Spring turkey season is one of the most exciting times of the year for hunters nationwide. Seasons start ramping up in the southern states in late-February through early-March, while seasons in northern states extend their way into June. Being prepared is always key. Ensuring that you have confidence not only in your own shooting ability, but also in your equipment can help tremendously with your chances of success harvesting wild turkeys during the Spring months.
Part of your annual routine should always include shooting your shotgun prior to season, even if it’s one that’s been tried and tested for many years. It never hurts to sharpen your skills and boost your confidence, and pattern testing is an exciting way to kick the edge off the anticipation and impatience as we wait for the first gobbles to ring out through the tree limbs on a perfectly set Spring morning stage.
Shotgun pattern testing is a simple task to check off the list, and honestly, what hunter doesn’t love to get out and shoot guns at any time? New guns, chokes, sights, and shells always bring along some extra excitement, but also having confidence in your setup when it comes time to squeeze the trigger is the most important aspect of preparing for the moment when everything comes together on the moment of a turkey hunt that we all daydream about during the off-season.
There are several variables that can fall into the category of building a turkey hunting shotgun. Honestly, a lot of it is personal preferences. My current setup is a 12 gauge Retay Gordion Turkey sporting the pistol grip stock option, a Burris Fast Fire 3 red dot sight, a Kicks Industries Gobblin’ Thunder .655 constriction choke, and Verdict TSS #9 shot shells. This combo has been a superb performer for me personally in turkey season.
For somebody with no prior experience, I would recommend a few things to get you started. First, determine which gauge of shotgun you’d like to shoot. Several turkey hunters today have begun to favor 20-gauge shotguns, or even .410-gauge shotguns. A couple of the biggest advantages is having a smaller, and often lighter gun, as well as less recoil while shooting. Shooting TSS shotgun shells has also proven to be deadly at extended distances 40 yards and further, even with smaller gauge shotguns. Personally, I have always shot a 12-gauge shotgun, and have never felt the urge to change. I have always had success, so like they always say, “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.”
Next, determine which type of sight to use with your turkey hunting shotgun. Again, my personal preference is shooting a red dot sight, but many people like to shoot peep sights, fiber optic sights, or even something as simple as a small front bead sight. Basically, any shotgun will come with some type of standard sights. Red dots are nice and often offer some better visibility while shooting, but can also come with additional expense. You also must ensure that your red dot has a charged battery, or at least have a backup sight in case the red dot failed to function.
Having a choke tube built for turkey hunting is also a highly favorable option with shotguns. Depending on whether you choose to shoot lead shot or TSS can also help determine which choke is best for your gun. Also, manufacturers will normally have some recommendations on what constriction you should choose based on the shotgun shells you choose to shoot. Shotgun shells contain pellets that come in a variety of sizes, so determining a choke tube goes hand-in-hand with the type of shot you choose. I highly recommend doing research on choke tubes, and reaching out to the specific manufacturers for any information or questions that are not readily available.
Finally, to assist with the choke tube decision, you will need to determine the type of shotgun shells you want to shoot. Popular sizes of shot shells range from #5 shot to #9 shot. If you choose to shoot lead, I recommend shooting #5 shot. Lead is lighter than TSS, so it will scatter more at distances, especially past 40 yards. A larger pellet means the shot will be more dense, and cause it to spread less. There are plenty of brands that produce lead shot for turkeys that are easily effective out to 40 yards, and lead shot is much less expensive. TSS however, is a very popular alternative that has proved to hold patterns tight enough to kill turkeys past 60 yards. Since TSS is heavier, #8 or #9 shot size is what I recommend. The pattern holds tight, and you have more pellets that you’re slinging down range, so it increases your odds of hitting your target. Remember, TSS can be expensive, but provides an edge if the shot opportunity is past 40 yards.
