Do you really need a camo shotgun?
 

Now I know alot of turkey hunters use camo shotguns and I know some use all black synthetic. But I have an Old Winchester 1300 20ga. i have used for turkey hunting before but I always put a gun sock over it or use No-mar camo tape. Its a black/blued barrel with wood stock and fore-end. And I was just wondering do I really need to camo my shotgun or would it be fine the way it is? I know black synthetic stocks are differant from camo but in the shade its prolly really hard to tell to the turkey so I'm just wondering some insight on this thanks in advance!

nope
 

Nope... a camo gun isnt needed. Mind you now, I do think it helps, but definately not needed. I believe its more a marketing gimmic to get us to spend more $$ than anything else.

keep still and you're fine. Camo looks cool but not necessary IMO

I bought some of the camo tape and made my own,it peels right off with no problem. I only use it from the breach to the end of the choke because the butt is covered up. I think as has been said if you keep still thats what really matters.
I must admit I was glad I used the camo tape because the two birds I had a chance at came in real close to me at 10' and 8 feet,so the extra camo did not hurt a bit.

mmmm I might try it with out it if I dont like it I might just stick with the No-mar tape again thanks for the input and the advise

Nope, not really needed. Turkeys usually bust you because of movement or glare.

Having said that I dont think it hurts at all......all but one of my turkey guns are camo.

The idea of a camo gun or clothing for that fact is a couple things and as the guys have said Camo helps blending into the woods, blending into the woods helps mask movements as most turkey hunters will have some movement at some point whether it is just a simple light swing to the right or left with the gun to get on a gobbler that is moving the wrong way.

Is it something that can be done without, well this is a question you need to ask yourself and figure how bad do you want to be successful this spring because everything that helps a hunter in the woods is one point greater to success and could have you walking out of the woods with a used tag and a gobbler over the shoulder.

It's a marketing gimmick. I've been turkey hunting for 10 years now and not once have I been busted for not having a camo gun. The only time they've seen it is when they see the flash from the barrel for the briefest of nanoseconds.

Nope but I love mine! :)

Do you use a camo gun to hunt deer??

I had one camo gun once - laid it down and never found it!



That is Matte finish though.

There are times I do beleive that in sunlight and a high gloss blued barrel it may cost you a bird.

There is a few other factors to consider.

My Duck gun is camo (can double as a turkey back up if needed) and that Camo finish is far easier to take care of. It rust very little if at all.

So as Adrian said - Camo from head to toe and even with the gun - it may help you in some tough situations. But planning ahead and being in the shadows many a Gloss finish had killed a turkey. Done right all the Turkey should see is a "O"





JW

Nice JW! very nice!

I will start by saying that one of the coolest parts of turkey hunting is putting on my mask, gloves, leafy suit, etc, and looking like a big pile of weeds. Packing a shotgun in Realtree APG just adds to that.
But...
I've had several camo turkey guns. 835, SX2, etc, in camo. My last turkey gun was all black and my current one is all black. I haven't noticed a difference in my success. (I looked cooler with the other ones though)
Here's something to think about (don't actually try this). Imagine you're the turkey looking at a hunter with a camo shotgun pointed at you and a hunter with a black shotgun pointed at you. The only thing you are going to see is the black hole at the end of the barrel on both of them :)
rw

not needed at all if you have a matte finish. if its a fancy polyurathane finish on wood and a gloss finish on reciever and barrel i would do something with it. when the sun hits that stuff it shines alot.

Not needed at all, but they sure look good.

Just have to watch shinny stocks and shinny bluing jobs which will bust you in a heartbeat if the sun hits it right.:busted:

I'll still take the camo though.:cool2:

Another - "nope". First 25+ turkeys I klilled were done in with an old Stevens Model B, SBS, 12 ga. , 2 3/4 in. .... with 30" F/F barrels. Heck I did not start wearing cammo until maybe 1980! (Army "woodland"). I must admit now that I go out looking like a 275# shrub and toting a "turkey gun" .... a fully cammoed Benelli Nova, 12 ga. that will handle 3 1/2' shells .... with a Pure Gold .670 choke. Can't say that it has made me any more dangerous to the gobblers. But man do I look the part!

the answer is YES!

well not really, but I think a camo turkey gun is certainly more important than having a camo deer gun.

I used the tape, which is bad IMO prior to getting a camo 1187.
Also used a camo sock type cover which is way nicer, and I'd strongly recommend over the tape.

If you're going to hunt turkeys with a shotgun year after year, I'd def get a turkey setup, a camo 12ga 3" or 3.5"

I quality turkey gun can double as a great geese/pheasant gun, course I see newer turkey guns with 23" barrels instead of 26 or 28"

Basically I have a camo 26" remington 1187 has the screw in chokes, I love it.

How many turkeys fell in the 1600's untill modern times after being shot from muzzleloading shotguns with wood stocks by hunters wearing non camo wool clothing?

I believe in personal camo clothing. I know fron experience that it works even at close range. On the other hand, I will not pay extra or even want camo firearms. I know from experience that, at least in deer hunting, my black or wooden stocks have never given me away. Movement is the thing that usually gives you away.

no just a non glare finish

Well put JW! And my oh my... just look at that paintbrush!!! :rock:


Kim :)

Camo looks good and it's a selling point,however I do feel that if a gun with any sheen to it poses the posibility of spoking a bird or even a deer if it's a sunny day and the sunlight catches the finish and creates a flash or glare.

haha
They just look cool!
I have used a black synthetic pump since the very first day I started turkey hunting, & I can easily say that it will do the trick... many times... lol

-South

Camo is not needed, but there are times when it could help. However I wouldn't go out with a shiny blued barrel. Have you ever seen somebody carrying one a couple hundred yards away in the sun before? The are very shiny. I think you would be alright with the gunsock or tape though.

For years all I had was wood/blued and never had a problem.

No, but it certainly doesnt hurt, and there are so many cool things you can do to customize your gear. Some UltimateCamo on a dipped turkey gun.

My grand dad never used camo on his guns. They were always regular wood stocks with blued barrels.. He said you dont need all that camo to kill a turkey... Just patience, a little luck, lots of scouting, a good turkey call, and a good hiding spot in the woods!
I would tend to agree with him... I just happen to have an 835 ultimag thats camo because I got a great deal on it!

Not in my opinion, just like the rest of these folks are sayin'..stay still and you will tag your bird.

i Agree, totally a marketing gimmick

haha first time i would lean my gun up against the tree to take a leak it would be gone for good

Sales gimmick, maybe. Cool, DEFINITELY! :)

rw

Not sure I understand the sales gimick thoughts, no one forces anyone to buy anything dipped, you can get most guns and bows with no camo. Like I said, it certainly isnt going to hurt, and I love tweakin my stuff out, cars, trucks, Harley, bows, guns, etc.... with whatever, rims, tires, paint, sights, dipping, stabalizers ..... adds a little something personal to your gear.

I have never owned a camo gun...I used a double for 15 years or so and started using this B-80 over 25 years ago...It has a gloss finish, just can't stand to think about covering it up...

Heck, at 6ft 5 and 240ish, it ain't the gun I have to worry about them seeing... :)

This gun fits me to a T and points naturally...It also throws a great pattern, that's what's important...

Well i bought a camo gun its a 870 shurshot and i didnt even pattern it when i got my bird

I don't think i would make a difference i would just be carefull of the glare if you have a shiny stock/barrel.

This question has come up before on this post, with much the same consensus. My current turkey boomer is a camouflaged Win. 1300. Need the camo? No, but I figure why make it easier for the bird to spot me?

Instead of wondering, here's an image of the last thing some geese saw in Saskatchewan a few years ago. I don't think it'd look much different to a turkey.

Needed? Naaaa. I hunted with a standard blued steel and wood shotgun for years. Then I used a black synthetic stocked gun for years. I have a camo shotgun now but only because I like how it looks.

i know plenty of guys who outhunt me every year w a remington 1100 w 2 3/4 in shells! lol no camo and no 3 1/2 in shells! i like the 3 1/2 in shells bc it gives me a lil more range if i cant get em in close enough and i think the camo just looks awesome! lol but as long as you sit still there is really no need for camo unless you just have a stainless steel gun or something and i havent seen too many stainless steel shotguns! :-)