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THOUGHTS AFIELD by
Kirby Keller March 2018 |
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I don't know about you, but this winter is getting old. I mean, I am ready for some spring-like weather, some quality time in the woods to see how everything survived the winter, particularly wildlife, and start getting ready for spring turkey season. Speaking of spring turkey, I hope you have been reading up on some of the new guns and especially the ammo coming out for this season. It looks promising!
If you get that new gun or want to try some of the promising new turkey loads hitting the market, be sure to pattern that gun and load to see how it performs. Even if you are planning to carry “old faithful” again this year—and why not, hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But be sure to do yourself and the turkeys you hunt a favor, by patterning the gun with the choke tube and ammo you plan to use? If you have never really done it, you are not alone. I have been surprised how many longtime turkey hunters have never patterned their shotguns!
Two years ago, a good buddy of mine joined me upstate for a few days of chasing turkeys. The second morning right after daylight, I heard a distant gobbler respond to his soft yelps; the aggressive gobbling indicated that the old boy was hot on the trail looking for that hen. Then I heard the shot. I gradually worked my way over to congratulate him, but I found a disgusted hunter staring in disbelief. The story was that the bird came within 35 yards; when he fired the bird flew away. My question of how the gun had patterned at 25, 30, and 40 yards was met by a quiet, sheepish response that he hadn't had time to pattern the gun that he bought a few weeks earlier.
Yep, it happens every year. Nope, he was not the first, nor will he be the last to experience that sickening feeling. I hope you will not be the next one. Please invest some time in taking your shotgun to your favorite range that has a patterning board and shoot at least at 20,30 and 40 yards. Try different choke tubes with different turkey loads until you find the right combination. For turkeys, you will want a minimum of 210-230 pellets in a 30 inch diameter circle with at least 3-5 skull or cervical vertebrae hits on a turkeys head to be effective.
Go ahead, buy some different loads, take that favorite gun and enjoy a few hours on a spring day discovering what combination works best for you. You will have fun, you will gain confidence in yourself and in your equipment, and you will look forward to opening day!
Good hunting!
If you get that new gun or want to try some of the promising new turkey loads hitting the market, be sure to pattern that gun and load to see how it performs. Even if you are planning to carry “old faithful” again this year—and why not, hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But be sure to do yourself and the turkeys you hunt a favor, by patterning the gun with the choke tube and ammo you plan to use? If you have never really done it, you are not alone. I have been surprised how many longtime turkey hunters have never patterned their shotguns!
Two years ago, a good buddy of mine joined me upstate for a few days of chasing turkeys. The second morning right after daylight, I heard a distant gobbler respond to his soft yelps; the aggressive gobbling indicated that the old boy was hot on the trail looking for that hen. Then I heard the shot. I gradually worked my way over to congratulate him, but I found a disgusted hunter staring in disbelief. The story was that the bird came within 35 yards; when he fired the bird flew away. My question of how the gun had patterned at 25, 30, and 40 yards was met by a quiet, sheepish response that he hadn't had time to pattern the gun that he bought a few weeks earlier.
Yep, it happens every year. Nope, he was not the first, nor will he be the last to experience that sickening feeling. I hope you will not be the next one. Please invest some time in taking your shotgun to your favorite range that has a patterning board and shoot at least at 20,30 and 40 yards. Try different choke tubes with different turkey loads until you find the right combination. For turkeys, you will want a minimum of 210-230 pellets in a 30 inch diameter circle with at least 3-5 skull or cervical vertebrae hits on a turkeys head to be effective.
Go ahead, buy some different loads, take that favorite gun and enjoy a few hours on a spring day discovering what combination works best for you. You will have fun, you will gain confidence in yourself and in your equipment, and you will look forward to opening day!
Good hunting!