Where are those Turkeys?

Chilly Willy

Chilly Willy

CGN Regular
Rating - 98.6%
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Location
Erin, ON
Well its time to start thinkin' turkey for those of us lucky enough to have a season. Who's seeing the winter flocks and any photos? Practise makes perfect...so I'm starting to dust off the calls and get my callin' back in shape for April 25th.

I've been doing some research on the Federal flight control wad loads which were offered in 2005 and again this year. Seems that these wads are so heavy walled that tight choke constriction actual blows patterns and creates more flyers. Ideal constriction from everything I've heard in .670 or larger with no real need for long tapper, extended chokes.

Conversations with Comp 'N' Choke have spurred my interest in the new Winchester Elite Xtended range turkey loads with heavier than lead perfectly round shot. This stuff looks like the ticket for dropping that boss tom like a sack of potatoes. the nice thing is that it is buffered and can be used through a tight constriction choke which we use for lead shot. #6 shot will do the job delivering the traditional energy of lead @ 45 yards that lead does @ 35 yards;)
 
The only place i have seen it for sale at is BPS in vaughan mills mall. I think its a couple bucks more expensive than the Federal loads but we'll see if its worth it. I'm planning on buying a box of #6's to pattern out of my 11-87 with the Kicks GT .665 and .655. From all reports I heard or read it is getting much denser center patterns and with much less flyer activity in the surrounding pattern. The loads are available in 1 7/8 ounce 3" @ an average volocity which is fine for this type of shot. I have yet to see a turkey move faster than a turkey load can get there. Its usually boo-ya...POOF of feathers and a floppin bird eatin' dirt
 
I got mine at 21 yards last year, I can't wait to get back out there, it was the day before my birthday too. I use an 870 supermag with remington 3 1/2" 2 1/4oz loads #4 shot and the stock remington extra full turkey choke, seems to do teh trick and I would have no problems hitting one at 40 yards. We will see how the start of the year goes, if I get one early I might pull the bow out for number 2.
 
2 3/4" 12 guage is just fine for turkey! Remember that the pattern you toss is the biggest part of the firearm component of it all. Take some time..invest some $ in a real good turkey choke and turkey loads and pattern that gun! The lack of extra payload in a 2 3/4 compaired to a 3" or 3 1/2" would be a good arguement for smaller shot size (#6) and the newer heavier than lead shot to carry more energy on target for less hits.

Many turkey hunters pattern out to 40 -45 yards and find them selves face to beak with a thunderin' tom @ 10 - 15 yards and miss. I strongly suggest an investment in some sort of sight system (fiberoptic or scope) and pattern from 15 yards right on out to 40 yards.

Many birds have and will be taken with 20 guage shotguns. Once you have the bird on the leash.....drag him right on in..and wait for the shot. Keep an eye on that snoot...that is your indicator!!!! Limp and dangling is a nice relaxed bird lookin for love. A shrunk up stiff snoot is a nervous bird thats ready to bolt...so if ya got a shot...take it now!
 
back to CW:

A shrunk up stiff snoot is a nervous bird thats ready to bolt...so if ya got a shot...take it now!

I thought you were a younger man, but that just about sums up what it is like to be an older fellow. We mature fellows have three rules:

1. Never pass up a chance to urinate.

2. Never waste an erection.

3. Never trust a fart.

Life advice down through the ages.........

Doug
 
Doug said:
back to CW:

A shrunk up stiff snoot is a nervous bird thats ready to bolt...so if ya got a shot...take it now!

I thought you were a younger man, but that just about sums up what it is like to be an older fellow. We mature fellows have three rules:

1. Never pass up a chance to urinate.

2. Never waste an erection.

3. Never trust a fart.

Life advice down through the ages.........

Doug
Click to expand...
That's frickin' hilarious , Doug!!! :D :D Probably true eh? ;)
 
well, of COURSE it is true, aren't any of you old enough to know better, and too young to resist?

Getting older has many indignities, TRUST ME, and we might as well laugh at them............

BTW I first learned Rule #1 when I was a very young man. Joe Quible's grandmother gave him two pieces of advice before she passed on:

1. Never pass up a chance to urinate.

2. Never make love to somebody with more problems than you have.

I thought both were quite good bits of wisdom..........

Doug
 
Seen a pile of them putting up tree stands last year. Have to get up there and do a little looking around with some fresh snow on the ground. This will only be my second year turkey hunting, so I think I have LOTS to learn yet.
 
Cletus said:
, so I think I have LOTS to learn yet.
Click to expand...

When Turkey hunting I always try to remember "They are so stupid, they are smart"


I watched one run into a fence 5 or 6 times as he was comming to the call. The only thing that saved his life is he ws to stupid to figure out how to get around the fence......(gate about 20yds north of him):rolleyes:
 
I vote for the easy yelper. It is a push button box call. Very easy to use and have had toms answer to it all season long. Plus it called in my first bird last year. Another plus is that it is one handed operation and can be covered with your hand in damp situations.
 
My mouth is the best turkey call I own. Second (well, actually first) is my Tomtalker Boxcall. Let me tell you, its the ####.
I allmost lost it in turkey season this year.
Its attached to my vest with a string now...
 
It's funny as #### to hunt with Darryl...he's got his mittens on strings through his jacket ...a box call attached to his vest ......and some days he wears his running shoes for good measure....oh did I mention the hockey helmet?
 
Chilly Willy said:
It's funny as #### to hunt with Darryl...he's got his mittens on strings through his jacket ...a box call attached to his vest ......and some days he wears his running shoes for good measure....oh did I mention the hockey helmet?
Click to expand...

ummmmm who dresses him up before the hunt?:p i need to hear of this hockey helmet though:eek:
 
I am in the process of training the Toms now... I will get some pictures for you guys.:)
I killed my first 21lb Tom with a single 2 3/4 #6 lead field load at about 15 yards. I have also killed them with three inch and all my recent birds with 3.5's which I believe to be the best choice.:eek:
Last year my second bird bolted at 35 yards and I pounded him three times with #6 3.5 Federal Flight Control. He came back to life when I pulled him out of the truck to show the G/F 15 minutes later... big fight on the front lawn... G/F laughing at the window... me standing on his neck getting my legs beat up by his wings and spurs. Turkeys are very smart and tough... me, not so much.:confused:
I don't reccomend 2 3/4 inch shells for Turkeys if you have something bigger, pattern is only one factor in killing these birds... energy is very important too. Energy is determined by the velocity and shot wieght... more pellets means more energy.
I used the Federal Flight Control Lead shot last year and was impressed by this shot.... extremely tight and consistent patterns even from a standard choke. These shells will also perform in the tighter chokes... I tested them in a .660 Undertaker (Browning Back Bored barrel) and they were awesome. But the best Patterns came from my standard .690 Chyro Tube in the SBEII.
I am anxious to test the new Winchester stuff through some different guns and chokes.

And Darryl usually forgets to do up the strap on his helmet so it falls off when he does the spastic shufflle.
Chilly only makes fun of Darryl cuz he can't find a helmet to fit his humongous head.
Chilly Willy wears a Plastic Drool Board and he carries his calls in a Spider-Man lunch pail. :p
 
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