Why is #4 shot the largest you can use? Safety? Sportsmanship?

[pianoman9701]

In most states, it's #4. Some have #2. Why the restriction on shot size?

[Henrydog]

Not sure but, I think the idea is that you can you 00 or a sabot and take one out at 100 yards. 

[pianoman9701]

 

[gaddy]

My thought is number of pellets and density of pattern and why it is recommended to hit the neck and head. Hard to penetrate a turkeys thick plumage and body. Saw a guy hit a turkey with a ten gauge at about 30 yards, it rolled hard and got up and ran off. I asked what shot he was using - #2 goose loads. I know he hit it hard but don't believe he got the head, neck, or any vitals.

[bobcat]

Yes, I'm pretty sure it's so people will do what you're supposed to do and call them in close and shoot for the head.

Same reason rifles aren't allowed.

[CaNINE]

My understanding is that the requirement is for safety. Turkey hunting has the highest risk of hunting related stupid accidents. A #2 or 00 pellet has enough mass to cause higher risk of lethal injury to the victim. I had some dude put the sneak on me while I was hen yelping last year. I waved him off as he approached with his gun at the high ready. I'm not of fan of people "stalking" turkeys.

[Evil_EdwardO]

Probably a safety thing. New York and Pennsylvania you can hunt them with a 22lr.

[jackelope]

I'd venture to say there's a lot more margin for error using the smaller shot too with a much denser shot pattern, aside from the safety factor.
Personally I like to use a 5 or 6 shot size.

[The Gobble-stopper]

Density in the larger shot sizes does not equal a clean kill. Head and neck shots are the only sure way to kill a turkey. There are a lot of holes in the patterns of larger shot, you may miss the neck and head. Shot though a body usually only ends up wounding the turkey, Hard to hit a quarter size heart or lung shot with the bigger shot. Just as easy to call em in close and blow their head off. A lot more fun too

[bearpaw]

I imagine they want to keep turkey hunting sporting. Lets face it, if we could use .223 and even 22lr more turkeys would get killed due to the greater effective range.

I like 6's because of the denser pattern, I've got some of the new tss #9 coming, can't wait to see the pattern on that stuff.

[Bob33]

Safety.

[kevinlisa06]

I imagine they want to keep turkey hunting sporting. Lets face it, if we could use .223 and even 22lr more turkeys would get killed due to the greater effective range.

I like 6's because of the denser pattern, I've got some of the new tss #9 coming, can't wait to see the pattern on that stuff.

Who did go with?


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[Pegasus]

Safety for other hunters. High rate of hunters get shot while turkey hunting. Years ago many hunted turkeys with buckshot or .22LR. Getting hit with 4's or smaller increases your chance of survival when someone thinks that gobbling sound you are making is a real turkey. That's why they also recommend calling with your back against a tree and not wearing red, blue, white or black.

[Yelper Guy]

I took three #5's to the face two years ago on opening day from a downhill shooter chasing the flock up-hill.
We were set-up against a tree, and start hearing shots below us getting closer.
The third shot was the one that hit me.
Never saw him until it was too late.
I'm glad they weren't #2's!
I posted it on here two years ago -"Turkey head shot - me not the turkey!"
Be careful out there!

[Machias]

100% safety issue.

[Russ McDonald]

Safety for sure.  You have to watch out for those turkeys of the non feathered kind out there.  One of the things I preach in my clinics.  I use 5 shot normally.  I got some triple threat which is 5,6 and 7 but I decided to go with a crossbow this year.

[kevinlisa06]

Not even sure why you would even want to go bigger than 4 shot. Very few pellets to get a good pattern at a bobbing head. Shot my bird last year with Heavyweight 7’s last season, way more pellets. I will be patterning my TSS 9’s tomorrow morning.


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[pianoman9701]

I didn't say I wanted to go bigger. I was simply wondering the reason. I assumed it was safety.

[kevinlisa06]

I didn't say I wanted to go bigger. I was simply wondering the reason. I assumed it was safety.

Got ya 👍


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[Luna butte]

I always figured it was so the fish cops could easily tell who was shooting em with a 22

[Duckslayer89]

My understanding is that the requirement is for safety. Turkey hunting has the highest risk of hunting related stupid accidents. A #2 or 00 pellet has enough mass to cause higher risk of lethal injury to the victim. I had some dude put the sneak on me while I was hen yelping last year. I waved him off as he approached with his gun at the high ready. I'm not of fan of people "stalking" turkeys.

Turkey hunting has highest rates of accidents because its popular in the south

[DOUBLELUNG]

Both safety and killing efficacy - you can put the recommended minimum 5-6 pellets in a head/neck pattern further with #4-6 shot, and still have enough energy per pellet to penetrate the neck bones (about 65 yards max energy/pellet in a lead #6 IIRC).