelps on the mouth call and he was gobbling and heading back to where he had been strutting. I had a split second to take a shot of his head and neck as he passed thru some trees, a shot I know I could have made, but at the time I was thinking it would be a shame to cripple this bird so I passed on him. That was opening day, I haven' t seen another bird since. Came close last week, but Tom decided to head the other way. Later that morning back on the road two hunters mentioned how they heard the bird I was working was all excited and they were just waiting for the bang... " So was I" was my reply, but I' m still waiting. One more wet weekend to go here... maybe one last chance for me...