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Old April 22, 2013, 11:53 PM   #1
dalegribble
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Does anyone hunt turkeys with a rimfire rifle?

in many states it is legal to hunt turkeys with a rimfire rifle such as a 17mag or 22mag yet i don't see any hunting reports using these weapons. it seems to me that one bullet instead of a bunch of shotgun pellets would make for a more tasty bird? any comments?
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Old April 23, 2013, 12:06 AM   #2
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Several old Texas ranchers I've known (most gone now) use to like the .22 Magnum for turkey hunting. This was way before any of the newer RF's. They never called them, but could make a good enough sound with their mouth to locate them. They hunted by stalking or sitting still, just like deer hunting.

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Old April 23, 2013, 12:20 AM   #3
tahunua001
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Idaho only allows shotguns... so nobody I know uses a rimfire or centerfire
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Old April 23, 2013, 01:00 AM   #4
big al hunter
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Quote:
seems to me that one bullet instead of a bunch of shotgun pellets would make for a more tasty bird? any comments?
To quote Art. "Your not supposed to shoot 'em in the eatin' parts" .

Folks I know aim for the head. Everyone I ever talked to that tried otherwise did not take a bird home, just watched it fly away. ( shotgun only ) Archery is a different story altogether.
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Old April 23, 2013, 05:21 AM   #5
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Shotguns and archery only in Ms.
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Old April 23, 2013, 07:08 AM   #6
kutz
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Only shotguns in New Mexico.
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Old April 23, 2013, 12:37 PM   #7
Super Sneaky Steve
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A head shot with my M&P 15-22 would be real easy, but sadly I can only take em with my shotgun, which does the job just fine.
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Old April 23, 2013, 02:10 PM   #8
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I got my first called-in turkey this year with a scope sighted Savage Striker pistol in .22LR. One shot through-and-through and it only flopped around about 10 ft.
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Old April 23, 2013, 02:59 PM   #9
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Birds are one of the only things I have had trouble killing with a .17 HMR, but I was probably using the wrong bullet for it. V-max is not meant for bird. The rapid expansion and layers of feathers going through wings and into organs it just doesn't get enough penetration. A hollow point or fmj would work better. If I were turkey hunting with .17 HMR it would be a head shot only situation, which isn't out of the realm of possibility. I can hit a squirrel through the heart/head at 80 yards reliably.

.22 magnum would be better if you are not going with the "head shots only" mentality. Better have a good knowledge of turkey anatomy so you don't just wound the bird.
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Old April 23, 2013, 03:43 PM   #10
Erno86
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Here in Maryland...you can hunt fall season turkey with a rifle, in the two far western counties. I missed one with a 22lr rimfire, while squirrel hunting, but would much prefer to use a shotgun or crossbow, because they have less of a chance of shooting off a turkey's beak --- while making a headshot with a 22lr --- which would condemm the wounded turkey too starvation.
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Old April 24, 2013, 09:19 AM   #11
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Shotgun/archery here in Ohio as well.

Although I do have a turkey I had mounted that had a 22 slug in the ankle area(noticed by the taxidermist) that the skin had grown over. Think 'poaching' anyone?
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Old April 24, 2013, 06:19 PM   #12
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Shotgun and bow/arrow in Arkansas, fall and spring.
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Old April 24, 2013, 06:23 PM   #13
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Shotguns, archery or muzzle loading rifles in GA. Only seen 1 person with a muzzle loader. Never actually say anyone hunting with a bow, but I worked with a guy who went to a longbow for everything. Sold all of his hunting rifles.
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Old April 26, 2013, 04:01 PM   #14
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Shotguns, ML shotguns, and archery equipment in NM. Fall Sept season is bow only.
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Old April 26, 2013, 05:40 PM   #15
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Archery/shotgun here in Mass. Rifles for bear and small game/varmints only.
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Old May 1, 2013, 07:44 AM   #16
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Shot guns and Bows in Wisconsin as well..... with proper shot placement a .22 is highly effective. Our local DNR uses them to control nuisance birds
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Old May 1, 2013, 08:05 AM   #17
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I believe that if their state laws allowed it, more people would hunt them with a rifle. Savage made their little Model 24 Combo gun in various cartridge/ gauges that would give you a choice. Ithaca even called their combo gun a Turkey Gun. The possibility of wounding a bird with a rifle is greater than wounding one with a shotgun, so I always used the shotgun.
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Old May 1, 2013, 09:29 AM   #18
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Only shotguns and primitive weapons in GA, sadly. Never seen anyone hunt with anything other than a shotgun.

In one of those wierd things that stick with you, I distinctly remember a group of us in 7th grade, round about 2000 or so, discussing earnestly a rumor someone had heard from his Dad concerning the possible use of Rimfire rifles for the upcoming season.

Never materialized, but I would very much like to give it a try.
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Old May 1, 2013, 11:31 AM   #19
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We can shoot turkey with rifles or shotguns here but what fun is there in shooting turkeys with rifles? The most enjoyable part of turkey hunting is calling in birds from distance and getting them close enough to shoot with shotguns. Shooting turkeys at distance with rifles would be about as much fun as shooting swimming ducks. If you just want turkey to eat then just go to the local supermarket... it will be a lot cheaper than hunting for one.
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Old May 1, 2013, 11:58 AM   #20
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I've killed turkey with the 17M2 V max. It punches a neat little hole in the breast and blows open in the innards. No meat loss and a quick kill.
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Old May 1, 2013, 06:05 PM   #21
Boomer58cal
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My dad used .22 to feed the family in his teen years( late 40s early 50s)

You know. I've never go the calling thing. Here in OreGun turkeys rome in flocks of 100. How could you miss'em? Maybe it's just good hunting here.
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Old May 1, 2013, 07:45 PM   #22
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NY is shotgun only, but I've seen more turkeys killed with a 22 than a shotgun!
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Old May 3, 2013, 10:51 PM   #23
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.22 Magnum in the Fall.
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Old May 7, 2013, 04:31 PM   #24
SPEMack618
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In GA, where I hunt atleast, you couldn't get a shot of more than 75 yards when turkey hunting due to the thick brush.

I would think a .22 LR, aiming for the head, would be more difficult than aiming center mass with a blast of No. 4 or No. 5 shot.
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Old May 7, 2013, 10:17 PM   #25
Doyle
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Quote:
I believe that if their state laws allowed it, more people would hunt them with a rifle.
I don't think so. Fl allows it but very few people hunt actually choose to hunt turkeys with a rifle. I think that those turkeys that are actually killed here with a rifle are "chance" encounters when hunting deer or hogs rather than called-in birds.
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