No, I don't think you offended anyone. And, I understand what you're saying and you're correct. If you're playing a game that involves rules, you should take it upon yourself to make sure that you know ALL the rules.

If you shoot them with a 22, I reccomend using hollow points .

Haha, yes we even see the Mom and Dad concept at work, with grown ups, sheesh! Hey, yes thanks for that input. I've never hunted the turkey, and I learned some things in this thread.

I have taken my share with a 22LR. Some straight in the chest. Like mentioned they went about 10-15 yards and were toast. Thats no different than taking a deer or hog or any game with a large caliber, then having it run off 100+ yards. though, many people dont agree on my choice of shot placement, i will only take a neck shot on a deer and a head shot with a hog so i never have that problem. If i dont get that opportunity which is very seldom the animal will walk away to see another day. If its a trophy then its getting it in the vitals. Btw, anyone us CB's for rabbits or small game? They are super silent and do very little damage.

From what I have been noticing over the past few years, it is somewhat unusual to find 22 LR solids.

The hollow points might make a little difference, but a well placed head shot, or a body shot into the heart/lungs with either a hollow point or solid will get the job done.

Admittedly it is not as impressive as getting one into range and taking one with a shotgun or a bow, but I have also noticed over the past few years, shotgun hunters and manufacturers of shot guns/choke tubes &shells have started pushing the envelope as far as how far out a person can kill a turkey with a shotgun.

I ain't a bow hunter, but had two folks out on my hunts last year take turkeys with their bows.

One thing about shooting a turkey with a 22, if you take the body shot, watch which way the turkey runs after the hit, even with a good hit to the lungs/heart, the bird might cover 10 to 20 yards before realizing he is dead.

On a head shot, aim for the eye or the ear hole or between the two.

Best of Luck to all going after a Gobbler this Spring regardles of the equipment being used.

Wow, am I late on this one, but give Randall a big thumbs up for answering the question.

You can take Rio Grande Turkeys with a centerfire or rimfire rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloader, archery equipment or crossbow during the General and Spring Seasons and even hunt them under feeders, baited areas, etc., just not on a roost.

The ruling on shotguns only and archery equipment, come into play with Eastern Turkeys only and they may not be baited or hunted over feeders or a baited area. They must also be checked in within 24 hours of the kill at any of the designated check stations. They may be only taken during the Spring Season.

I used a .22 when I was younger to kill turkeys, I'd just aim at the base of the neck where it meets the backbone and I'd get one every time. If I were shooting them in the body, then I would shoot them facing me or I would cornhole them, doing more damage to the innards than a broadside shot. Now I just hunt them with my bow, and find it as exciting as my very first turkey kill.

Thanks Chris, I had forgotten about the check in on the Easterns.

When shooting at a turkey with your bow, what is your aim point?

All my dad shoots em with is my 39a 22.....has for years! Legal yes, and it works....head shots

I shot my first turkey with a .22 in the throat right where it connects to the body. DRT !!! I'll always use my .22 for turkey over a shotgun. And the 22-250 for longer than 50 yard kills.

I've killed a lot of turkeys with my .22 which is scary accurate.

I've never shot the beak off one yet, but then again I wasn't aiming for the beak!

Just wondering, that is almost the exact same spot I hold for doing body shots with my 22.

Have you ever tried one of the Guillotine Arrows on turkey?

I am stoked for this coming spring season, it will be my first turkey season. Im sure once I get good at callin' them in close i'll switch to something more fair to the turkey. But for no, I just need some meat in the freezer. Running out of backstrap.

What box or friction call? Dont wanna use a mouth call, cause I think it will be hard to use with copenhagen...haha.

Thanks, JI

I use a couple of different calls, my favorite is the box call with the paddle that you scrape across the sides of the box.

Some folks like the slate call and I have had birds answer me using that one but have better luck with the box call.

I ain't even trying one of the diaphram type calls, I would either choke to death or
trying to use one of those.

Out at Fort Stockton where I do my hunts, I do not even try to do any calling when we are hunting around the alfalfa fields.

There are about 200 head of turkeys that hang out the field and I just put my hunters in brush ground blinds and let the birds do the work themselves.

Only shot one bird with a 22 and it did the job but prefer the old 12 gauge or the bow. Dang i cant wait till spring!

I have killed the majority of my turkeys with a .22. I have had numerous go down and then get back up and run. I have now gotten away from the 22 and use the 17hmr. Much better because of the bullet. jmo

T.E.H.O.

I can remember my grandmother popping the heads off a turkey with a 22 when I was a kid back in the early 50s. She could also do a pretty good job on a covey quail.

I new a guy that fills a coffee can 3/4 full of small rocks and tops it off with corn. When a turkey sticks his head in it, he shoots the can with a high powered rifle and the “explosion” takes the head off the turkey.

T.E.H.O. Some people hunt pigs with a knife, dont mean its a smart idea. Good luck.

Your correct on both counts as far as I am concerned, I personally hunt pigs with large centerfire rifles, and don't have any desire to hunt anything with a knife, except maybe a rare steak laying on a plate.

Hunting turkeys with a 22 is not even in the same ball field.

If a person wants to hunt them with a 22, it is perfectly ethical and legal here in Texas.

No one is forcing anyone to not use the firearm of their choice for hunting these birds with the exception of the 43 counties where the Eastern Turkeys are hunted, which by the way have to be CHECHED In at a CHECK IN STATION.