Turkey Hunting with M.L.

[Hangfire]

The spring turkey season is only 1 1/2 months away. I think hunting gobblers with the muzzle loader is one of the enjoyable muzzle loader hunts you can do. I mostly hunt with a home built flint, but I have a C.V.A. side by side and a 12 ga. barrel for my T.C. New Englander. I kill most of my birds at under 20 yards but have taken them to 35 yards. My flint is not choked but I test my loads by shooting a pop can at 25 yards. I want 9 or more pellets in the can. I have never lost a bird with the flint. I have lost one bird with the T.C. It has a removable choke imp. cylinder. I will not hunt with it until I get a tighter pattern maybe a new choke or experimenting with the loads. The side by side can give a good pattern and I took my first turkey with it. I am partial to the flinter.
Making the hunt much more enjoyable is building my own calls. I have made several wing bone calls and scratch box calls. I am not happy with most of my scratch box calls and often use one I bought from Ed Blankenship in Chewelah.

If you want a very enjoyable hunt take out the muzzle loader shot gun.

[Harleysboss]

I have to agree, blk powder and turkeys..IT'S A BLAST! I'm no expert but have taken 2 with my TC New Englander 12ga. I used a pillow ticking shot cup to hold the shot string together just a little longer. Both birds were out around 25-30 yards,DRT. I've got a .62 cal (20ga) flntlock smooth rifle that is jug chocked full and it has a tight pattern out to about 30yds. Have not had a chance to show it to a tom yet. Maybe this year.

[Hangfire]

Would you explain your pillow ticking shot cup? Do you use over  powder cards or wads?

I have used the unslotted shot cups. When they work, produce a very tight pattern. On occasion the shot does not leave the cup so like shooting a slug. I often use a modern slotted shot cup over the over powder card. I have been using in the flint no plastic cup just over powder wads and over shot wads. I will do some trials with felt lubricated wads before turkey season.

[oneshot12]

  got to say they work pretty darn well    just let them get in close and trust your gun

[Whitelightning]

I have hunted Turkey with my White Tominator for years, I have taken em out to 45 yards with it. I would recommend using the M/L shotgun for Grouse as well it is a kick in the pants!

[Harleysboss]

Hangfire, the shot cups are cut for my 12ga at 1 1/16 inch wide by 3 3/4 inch long. I lube them with wonder lube 1000 or what ever you use. I used a light denim material.  The load was as follows. 80grn ffg goex, two over shot cards then I center the long strip over the bore and push it down til just an 1/8th inch left out, pour in shot ( i used 1 1/2 oz #5 lead). Push shot load down then seat 1 over shot card down on top. Cap gun,  call in turkey and KA BOOOM, wait till smoke clears and run over and collect said turkey If hunting 2 bird area...repeat.  Just that easy..RIGHT

[Hangfire]

I used to hunt in Ferry county for grouse with my CVA side by side. I has some really good spot and a very good springer spaniel. I would walk old logging roads that were not or barely passable. My dog would flush the birds from along side the road. Grouse would normally fly into the open space of the road and give a very nice shot, I also hunted the high elevation near the pass for blues. Wonderfull hunting. In the early 80's I averaged for the entire season 22 flushes a hour of hunting time, both blues and ruffed. I never did get a flying grouse with the flint but did out of trees and on the ground. I also got a grouse out of the top of a tree with my .36 cal. flint. Shot his head off. My eyes can't do that now.   I have taken, turkeys, Hun's, chukars, quail and grouse with the 12 ga, muzzle loader great fun. I never felt handicapped with them. I also took one whitetail doe with a round ball in the flint. If you like to bird hunt try a muzzle loading shot gun really fun.

[Hangfire]

Harleysboss, Thanks I will try that. I use 90 grain of 2 ff and 100 grain equivalent number 5 or 6 shot.

[oneshot12]

   Hangfire  I use about 80 3 f  and 80 #4 shot  haven't had to must trouble with it yet    but its best to give it all a try until you find what works the best   

[Hangfire]

Beautiful fowler. Did you build?

[oneshot12]

nope didn't build ether of them  the Fowler is my biddies hes had for years and the English trade-gun is mine  but we both took some nice  birds with them this past year  the time we went out