Flintlock Tom

The Baron

The Baron

CGN frequent flyer
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Location
Kingston, ON
Thids could go in the hunting forum, but I figured you fellas here might appreciate it more due to the artillery used.;)

Opening day of the Ontario turkey season found me walking into one of my favourite spots well before light. I picked out a centrally located spot, where I know any birds on the property will spend time at some point in the morning. I was set and ready when I heard the first gobble at 5:40am. I thought this will be good, as the bird was roosted not 250 yards away on a ridge, and I was in an open field and very visible. About 5:50 there were a few more gobbles and I knew there were at least 2 toms and a jake up there.:cool: At about 6:00 am I heard some hens cackle and heard the birds pitch down. I let out a few soft yelps and clucks to let the boys know I was here. It sounded like the whole gang was heading to fields on the opposite side of the ridge, so I did a little louder calling and got some response. I saw one tom strutting on my side of the ridge and he eventually worked his way down and came into my field. I had Pretty Boy out and when the tom came into the field he strutted and gobbled quite a bit, slowly closing the 150 yards between us. He hung for a while at 60 yards and a soft yelp broke him loose. He hit the 30 yard mark and started strutting around Pretty Boy but keeping his distance and looking reluctant to come right in, in case this new guy outmatched him. The tom was slipping by at 22 yards and I could tell from his body language he was going to slide right on by and this was as close as he would get. I have patterned my gun extensively and am 100% confident to 25 yards, although I usually limit myself to 20 max. if at all possible. Anyway, it was now or never so a couple clucks got his head up nicely and the 20ga. Caywood Type "C" put him down with surprising authority. Load was 80gr. 3F, 4 o/s cards over the charge, 1 1/8oz. #6 and 1 o/s card to hold it all in.

6:20am and time for some self-portraits.:D A little off on my camera aiming, but it's the best I got.
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Tom and the flinter. Tom was 18.5lbs, 8 3/4" beard and 7/8" spurs. This is my 5th tom with a flintlock and my 9th blackpowder turkey after switching to traditional muzzleloading in 2004 (took 1 jake and 1 tom with an antique 11ga. fowler and 2 toms a T/C New Englander 12ga). Makes me chuckle how many fellas think you "need" at least a 3 1/2" 12ga. and an effective range of 50 yards to kill a turkey.:rolleyes:
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What??? It isn't a plactic stocked, stainless, sabot shooting, 3 pellet, extra super full choke inline flintlock you used?? Nice to see the old ways still work in the hands of a competent shooter. Good work
 
8ball said:
I think I will bring my Tulle for turkey hunting. I will patterned it first. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

8ball... yes, do it! The rewards are great when you do it the old fashioned way (the "right" way, as I now call it;)).

I assume your tulle is also a .62 smoothbore? I got my best results from 80gr. 3F and 1 1/8oz. #6 lead shot. Every gun is different, but generally, a shot charge slightly heavier that the powder charge seems to pattern the tightest. 1 1/8oz. shot (using a shot measure) is approx. equal to 100 gr. in a powder measure. That 4:5 powder/shot ratio seems good. I tried heavier charges (90 gr. 3F and 1 1/4oz. shot and even heavier) and also tried from equal volumes to almost 50% more shot, and kept coming back to a relatively moderate load at 4:5. I also found loading with the thick cardboard wads over the powder charge gave me "doughnut" patterns, because the heavy wads tend to blow through the pattern. My best patterns have come from using 4 thin over-shot cards on the powder charge. Put a tiny slit in the side of each to let air excape, and stagger to location of the slits. You can use a plastic shot cup to some effect, but I prefer to do it "old school".:D

You can expect a max. effecxtive range of 20 - 25 yards. It doesn't seem like much, but in my experience a turkey that will make it to 40 yards will eventually make it to 25. The only difference is a minute or two, maybe a soft cluck, and steady nerves! The adreneline rush is worth it.:cool:

I would be more than happy to share what I have learned about developing a turkey load for a flintlock. Feel pree to PM me, cuz' I'm happy top help any fellow blackpowder enthusiast who wants to take up the challenge.

Hey Gerry... I had a coyote broadside at 27 yards this morning, but I couldn't get him any closer and didn't trust the ol' flinter with 6's to do it clean from that far. I really wanted a flintlock coyote - that may be my next personal challenge!:rolleyes:
 
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