First day turkey with a flintlock

[Brokennock]

I shot a turkey on the wing once does that count as sporting.....

I don't know. Ask the "expert."

 

[Ponderosaman]

I don't know. Ask the "expert."

You know all humor aside, I do think that killing a turkey on the wing is quite an accomplishment.

 

[Brokennock]

You know all humor aside, I do think that killing a turkey on the wing is quite an accomplishment.

Oh heck yes.
They are tough enough to kill on the ground. Unless using archery gear, it is a headshot game. Body shots with any size birdshot don't get the job done like it does on the other birds we shoot on the wing.

 

[mushka]

I must look into these Gould's turkeys. Never heard of them.

 

[Ponderosaman]

I must look into these Gould's turkeys. Never heard of them.

Largest sub-species. You can pay to hunt them in Mexico.

 

[andy52]

You know all humor aside, I do think that killing a turkey on the wing is quite an accomplishment.

It was just a fluke really I was actually rabbit hunting with some friends using beagles. the dogs flushed the birds and one flew straight at me it was in the fall and I had a turkey tag so I took the shot head on at about 20 yds. The bird folded in air and hit the ground without a twitch. I was using an original Wesley Richards 12 ga. SxS with a duplex load of 6s and 4s.

 

[Ponderosaman]

It was just a fluke really I was actually rabbit hunting with some friends using beagles. the dogs flushed the birds and one flew straight at me it was in the fall and I had a turkey tag so I took the shot head on at about 20 yds. The bird folded in air and hit the ground without a twitch. I was using an original Wesley Richards 12 ga. SxS with a duplex load of 6s and 4s.

Time in the field to find luck is part of amazing hunts. Further, many folks presented with your situation wouldn’t have been able to close the deal. In my book though, humility is one positive measure of a man, but then I’m not generally a judgmental person.

 

[3Setters]

15 yards, now thats getting them in close.

 

[Springerpanhead]

Nicely done!! Man I sure miss our Fall season, I sure hope our numbers get back up to be able to hunt them some day!!

Kill the Coyotes and Wild Hogs if you want turkeys.

 

[Col_Houston]

Though he has never tried it. Our pompous judge of all things sporting deems our turkey hunting methods unsportsmanlike and beneath a sporting gentleman.
This has come up with nearly every turkey hunting post on here. He's never tried it, has no idea what he's talking about, and yet,,,,, can't seem to keep from commenting negatively on it.

A true gentleman would have just said congratulations and let it be... or, said nothing at all.

Well said! And if not a congratulations, then just silently scroll on by.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

The last few fall turkey hunts for me have gone to the last day before I got a turkey. This year, I resolved to sit still in a spot that I knew would eventually get me a chance at a gobbler. About 10:00 this morning, the first day of fall turkey season in Illinois, three nice gobblers decided to walk right up to my spot. I aimed at the closest one, at about 15 yards. The 12 gauge flintlock went off fast and the bird was down and out. Young gobbler, 9” beard. May try smoking him.View attachment 100786

Well done!

 

[megasupermagnum]

Nice. I won't be out for the fall season for almost a month yet. I loved smoked meat, you can't go wrong. I personally like to pluck them, bake them, and eat with some kind of a berry sauce and butter. Cranberry is the standard, but I like a little sweeter like blueberry.

 

[Kev308]

Tell us more about your smoothbore, please
Kevin

 

[bushytail]

Congratulations on a nice turkey!

 

[Mogadishu Meanderer]

Every body to his own but not for me
Feltwad

 

[okawbow]

Tell us more about your smoothbore, please
Kevin

The gun is a self made 12 gauge using a round 30” barrel with some choke. Walnut half stock, Hawken Shop flintlock, brass ramrod. I built this gun in 2014, and have taken 12 turkeys with it since. I use a load composed of 80 grains 2f blackpowder, a hard over powder card, a felt card, a 90 grain measure of #6 lead shot, and another hard card over the shot.

 

[toot]

The last few fall turkey hunts for me have gone to the last day before I got a turkey. This year, I resolved to sit still in a spot that I knew would eventually get me a chance at a gobbler. About 10:00 this morning, the first day of fall turkey season in Illinois, three nice gobblers decided to walk right up to my spot. I aimed at the closest one, at about 15 yards. The 12 gauge flintlock went off fast and the bird was down and out. Young gobbler, 9” beard. May try smoking him.View attachment 100786

that belongs on a calendar!

 

[Colonial Boy]

I sure wish we had wild birds like that around here; well done and a lot of satisfaction especially as you’d built the gun.

 

[FiremanBrad]

Every body to his own but not for me
Feltwad

You just can’t help yourself, I suppose.

 

[Feltwad]

You just can’t help yourself, I suppose.

Your quote does not come into it all I said is [Everybody to his own but it is not for me ] so what is wrong with that ?
Feltwad