Turkey Hunting Shotgun - Can't Miss Tips - Page 2

Turkey Hunting - Helping you harvest that turkey of a lifetime


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Taking a turkey gun to the next step of performance in accuracy would have to be utilizing iron sights.  Iron sights give the shooter a sight picture to achieve more consistency in shot placement.  Like a rifle, the ability to adjust vertically and horizontally becomes an asset to guns that the point of impact does not match the point of aim.  Compensation for a point of impact that is off center is no longer an issue.  Available on the market today are many variations of “iron sight” type sights that will mount to the ventilated rib of a standard barrel.  Tru-Glo is just one manufacturer of fiber optic sights that are illuminated by natural light and appear battery powered in low light conditions.  Target acquisition is quick and easy.  These sights can either be stuck on the rib with double-sided tape, or they could be attached with metal screw down systems that require no gunsmithing.  These sights allow for both windage and elevation adjustments for more accurate shot placement.  Overall, the iron-sight style sighting systems are a step in the right direction and can help eliminate many shot placement problems.

The next realm of performance would be the mounting of optics on your shotgun.  Add the precision of a scope to a tight patterning gun and choke combo and you have a surgical turkey hunting device.  A scope gives the shooter the opportunity to fine tune shot placement.  Accuracy becomes consistent and an uncluttered view of the bird is presented.  Sighting through a scope eliminates the barrel from blocking the view of the bird, and allows the shooter to be more relaxed while watching its actions and maintaining a ready-to-shoot position.  Quality optics also offer light gathering capabilities that will enhance vision in less than optimum light conditions.  Scopes with variable magnification could be the hot ticket for the deer / turkey hunter.  Utilize low powers for turkey and the higher powers for deer to extend the scopes use into multiple seasons.

The last type of sighting system is one that I feel is the most affective.  For years I have been using a red dot style scope on my turkey gun, and I won’t be found chasing gobblers without one.  I feel that my hunts are more relaxing.  I am able to concentrate more on the bird without the obstruction of the barrel or the stress of perfectly aligning the beads.  Red dot scopes are sighting systems that do not utilize any form of magnification, and do not have an eye relief.  The benefit of having no eye relief is that no matter what position the shooter is in, as long as they can see through the scope to see the dot, they can hit their target.  The scope will not black out when the shooter gets himself into a crazy position following a circling bird.  The benefit of no magnification is so there is no misjudging distance.  When a red dot style scope is used with both eyes open the scope tends to disappear leaving a dot floating in front of the shooter. The shooter, because of having both eyes open will have full peripheral vision, and will be able to watch the actions of the bird unobstructed as well as all that happens around it.  All this can be done while maintaining a ready-to-shoot position.

There are some disadvantages to using scopes.  They can be knocked out of alignment while hunting or transporting which can change the point of impact.  They can fog up on days of less than optimum conditions, and red dot scopes depend on batteries to make them work.  These all are points of concern, and should be addressed before making a change with the Ol’ Faithful turkey gun.  Regardless if the decision is made to change or not, always remember to pattern your shotgun and know how it shoots before going afield.  Too much time and effort is put into having a successful hunt to miss closing the deal with the boss because of not knowing how your gun shoots. 

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