10 replies to this topic

[stevoe0970]

I thought I was seeing things but the regs on the dfg site now say Wild Turkey can be taken with .177. I wonder if it is a typo, or if it is true. "§311. Methods Authorized for Taking Resident Small Game. Only the following may be used to take resident small game: (a) Shotguns 10 gauge or smaller using shot shells only and incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. If a plug is used to reduce the capacity of a magazine to fulfill the requirements of this section, the plug must be of one piece construction incapable of removal without disassembling the gun. ( Shotgun shells may not be used or possessed that contain shot size larger than No. BB, except that shot size larger than No. 2 may not be used or possessed when taking wild turkey. All shot shall be loose in the shell. © Muzzle-loading shotguns. (d) Falconry. (e) Bow and arrow (see Section 354 for archery equipment regulations). (f) Air rifles powered by compressed air or gas and used with any caliber of pellet, except that wild turkey may only be taken with a pellet that is at least 0.177 caliber." If that is the case I wonder if the 17hmr market drove this change, or if the air rifle market drove this change.

[ShooterJohn]

I haven't called fish & game to confirm this but that is what the regulations say. I do think it isn't an appropriate caliber for turkeys as they are very tough birds and you better hit them in the head at a reasonably close range with a .177. Otherwise you will be sitting there while they fly away never to be seen again. They'll just suffer and die and possibly die at some future point. I've seen turkeys shot in the body with very powerful .22 cal airguns take off and sail away, not to be seen again.

[stevoe0970]

I haven't called fish & game to confirm this but that is what the regulations say. I do think it isn't an appropriate caliber for turkeys as they are very tough birds and you better hit them in the head at a reasonably close range with a .177. Otherwise you will be sitting there while they fly away never to be seen again. They'll just suffer and die and possibly die at some future point. I've seen turkeys shot in the body with very powerful .22 cal airguns take off and sail away, not to be seen again.

Thanks. I only would take a headshot, even with my .22 marauder I would only take a headshot.

[turkeyman85]

.177 is plenty enough for the take of turkeys. But range and shot placement is key to killing a turkey.And yes its true the reasoning behind the change is that ppl were not buying the .22 or .25 cals so they dropped it to the .177 cals. Also I think it had to do with some orderences in some counties with the discharging of air rifles within populated areas.

[ShooterJohn]

Using .177 makes lots of sense to wound or cripple more turkeys therefore reducing their population.

[ratassassin]

It was apparently amended to allow .177 for taking turkey last year. I remember seeing it on F&G's agenda last summer as an upcoming item. Guess they passed it. Here's a bit of information about it on the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance's website: "COHA also secured adding .177 caliber pellet guns as an allowable method of take for turkeys, beginning with the Fall 2011 season."source: http://www.outdoorhe.../regulatory.php

[turkeyman85]

Shooter have you ever shot a turkey with a pellet gun? I have plenty of times thats what we used on the turkeys we raised to eat. And I would shoot them from atleast 10 yards away and they would do the old "drop and flop". And they werent your farm white type birds they were of eastern turkey blood,Which ARE WAY stronger than then any other breed.Lasted I check they're not wearing bullet proof helmets lol.

[stevoe0970]

I agree, that's the whole point of taking headshots. You either hit and they drop, or miss without wounding.

[Air Rifle Hunter]

I have read this same thing in the California Hunting Regulations. I would agree that whether you are using a .177, .22 or .25 air rifle to hunt turkey with, the head shot is the shot of preference that should be taken. Also, the distance of the shot should be within the effective range for the air rifle and the shooter's accuracy and skill level. There have been many discussions on other airgun forums as to whether it is ethical to hunt certain larger game and predatory animals with air rifles/guns and I believe that it comes down to... can you make a clean kill with the shot. If your air rifle or you cannot be accurate at the typcial range you can stalk up to the animal, then don't even attempt it. Even when hunting with my air rifles for quail, Eurasian Collard-dove, rabbits, etc., my first shot of choice if available is the head shot. For quail or Eurasian Collard-dove, this saves the main source of meat from being damaged and on rabbits, it makes for a quick and instant drop/kill. If it were legal to hunt hogs here is California with an air rifle, I would. However, I would be using my .25 tuned for maximum velocity and FPE (900FPS with JSB 25.4 providing around 46FPE), and I would be aiming for the "Fuse Box" with a side profile being the optimal shot (if at a slightly elevated position, I would go for a frontal head shot if presented. I also view hunting with air rifles as being similar to Bow Hunting. You have to get to within the effective range of the weapon for a humane kill. Otherwise, as it has been mentioned, you will either injure the animal, or mortally wound it but it will have the chance to escape which means you will either have to chase/track it down, or it will suffer or die without being harvested. To sum it up, minimum I would use on Turkey, even though it is legal to use .177, would be a .22 (I own both a .22 and .25 Marauder and just acquired a .25 Sumatra 2500 Carbine). The pellet will have more stability through it's trajectory, deliver more FPE to your target and give you a better chance for an accurate and clean take down shot. Well, that's my worth...

[mackeralboy]

Will a .177 caliber pellet take down a turkey? Sure, if you hit it in the head. I've seen video where a pig was taken with a head shot from a .177 cal pellet. The problem is as far as the regs go they don't specify that you have to make a head shot on a Turkey with a .177 cal pellet, or a .22 cal or a .25cal pellet for that much. The regs just say that it is legal to use a .177 cal pellet. I think the key here is that it is left up to each hunter to know his or her own limitations and capabilities. Each hunter also needs to know their hunting equipment whether it be a pellet gun, shot gun, rifle, or bow and arrow. Hell....you could take a turkey with a boomarang if you were proficient enough. We are all suppose to be ethical in the take of our game and to try to put down our quarry in a manner that is quick and causes the least amount of suffering to the animal. When hunting there are a lot of variables that go into a good kill, wind, type of ammo, velocity, ability, and of course the game. I don't know how many times I've been hunting and had a kill shot lined up only to have the animal move at the last second throwing off the point of impact. That is why I try to use a weapon and caliber that I know will quickly put down the animal regardless of the variables. Personally I won't be using a .177 cal pellet on a turkey even with a head shot. A lighter pellet is affected more by wind drift, looses velocity quicker, and has a smaller wound channel. Because of this, if I were to use a .177 caliber pellet, I would have to be closer to my game before I took my shot, and be more accurate than if I used a larger sized pellet. Having to be closer to the game would mean that there is more of a chance of it being spooked and less of a chance of me being accurate. While this presents more of a challenge for the hunter, I also feel that it sets us up for more failures and the potential too only wound the game and not dispatch it quickly.

[Baxter]

I am grabbing the old red Ryder , I knew I saved that thing for a reason.