Opening Day of Turkey season

Well at least in my area of Michigan it’s opening day of Turkey season . My Son in Law and I went out to some farm land he has on a river and had them gobbling from the roost after a short walk. We set up the decoys and got one Tom to separate from the hens. He came to approximately 100 yards. Strutting, gobbling but he wouldn’t leave the hens. We worked that group for another :45 and they fed away from us.

So we packed up and went to his uncles farm a few miles away. We walked to the back of a large rolling alfalfa field. When we got to the back we saw a flock of maybe 12 birds. 2 Toms, a few Jakes and hens.

We had them into around 40 yards but weeds and brush partially blocked our shot. Plus we thought they were coming closer.

They eventually fed the other way. We set up on them several more times. And called it a morning. As he had to feed his cattle.

Driving home I see a group of birds 1/2 mile from my house in a friends field. I then realized I left my decoys and all of my calls at my son in laws for tomorrow mornings hunt.

I figured what the heck. Nothing ventured.

I snuck within 100 yards. There were 3 Toms and and a lot of hens. I belly crawled a foot at a time and got within 30 yards of the closest Long beard. I had a hen on my right and if he followed her I would get a shot. After :10 he did. When he was at 20ish yards. I let the right barrel of the 1867 W.C. Scott 10 gauge go. He was flopping and running away as the left barrel stopped he exit.

He is a big mature bird with one broken spur and one nice long one.

I guess I’m doing the calling tomorrow for my Son in law.

Nice bird. Congrats
Classic external hammer gun. Love it.
IMO, That's hunting with style.

That is cool! Black powder 1 7/8" shells??

Low pressure RST shells 2 5/8”

Altitude sickness said:

Well at least in my area of Michigan it’s opening day of Turkey season . My Son in Law and I went out to some farm land he has on a river and had them gobbling from the roost after a short walk. We set up the decoys and got one Tom to separate from the hens. He came to approximately 100 yards. Strutting, gobbling but he wouldn’t leave the hens. We worked that group for another :45 and they fed away from us.

So we packed up and went to his uncles farm a few miles away. We walked to the back of a large rolling alfalfa field. When we got to the back we saw a flock of maybe 12 birds. 2 Toms, a few Jakes and hens.

We had them into around 40 yards but weeds and brush partially blocked our shot. Plus we thought they were coming closer.

They eventually fed the other way. We set up on them several more times. And called it a morning. As he had to feed his cattle.

Driving home I see a group of birds 1/2 mile from my house in a friends field. I then realized I left my decoys and all of my calls at my son in laws for tomorrow mornings hunt.

I figured what the heck. Nothing ventured.

I snuck within 100 yards. There were 3 Toms and and a lot of hens. I belly crawled a foot at a time and got within 30 yards of the closest Long beard. I had a hen on my right and if he followed her I would get a shot. After :10 he did. When he was at 20ish yards. I let the right barrel of the 1867 W.C. Scott 10 gauge go. He was flopping and running away as the left barrel stopped he exit.

He is a big mature bird with one broken spur and one nice long one.

I guess I’m doing the calling tomorrow for my Son in law.
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@Altitude sickness - very nice gobbler and based on that long spur - might be a 4 yr old bird = trophy…. No matter what, after “belly crawling” to get him (and with a Vintage shotgun) he’s a Super trophy !! Imagine, you killed a big gobbler without a Camo gun, without extended turkey choke tubes, without a scope or red dot sight, AND with regular lead shot !! You accomplished the “Impossible” - impressive !

Nice bird Jay, Congrats! Great looking shotgun btw.

Congrats, and with a badass shotgun too!

My old man killed one this morning in MI too, with his 1938 Sweet 16.

It’s the first bird I’ve killed with a gun in a long while. I Usually archery hunt them. And recently Selfbows I’ve made.


Tell your dad congrats. Hopefully more can post their 2025 Turkey pics.

Altitude sickness said:

Low pressure RST shells 2 5/8”

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What size and weight of shot? I'm assuming it's lead.

Altitude sickness said:

Low pressure RST shells 2 5/8”

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@Altitude sickness: I also like RST shotgun shells and use the 2 5/8” often in my 16 ga for upland hunting - low recoil, safe in Older & shorter chambered SxS guns and plenty of power and “punch”! I’ve also used them for Sporting Clays and very good on far 40yd+ targets and the light recoil helps with doubles

BeeMaa, they are 1 1/4 Oz #4 shot

i like hunting turkey,s as much as i like to deer hunt.

Altitude sickness said:

BeeMaa, they are 1 1/4 Oz #4 shot

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@Altitude sickness - that’s plenty hot for a Turkey and even Hotter then I thought you’d use in an older SxS? 1 1/4oz @ 1330 fps? In my older SxS only use 1 1/8oz @ 1200fps max ——- but if you only fire a few shots a year with that Hotter load the action should remain tight for many years…..and knock down Many More Gobblers!

@HankBuck - The low-pressure RST loads he's using are only moving at 1100 fps. His grandkids are likely to be taking turkey with the same shotgun and load.

Correct 1100 fps

Those English craftsman really knew what they were doing. And these RST shells pattern very well at respectable Turkey killing distance.

That was the right barrel at 30 then the left barrel at 40 in the same target. Aiming for the base of the neck to center the pattern more

Neat report with a classic gun.

Frederik said:

Neat report with a classic gun.

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Agreed! I’m on the fence with turkey hunting, but a matured 10ga sxs would sure sweeten the experience. Self bows and 10ga make for a pleasant battery.

Altitude sickness said:

Those English craftsman really knew what they were doing. And these RST shells pattern very well at respectable Turkey killing distance. View attachment 680249

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@Altitude sickness - yes the lower velosity shells (under 1200 fps) usually pattern tighter, some turkey loads are only 1080 fps and pattern great {and don’t knock your teeth loose!}