Exturkinator Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 I was watching a hunting show on TV on Friday - 3 guys hunting longbeards. They were set up in tall grass at the margin of a forest. They got a nice group of hens and toms to turn and come into shooting range. One of the guys shoulders his gun and spooks the birds and they all take to the air. Now any of us who have been in the turkey woods long enough knows about this... BUT, these dudes started shooting at the birds in flight. I don't know about yall, but when I send a bird flying, I consider the game over... I don't shoot at flying longbeards for many reasons (super full choke, non-fatal injury to bird, etc). I was quite surprised to the "professionals" shooting at toms on the wing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgbennett6 Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... I personally see no probelm with it, you shoot at geese when they are flying, i dont take crazy 50+ yard flying shots at them but if sombody misses or i'm going for double i have no problem at shooting flying bird......I've actually killed quite a few on the wing, and have wounded 0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tp793 Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... Im pretty sure that its illegal here...maybe im wrong, but i think once a bird is in flight its game over.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest buddy ahart Posted February 12, 2006 Report Share Posted February 12, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... Maybe if u miss the bird one the first shot or if its extremly close ok but anything past 15 yards in flight i would say no to. jmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covehnter Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... I've never shot at one flying, but i have killed lots of geese! Seems if it's within good range, take'em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgbennett6 Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... I know its not illegal here, i know guys who do turkey drives in the fall and shoot almost all of their birds in flight. its a personal choice, and to me is no more un-ethical than duck hunting, it does make it harder though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... Shot my gobbler last spring on the wing, put the spin move on him when he flew in behind me. I guess the situation would dictate wether to take the shot or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentgate Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... My father-in-law has shot a lot of turkeys in flight. It's mostly because he's always caught with his gun down!! He says his legs and arms go to sleep if he tries to hold a gun up too long. But he is a good wing shot and he has killed a lot of turkeys by "quick drawing" them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanH Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... Im not a fan of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... If it's legal then go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgbennett6 Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... It also dpends on how comfortable youa re with it, some people dissagree with running shots on deer. ethics are not what you do when people are watching, its what decisions you make when you are by yourself......I personally practice and chose to shoot at a flying turkey if the situation calls for it, and running deer if the situation calls for it to be a clean safe kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... Everyone has their own preference, but for me to see a tom coming to your call, gobbling and strutting next to your decoy and taking that head and neck shot. That's what its all about for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... I'm not a fan of wing shooting gobblers either. However, if I happen to roll a gobbler that came in to the call and he gets up and tries to fly off, he's gonna catch another load of #5's if he's still in range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... that is crazy!!! I would think it would be hard to make a head shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodsman2230 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... They are tougher that you think. Sometimes if you hit them in the body it wont kill them or they will die later somewhere else. I personally believe that if they take flight its game over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishinone Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... I have shot one spring gobbler on the wing being it was the only shot he gave me without being bunched up with the hens, however I have shot several out of the air during the fall season. It's a judgement call at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgbennett6 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... about as hard as shooting a goose in the head, they are tough birds too.... for me i love shooting them on the ground.i'm just saying that it happens and is fine, unless you shoot them flying out fo the roost.........true story, i had a client that had never shot a turkey before, had a nice longbeard come in and out of now where a Coyote broke for the bird, bird flew right at us, the guy made 1 clean shot dropped teh bird right in front of us. Nice bird 19.5lbs 9.5" beard 3/4" spurs.... it was a nice shot too...i practice flying shots all year long and honestly to me a super full chock makes those flying head shots easier, and less likley to wound with flyer pellets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... I personally would never take a shot at a turkey in the air. But my dad did shoot a hen a few years back in the fall just as she was about to take off. She went up and then fell down as fast as she went up About a 20 yard shot if I remember the story correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDNKHNTR77 Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... ive never tried it but would if the situation was appropriate for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Re: Couldn\'t believe it... I'd have to agree with Exturkinator. I've never purposely tried to shoot one flying with the first shot, but I have once I've missed them coming in on two feet. I've found that trying for a air shot is futile and a waste of shells. Now if you had a second barrel with a mod choke, maybe it would work. But I've seldom been in a situation where I had time to properly lead a turkey with a x-tra full choke. In my nineteen years at the sport, my flying turkey shot history is this: 2nd year, shot a jake at about 15 yards with my second shot after I missed him when he and his teacher were coming in. Greed ruined that hunt, tried to split thier heads and got neither. The bird that hit the air, hit the ground soon after my second shot, like a dead dove. I didn't even bother to reload. When I walked up to him, he got up and hauled arse down a motorcycle trail, bankin' with the turns. It was not a pretty sight seein' me chase that jake tryin to get shells outta my pocket, break open a 10 gauge double and reload. Needless to say, that bird won the race. 4th year: Had three merriams, who'd just finished a raucious gobbler battle, turn and fan out at the sound of a loud cluck a hen made when she spotted me. Three tails side by side at maybe 30-40 yards. I picked out one, shot and turkeys went everywhere. One longbeard was in the air at 8 yards right smack dab in front of my barrel. I shot, he flew. Double barrel ten almost got slung off an 8000 ft mountain. I was sick. Dropped the gun and picked up a big arse rock and slung it instead. Even though I came down that mountain birdless, that hunt was one of my favorites of all time. I can still see those huge merriams all fanned out tail to tail. 5th year - 15 year: I gave up and never even tried shootin' at flying birds 16th year: Had two struttin' toms coming in at 30 yards. Picked one out and boom, turkeys went everywhere. One flew right for me, shot at him, kept flying. Saw another gobbler take for the air and didn't even bother. I was so dang mad I slammed that gun across my lap and started cuttin' on my diaphram ( I was really cussin'). When that last tom to take to the air heard it, he came right back down. I was shootin' a Rem SP 10 then, three shots. When he hit the ground and went into strut, I turned and let him have the last shot. Dead bird. Good hunt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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