Wild turkeys are not native to Oregon. But since their introduction in 1961, and the first turkey hunting season in 1987, turkey hunting opportunities have increased more than tenfold. If you’re looking to start hunting in Oregon, wild turkeys are a great place to start.
At first glance, the Oregon Game Bird Regulations can seem intimidating. However, the regulations and open seasons for turkey are some of the simplest an easiest to understand.
With the right choke and shotgun shell, chances are good you can use the shotgun you already have to hunt wild turkeys.
Turkey hunting with a bow is a different animal, so to speak, than hunting with a shotgun.
You don’t need a lot of gear to hunt turkey, but there are some things that will make your hunt more comfortable and successful.
Sighting in and patterning your gun will confirm that your gun, shell and choke are all working together effectively.
In the fall, hunters fill their turkey tags by studying food sources and the daily routine of birds.
Calling in a tom turkey is one of the most thrilling moments of a turkey hunt.
Once your turkey is down, approach it carefully and be ready to take a follow-up shot if the bird is just wounded.
Wild turkeys are not native to Oregon. But since their introduction in 1961, and the first turkey hunting season in 1987, turkey hunting opportunities have increased more than tenfold. If you’re looking to start hunting in Oregon, wild turkeys are a great place to start.
At first glance, the Oregon Game Bird Regulations can seem intimidating. However, the regulations and open seasons for turkey are some of the simplest an easiest to understand.
With the right choke and shotgun shell, chances are good you can use the shotgun you already have to hunt wild turkeys.
Turkey hunting with a bow is a different animal, so to speak, than hunting with a shotgun.
You don’t need a lot of gear to hunt turkey, but there are some things that will make your hunt more comfortable and successful.
Sighting in and patterning your gun will confirm that your gun, shell and choke are all working together effectively.
In the fall, hunters fill their turkey tags by studying food sources and the daily routine of birds.
Calling in a tom turkey is one of the most thrilling moments of a turkey hunt.
Once your turkey is down, approach it carefully and be ready to take a follow-up shot if the bird is just wounded.
Spring turkey season sees hunters gearing up with specialized equipment like calls, camo and shotguns. But some wonder – can you use a humble .22 rifle to hunt turkeys? The .22 is a versatile firearm many hunters own. Its affordability and wide availability also make it an attractive option. However, using a .22 for turkeys is controversial. There are pros and cons to consider before taking this route.
Why Consider a .22 for Turkeys?
There are a few reasons a hunter may contemplate using a .22:
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Many own a .22 already for small game. Using it eliminates buying another specialty firearm just for turkeys.
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The .22 is lightweight and easy to maneuver in the field.
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Ammo is very cheap compared to shotgun shells.
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At close ranges a well-placed .22 round can kill a turkey quickly.
So the idea of using this simple, economical rifle for turkeys does hold some appeal. But there are also good reasons most experts don’t recommend it.
Limitations of Using a .22 on Turkeys
While the .22 has some advantages, there are significant downsides as well:
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Underpowered – The .22 lacks knockdown power to humanely kill a large bird like a turkey. Poor shot placement can lead to wounded birds escaping.
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Short range – The maximum effective range of a .22 is only about 100 yards. This requires getting extremely close to notoriously vigilant birds.
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Small projectile – The lightweight .22 bullet may not penetrate to vital organs, especially at longer distances.
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Legal concerns – Some states prohibit using .22 rifles to hunt turkeys. Be sure to check regulations.
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Ethical concerns – Most agree turkey hunting with a .22 is unethical due to the high potential for wounding birds.
Overall, the .22 faces substantial challenges as a turkey hunting firearm. The following sections examine considerations in more detail.
.22LR vs. .22 Magnum
The most common .22 chamberings are .22 Long Rifle (LR) and .22 Winchester Magnum. Of the two, the magnum round has higher velocity and energy, making it a somewhat better choice. However, most experts believe both are underpowered for cleanly harvesting turkeys. The lightweight bullets may wound or cripple birds, even at close ranges. Heavier centerfire rounds are far superior options.
Shot Placement is Critical
Due to its lack of power, shot placement is extremely critical with a .22. The ideal shot on a turkey with a .22 is through the head or neck. This destroys the central nervous system for a quick, humane kill. However, a head or neck shot on a moving, alert bird is very challenging. Less than perfect shot placement risks wounding the turkey. The bottom line is easier shots with larger shotgun pellets make clean kills much more likely.
Know Your State’s Laws
In many states, it is illegal to hunt turkeys with a .22 rifle. Be sure to carefully check your state’s hunting regulations. Even if legal, some areas may restrict the type of .22 ammo that can be used. Regulations change, so look up the latest rules before planning to hunt with a .22.
You should also consider that conservation officers, wildlife agencies and other hunters may frown upon using a .22 for turkeys, even where lawful. Ethical perception matters, not just what the regulations allow on paper.
Adequate Practice is Essential
Due to the precision required, a turkey hunter using a .22 must put in time becoming intimately familiar with their rifle. This includes practicing repeatedly at various distances to master shot placement. Shooting stationary paper targets is very different from lead on a moving bird, so field experience is critical. Safety – for both hunter and prey – depends on expertise with the .22.
Alternative Small Game Rifles
Instead of a .22, some experienced hunters recommend slightly larger calibers for turkeys. Options like .22 Hornet, .222 and .223 can offer better performance while retaining the benefits of a lighter rifle. However, most experts still maintain a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun is by far the best choice. Their effectiveness makes alternatives like the .22 rifle very hard to justify.
The Verdict
While it’s theoretically possible to hunt turkeys with a .22 rifle, there are compelling arguments against it. The light round lacks stopping power, making clean kills unreliable. The need for very precise shot placement also works against success. Additionally, legal and ethical concerns persist about wounding birds. For all these reasons, it is difficult to recommend the .22 as a good turkey hunting firearm option. Shotguns are vastly superior and should remain the first choice.
Selecting guns and ammo
If youre currently a bird hunter – upland or waterfowl – chances are you already have a shotgun you can use for turkey hunting. If you’re a new hunter, here are some tips for buying a shotgun.
The most important features to look for when buying any shotgun are:
- Fit. Differences in the size and shape of the stock and butt, mean different shotguns “fit” differently. Spend some time shouldering a number of different weapons and brands to see which fits you the best.
- Handling. Select a shotgun that you can shoot well. This includes gun fit, but also recoil. If the recoil is so great it influences your second shot, select a different action or a smaller gauge.
When buying a new gun for turkey hunting, or even assessing the appropriateness of you current gun, here are the things to consider:
- A pump action shotgun requires manually sliding a pump backwards and forwards (cycling) in order to chamber a shell. Once a round is chambered, simply pull the trigger to fire a shot. Then cycle the pump to expel the empty shell and insert another.
- A semiautomatic shotgun instantly and automatically cycles a shell each time you pull the trigger. This means you can fire a second shot as fast as you can pull the trigger a second time. These guns tend to be “softer” shooters than a pump, because a semiautomatic shotgun diverts the guns recoil to cycle the next round, meaning less perceived recoil for the shooter.
Both pump and semi-automatic shotguns can be equally effective for hunting turkeys, but each has advantages (and disadvantages) over the other. If price is a primary consideration, you may choose a pump. If you have a smaller frame or are buying for a youth, you may choose a more expensive semi-automatic that will be softer and more comfortable to shoot.
Pump vs. semi-automatic actions
Pump action |
Semiautomatic |
|
more affordable |
more expensive |
|
durable, reliable |
can jam when ejecting shells |
|
more recoil |
less recoil |
|
must manually cycle action for second shot |
automatically cycles action for second shot |
In shotguns, the smaller the number, the bigger the gun or gauge. A 10 gauge shotgun has a bigger bore than a 12 gauge shotgun, which is bigger than a 20 gauge shotgun. Also, the larger the gun, the bigger the shotgun shells – meaning more pellets and gunpowder.
But larger guns create more recoil (kickback) and can be uncomfortable for some to shoot. Choose a gauge you can shoot comfortably during longer practice sessions at the range, and not just when you take a single shot at a turkey.
12 gauge shotguns
- Most popular
- Larger shells — more pellets and gunpowder
- More available shell sizes and load options
- More recoil
20 gauge shotguns
- Less recoil – more comfortable to shoot for youth and adults with smaller frames
- Fewer available shell sizes and load options
- Big enough to kill turkeys
What about a 10 gauge?
You can use a shotgun as big as a 10 gauge to hunt turkey in Oregon. And that used to be a popular weapon for turkey hunting. However, advances in 12 gauge shells – including 3-inch and 3 ½-inch shells – have made the 10 gauge obsolete for most applications. Besides, they kick like a bear.
Many turkey hunters prefer a shorter barrel length (22-26 inches) to maneuver in a blind or heavy cover.
Most turkey hunters prefer a better sight on their shotgun than the typical one or two metal beads on top of the barrel. Turkeys are normally a stationary target – unlike a flushing pheasant or a decoying duck – and ideally you want to shoot them in the head for a clean kill that doesn’t spoil the meat. That’s a pretty small target you’re aiming at.
Here are two popular kinds of sights to help you acquire your target and shoot accurately:
- A fiber optic sight is brighter than a metal bead, making it easier to locate the sight and line it up with the head of a turkey. Many shotguns designed for turkey hunting come with a single fiber optic sight mounted on the front of the barrel. You also can buy aftermarket fiber optic sights to install on the gun you already have, as long as it has a ventilated rib and metal bead on top of the barrel. Popular colors are orange, yellow or green.
- A red dot sight contains an illuminated dot inside a sight housing. These are considered the most accurate sights for turkey hunting. A red dot sight is typically very low power; some have no magnification. Some need a battery to operate, some dont. In Oregon, a battery-operated sight or scope is legal on a shotgun as long as it doesnt project a beam onto the target.
- Color. A matte black gun is fine if youre shooting from a blind. But if you’ve set up in natural cover, you might appreciated the extra concealment of a camo-colored gun. Many dedicated turkey and waterfowl guns come in camo, which costs a bit more. In addition, there are a variety of tapes and other aftermarket materials you can use to camouflage your existing gun.
- Recoil pad. Almost all shotguns come with some sort of recoil pad – a rubber or plastic attachment at the end of the stock that helps absorb some of the recoil. There are aftermarket recoil pads that do an even better job at making shooting more comfortable. Buying one doesn’t make you a sissy.
Start with the fundamentals
Start by learning these four gun safety fundamentals and you’ll be well on you way to a lifetime of safe hunting.
- Assume all guns are always loaded. The primary benefit of handling all guns as if they were loaded, is that it will help you develop safe gun handling habits.
- Never let the muzzle of the gun (the shooting end) point at something you’re not willing to shoot. Often referred to as “muzzle control.” This also means carrying your gun so it’s not pointing at someone, and not swinging the muzzle through a person as you mount the gun to take a shot.
- Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until you’re ready to shoot. This can be harder than it sounds because most of us have a natural inclination to put our finger on the trigger whenever we pick up a weapon. Instead, teach yourself to rest your index finger straight along the side of the receiver until you’re ready to shoot.
- Be sure you’ve correctly identified your target (is that a gobbler or hen turkey, or even a decoy), and know what’s behind it. Your shot may miss, or pass through the target, so make sure there’s nothing behind it that you don’t want to shoot.
Turkey hunt with .22 long rifle, San Saba Texas, 2018
FAQ
What can you legally hunt with a 22LR?
22 can be used for many small-game hunts, such as squirrels, rabbits, foxes, woodchucks prairie dogs and more. The . 22 Long Rifle is an excellent tool for target shooting, hunting small game and training new shooters.
What caliber is best for turkey hunting?
A 22 Long Rifle and 22 Magnum are good turkey calibers in the right hands under the right circumstances (distance, moving or still target, the accuracy of …Mar 29, 2021
What animals can you hunt with 22LR?
22 LR rifles are primarily used to hunt rabbits, squirrels, rats, coyotes, raccoons, and birds up to and including turkeys on the ground. As long as a solid backstop, even a tree, is behind an animal on the ground, any .
What gun is best for turkey hunting?
The best rifle for hunting turkey is actually a shotgun. A 12 gauge with 3” magnum turkey specific loads is the most popular choice. You can bag a turkey with a 20 gauge or 410 but you’re going to have to get up close and personal to do so.