Are Red Scopes Cheatin!

[BPturkeys]

Last year I put a Red Dot scope on my grandson's shotgun for his first turkey hunt. Needless to say, he got his bird first shot. It makes it so easy to make the shot that I just started to wonder if the use of these devises...Red Dots and scopes...is that cheatin?
I am pretty well convinced that any adult that uses one needs to man up, but that is just my opinion. What's your's?

[Intruder]

Not cheating, no.

Not sure why you'd want/need a scope for turkey hunting though.  Seems like a false need the retail hunting industry has created to me.... similiar to the super/extra/ultra full kill em at a country mile chokes.  When 95% of shots are under 30 yards these things would seem to be more of a disadvantage to me. 

[turkeydancer]

As long as they don't add illumination, they are not illegal or cheating.  With my eyesight slipping as I'm getting older and using the "tru-glow" type sights, I found that either my rear or front sights were always fuzzy or plain out of focus.  Trying to line up the rear sight with the front sight and a turkey head was getting more difficult and I missed a couple I should't have.  So I now use what is called a reflex sight (open field of view "red dot"). It's a lot easier putting the dot on the head (just lining up the 2 versus the 3 things).  I would rather not take the chance on having a wounded bird, but want to ensure a clean, fast, & ethical harvest. I haven't missed since ....  

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

If you are that worried about it, try using a recurve. Look Ma ! no sights ! 

[JackOfAllTrades]

It is cheating? No. For a kid? You're cheating him/her.

As an avid shooter and Bullseye competitor, I believe one of the fundamentals of sight alignment shooting instruction is being bypassed by many older shooters that have switched to scopes because of eye sight issues, and those 'dads' are not teaching the fine art of iron sight shooting to new younger shooters.

A person that learns to shoot with iron sights is most often a better shot even with a scope. It is seldom the other way around.

-Steve

[jackelope]

I agree with Intruder(again) I'm not sure why anybody would need one but if it improves the odds of killing the birds cleanly then I'm not against it. I've thought about it and still might do it but I need to decide on a gun before I decide on a sight. My vision issues cause me some trouble with lining everything up...it all works right now but I can see it going away as I get a little older. I am blind as a bat.

[Wacenturion]

If you are that worried about it, try using a recurve. Look Ma ! no sights ! 

No thanks "Braveheart"....lol.  Sorry Stikn....could resist again.

[turkeydancer]

SSB - You must be assuming I don't shoot bows --- I've have both a recurve (for over 35 years) and a compound (for 8 years) and taken many animals with them.   

Jack - I agree .... I grew up using iron sights and believe I could hold my own against any shooter until my eyesight started slipping. When you still want to enjoy the sport but your "handicap" means you may not make that clean, ethical harvest, then it's time to use the available, legal aids.  Again, that's not cheating ... it's the right thing to do. 


 

[KimberRich]

Not cheating, no.

Not sure why you'd want/need a scope for turkey hunting though.  Seems like a false need the retail hunting industry has created to me.... similiar to the super/extra/ultra full kill em at a country mile chokes.  When 95% of shots are under 30 yards these things would seem to be more of a disadvantage to me. 

I like the tight chokes as they tend to keep the shot out of the breast and ruin less meat. Killed my first bird at 49 paces with a super/extra/ultra choke.  I would not have taken the shot with any other choke but had patterned my gun out that far and knew it would do the job. 

I had an 870 that the only option for sights on it were a scope/red dot of some kind.  It had a cantilevered scope rail that was hooked to the barrel and came up over the action.  No front sights, beads, or anything and the rear rail was not removable.  So I hunted with it for 1 year and didn't like it so sold it and now hunt with open sights and like it much better.  Easier on quick shots..  But I'll always use the super extra full chokes.  They may not be necessary but I think they are better. 

[Tom Tamer]

If you are that worried about it, try using a recurve. Look Ma ! no sights ! 

No thanks "Braveheart"....lol.  Sorry Stikn....could resist again.

I'm thinking Stik should formally change his name to Braveheart....do I hear a second

[PA BEN]

I use a red dot for my kids 20g. It's a great site for turkey's. A good head shot makes a clean kill. BTW, the red dot I use from BSA is not a Magnification scope, it's a RED DOT site. It's not cheating to use one, there's nothing wrong with a clean kill.

[rasbo]

what ever works for the young one do it,keep them in the field and outta trouble,Im thinking after awhile he will want to switch to regular sights,like others or grandpa...