Thread: Turkey Shooting

I won't call it hunting as they're not the smartest of animals...
Anyone have experience in shooting these pests? A mate's farm is starting to become overrun and I'm heading out this weekend to bowl a few over.

Will a .22 be enough to get through their feathers? I was thinking of using Subsonic ammo but I'm doubting that will be strong enough.

Cheers for the tips!
Laughed at the thought of the last suggestion, I can just imagine it...

ive found high velocity solids or hp in 22rf best
after that small centrefire rifles
breast meat makes nice burger patties

Suggestions as above. Find their roosting spots n see if you can do a night shoot spotlight. Shotgun with five shots on tap is ideal for that..


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Yeah I've got a bit of the CCI Stinger .22 ammo (high velocity) and after reading another thread, it should do alright for what I want.
Might need a small centrefire for next time as they will have wised up after this weekend I imagine.

Yup While crickets around they will taste Bitter - yuk really just a number control thing at that point. 7 Turkeys will eat the same as a dairy cow of grass - so number control can be legitimate

We used to use a group of 2 -3 act as main push force come up over the hill and bash the shit out of them with #2 lead 12 gauge then have a couple up at a high vantage point (classic L shape if you can with .223 or 204 etc as cut off they will Run/ fly glide generally 100 m in the first flush away from the direct force and where safety can be observed.

Try to shoot into frontal of turkeys as their heavy feathers on wings and side can really slow the stopping power of even heavy lead shot. - front or underneath is best.

Peacocks we'd used to do the same but try and cut them off from the trees that they'd invariably try to head to.

I bowl over turkeys mainly with .22 subs, chest area while they are front on and neck up.
Their breasts sit quite low down, so a central chest shot will hit their vitals and bring them down.

It’s not hard to do a day wreckie and look for their roosting spots, usually gates or where the fencing corners, their shit piles up a lot.
When to you find that return at night, shine a torch in their eyes and they start the turkey side by side head move.
I can get the muzzle up to the side of their head and take a shot, or if you want a bit of fun grab them by the legs and use an axe.

I breast mine and the odd time take the drums.
When they are storing fat, yellow in colour their flavour can be very strong.
My last lot i got around duck season last year were really nice and could have been mistaken for chicken breast.
Fantastic in a slow crock pot with those stir in sauces.

@mimms2 22hornet,222 etc tho i have used 260 on to at 315m and 330m
still got meat off them too😎

I shot some last year with number 3's. Worked well. But a little bit of meat damage but not so bad that I couldn't recover everything.

Certainly more effective using a shotgun than a 22 if you have a decent mob.

I am going to try the stir fry sauce slow pot with my drums.

My 17 Hornet slays them, 223 is even better if distance is getting out past 200.

Thanks gents, I’ll report back on Sunday night on how I go.

If you plan to eat them then head/neck shot with shotgun or base of neck with .22

Originally Posted by Rich007

If you plan to eat them then head/neck shot with shotgun or base of neck with .22

Americans use a tight choke and get less meat damage that way

knocked 5 over this morning, still quite a few to go but they’re wised up now...
.22 CCI stinger ammo seemed to work well with good shot placement.

Well done mate, in the hot sun you bugger yourself out.
Do a night time shoot when they are nesting.