Turkey hunting 2024

[Oklahomabassin]

I have a Browning Maxus 12ga that I plan on using for turkey this spring. I'm going to take it out this week to get an idea on pattern and range since I have no clue about that. It will chamber up to 3 1/2". I have various chokes....full and turkey. I don't really know if there is a lot of difference in these chokes.

Patterning different shells through each choke can be an eye opening experience. Sometimes you will find a combo that stands out among the others.

 

[Oklahomabassin]

So, was I dreaming or did Spring turkey season change?

Yes it changed

 

[Oklahomabassin]

I would go with the turkey choke tube, and I’ve only ever used 2 3/4” shells.


At this stage in life, I swear I enjoy getting ready to hunt much more than actually hunting.

Worn out with all of the prep. Lol

 

[Hangfire]

I turkey hunted maybe 8-10 times in 3-4 year period back in the very early 90's....got two birds.

I didn't want to mess up my Browning A5 so I went to a pawn shop and bought a well used 2 3/4" Winchester 840 single shot that had a 30" barrel and a full choke.....got my buddy at the gunsmith shop to reblue it for me for nothing and I refinished the wood and it turned out looking pretty good.

I shot max load Activ Penetrator lead #6's through it (still have 32 rounds) and I swear that thing would kill on one end and maim on the other.....the recoil was pretty stout.

Gave the shotgun to my son in Ga. in 2009 and I still have my camo turkey vest and some box and slate calls......dam near choked to death trying to use a mouth diaphragm once but that's a story for another day.

 

[ElmerFudd]

I’ve killed many birds in the past with 2.75” shells and a full choke. For the last two years, I’ve used 3.5” shells with a turkey choke. With no more than I’ll be shooting, I can handle the increased recoil. I feel fairly confident out to around 60 yards. Of course, I like for them to be closer, but I like knowing that I can reach out to around 60 yards or so.

Like some of you have said, the prep work is just as fun as the actual hunt. I’ve seen a good number of birds in the last month or so along the highway. Now it’s getting time to start doing some scouting along with finding and organizing my gear.

 

[retrieverman]

I turkey hunted maybe 8-10 times in 3-4 year period back in the very early 90's....got two birds.

I didn't want to mess up my Browning A5 so I went to a pawn shop and bought a well used 2 3/4" Winchester 840 single shot that had a 30" barrel and a full choke.....got my buddy at the gunsmith shop to reblue it for me for nothing and I refinished the wood and it turned out looking pretty good.

I shot max load Activ Penetrator lead #6's through it (still have 32 rounds) and I swear that thing would kill on one end and maim on the other.....the recoil was pretty stout.

Gave the shotgun to my son in Ga. in 2009 and I still have my camo turkey vest and some box and slate calls......dam near choked to death trying to use a mouth diaphragm once but that's a story for another day.

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I still have some Activ steel shot ammo from the early to mid 90’s. That stuff was all the rage with the guys I duck hunted with back then.

 

[Hangfire]

I still have some Activ steel shot ammo from the early to mid 90’s. That stuff was all the rage with the guys I duck hunted with back then.

I've still got six boxes of 12 ga. Activ 2 3/4" #3 steel (sticker price $10.36) that was my favorite shell back in the late 80's and early 90's on waterfowl.....it's been sitting in the hall closet for a little over 30 years but I have no doubts that it would still go boom and blow the lips plum off of a duck today.

 

[Okie4570]

Activ made a some duplex turkey loads that were fantastic as well. 3" 2x4 and 2x6 shot.

 

[Pennyless]

When my dad grew up in central Kansas, if someone saw a deer it made the paper.

Was the population just really low back then?

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Was the population just really low back then?

Yes