Is it legal in Texas to hunt a turkey with a .22LR?

JI

I doubt its legal, definatly not fair to the turkey if you make a bad shot. Im sure your only shot with a .22 would be a head shot, so try and inagine how far a turkey could fly with no beak after you accidentally shoot it off, and how long the bird would suffer before death finally found it and ended its hell. If your trying to put a kid on a bird, look at a 20g. To me i want the bird down clean, no chase, no loss, no regrets. Skinner

wow, sorry I asked. Looks like Im stickin with my 12ga. haha.

JI

Dont be sorry, it was a legit question. The point he's making is, whatever you used when you take an animal, make sure you get a clean kill. We owe it to the animal we pursue.

Post deleted by tx.44hunter

squirrels are game animals...

I think you can kill a turkey with a 17 though.. I could easily be wrong. Where's Kyotee when we need him ??

Yeah, but a .17 is a rimfire, as well. And, I don't think you can take turkey with a rimfire. I'm no expert, though. Where IS Kyotee??? Someone howl!!!

Not all 17's are rimfire.

It is legal and I have killed a bunch of them that way.

Not with head shots either, body shots within 50 yards and the bird will run 10 to maybe 20 yards and go down.

This is from the TP&W web site:

Firearms

Game animals and game birds may be hunted with any legal firearm, EXCEPT:

white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope may NOT be hunted with rimfire ammunition of any caliber.

shotguns are the only legal firearm that may be used to hunt Eastern turkey during the spring Eastern turkey season (see County Listing). Rifles and handguns may not be used to hunt Eastern turkey.

pellet guns and other air guns are NOT LEGAL.

fully automatic firearms are NOT LEGAL.

firearms equipped with silencers or sound-suppressing devices are NOT LEGAL.

a shotgun is the only legal firearm for hunting migratory game birds and lesser prairie chicken (see Definitions - Legal Shotgun).

Its all good. I just thought that a single .22 to the dome would leave a chance for any damage to the meat. Knowing that turkey's have excellent eye sight and I have a camo .22 and dont have a camo 12ga. Save a little coin and save a little meat. However, I would never think about it if it was against the law. I could think of better ways to blow away my money. ha.

JI

Read my post above yours, 212 rim fires are legal for hunting Rio Grande turkeys over most of Texas.

I'd be hunting in Dewitt county. If that would be make a difference. Thanks, Crazy

JI

Dewitt is one of the 54 South Zone counties that has a 4 Gobbler limit, if you want to use your 22, you are okay.

If you can pull off a 30 to 50 yard head shot you will be just fine.

Awesome, thanks again.

JI

Your Welcome, and Best of Luck.

I am not meaning or attempting to offend anyone on this subject, but some folks need to pay more attention to both the Outdoor Annual and the TP&W web site.

I am a total idiot, and I can figure this stuff out.

All you have to do is look.

Randall, it's just easier to ask your genius self!!! That way, I don't have to put in ANY effort!!! Plus, I'll get all sorts of insights!!

Wished I was smart John, life might have been easier on me, but then again I might not have had the chance to meet good folks like you.

I just have a hard time understanding why folks do not take advantage of all the useful and wonderful information that TP&W makes available to the sportsmen and women of Texas at little or no cost.

That never ceases to amaze me, that and the Mom and Dad concept many folks seem to have in regards to game laws.

You do know what the mom and Dad concept is don't you John?

I'll ask Mom and if she says No, I will go ask Dad, and I will keep asking till one of them gives me the answer I want to hear.

I guess I am either nieve or stupid, not sure which, but I always figgered that if I was gonna buy a license and try to hunt or fish, I needed to have some type of half-arse idea what the laws were concerning those activities. JMO.

Yeah, I know the Mom and Dad concept. I just didn't have much opportunity to utilize it!!!

It's a lot easier to ask a question here from people, like you, that know the answer than it is to peruse the entirety of the TP&W book.

I actually emailed the TPWD about this very question. Had another hunter tell me I could not hunt turkey under a feeder or take them with a 22. You obviously can take them under a feeder, but I did email about the rim fire.

As stated above Rio Grands can be taken with a 22. No easterns though.

I have not done this since I was younger, but I did shoot one with a 22 mag right through the kill zone. Did very little damage to the meat and I didn't care anyway, because I just fillet the breasts and make fried turkey strips out of them and pop the legs off.

Cant hunt turkeys under a feeder? Oh come on...

I know easterns have more regulations but still lol

Its pretty safe to say that you can use a .22 for a Rio, dont blame ya for not wanting to waste meat. Good luck on some birds

I've killed plenty of turkey with a plain 870 magnum that was not camo. I think it takes away from the experience of calling one in close, never had any problems with tearing up the meat with a shotgun.

I understand John, and as I said I was not attempting to offend anyone.

It just seems like some folks are out there shopping for an answer or an opinion that meshes with what they think or are wanting to hear.

Shooting them with a 22 is not for everyone, but I know of some situations where you could call and use decoys until you died of old age and not have a bird come in to you.