If your shotgun, choke and load combination is unproven or suspect, tape a piece of freezer paper to a box then draw a 3-inch circle inside a 10-inch circle in black marker. (The 3-inch circle replicates a turkey’s head.) Better yet, get a turkey head target from Caldwell. Step off 40 yards, take a steady rest and let her rip. Then count the pellet holes in the 3-inch circle.
5 pellets or less: You call that a turkey gun?Either you are such a turkey master that you shoot a .410-bore and rely on your hen-like mannerisms, or you need to break down and buy a new shotgun because the one you have sucks eggs. Any full-choked 12-gauge with a modern shell should put more than five pellets in a turkey’s head at 40 yards. If the gun is sentimental and you refuse to use anything but it and your old paper-hulled shells, fine, Havilah Babcock, but you better not shoot till you see the hair on his snood. The cheapest remedy is to experiment with various loads. If you are using No. 4, try a 6. If neither covers your target with glory, try 5’s. Try various brands, as some guns’ bore dimensions seem to prefer some wads over others. I’ve had great luck with the Flite Control wad in some Federal Premium loads. It stays with the pellets longer, therefore keeping them together better. Hornady uses the same wad, only called Versatite. Hevi-Shot generally patterns well. And new tungsten-based pellets like Winchester Hi-Density or Federal Heavyweight actually allow you to use a smaller pellet that weighs the same as a larger one, allowing more pellets to strike the target without sacrificing individual pellet energy. The only bad thing is that it would be cheaper to simply buy a Butterball from Safeway.
If changing loads doesn’t work, buy an aftermarket choke tube from Carlson’s, Trulock, Tru-Glo, Primos or others. Many shotgun manufacturers make extra-full chokes. Standard full choke for a 12-gauge is about .693 inch, while some “turkey” chokes are as tight as .665 inch. Just know that it’s not as easy as simply finding a tight choke that will fit your gun’s threads. Again, some barrel/load combinations prefer certain chokes, so it’s a crapshoot whether a new choke tube will dramatically affect your pattern. Likely it will be better than five measly pellets. At any rate, install it then try various loads again. Trial and error is the key.
6-11 pellets: “Congratulations, you are adequate.”Said no Olympic judge ever. Your gun will kill any turkey on Earth at 40 yards if you aim it in the right place, but typically the pattern will be spotty and will quickly become marginal past 40. Experiment with various loads. Consider a 31/2-inch shell if you are shooting a 23/4- or 3-inch, because despite what sissies say, the more pellets that leave the barrel the more potential there is to place more pellets in a gobbler’s grill. In general, lower velocity shells pattern better than high velocity. Lastly, if after several shots you notice the pattern is actually denser in other places than the 3-inch circle, try buying sights or mounting a scope on your shotgun. I know it sounds blasphemous, but your problem may not be in patterning but in point-of-aim/point-of-impact issues. If an optic doesn’t work, try the aforementioned remedies. If you’re happily married to mediocrity, just keep it inside 40 yards, mister.
12-24 pellets: Bona fide turkey gunDon’t do anything to this rig other than place it high on the mantel to keep your kids’ grubby hooks off it. Buy a bunch of the shells that produced these rich patterns, because you never know when an ammo company will discontinue that particular load for something “new and improved.” You don’t need any better; what you need is more time to hunt turkeys. If you are a perfectionist who wants to win the world turkey shoot championship, the best option is to give it to a shotgun choke specialist and have him back-bore it, put a scope on it and then handload shells, because as the beer commercial goes, “It doesn’t get much better than this, boys.” So save your money to buy something nice, like a guest house for your mother-in-law.
25 pellets or more: Turkey Shoot GoldThis gun practically sends each pellet through a turnstile before letting it loose. It’s a rifle in a shotgun’s physique. It’s a rig fit for a turkey shoot. After you shoot a turkey at 65 yards and drop it like the “Huffington Post,” go ahead and enter the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Still Target Championship, which awards shooters for the tightest turkey load patterns. While the record is 54, generally a pellet count in the low 30s wins it. But I caution against hunting with patterns that are too tight. It’s like the championship duck caller who can’t call real ducks: A real turkey bobs and weaves like Muhammad Ali in his heyday, and therefore a pattern that’s too tight can result in misses if the shooter isn’t perfect with his placement. Turkey Shoot Gold patterns look good on paper, but they can appear rather thin as your hard-won gobbler is running away from your hot skillet. In this article
Turkey shoots are a beloved tradition throughout many parts of the country, especially in rural communities These shooting competitions offer a fun way to win prizes like whole turkeys, hams, roasts and more leading up to the holidays But with a bit of skill and the right techniques, you can increase your odds of scoring big.
In this guide, we’ll cover pro tips and strategies for how to win at turkey shoots and take home some tasty prizes. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned shooter, these turkey shoot secrets will help sharpen your skills. Let’s get started!
What is a Turkey Shoot?
For those new to the sport, a turkey shoot is a shotgun shooting competition usually held as a fundraiser event by clubs churches or other organizations. They typically take place in fall leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The most common turkey shoot format works like this:
- Shooters pay an entry fee, often just a few dollars, to compete in a round
- All shooters line up and take turns firing one shotgun shell at a paper target downrange
- The shooter whose shot is closest to the center “X” is the winner and takes home a prize, traditionally a whole turkey
- Multiple rounds are held, with hams, roasts and other meat prizes also up for grabs
While it does require some skill, turkey shoots ultimately come down mostly to luck. The random nature means anyone – from novice to expert – can win. But those who understand range dynamics and how to adjust their aim have an advantage.
Gear Tips: Use the Right Shotgun and Ammo
Having the proper gear can make a difference in your turkey shoot performance. Be sure to:
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Use a 12 gauge – The larger bore means more pellets and increased odds of hitting center. Though some events allow smaller gauges like 16 or 20.
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Choose the right choke – A tighter full or turkey choke keeps the shot pattern tighter for better accuracy. Some clubs restrict ultra tight chokes.
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Use heavier loads – Shells with larger 7.5, 8 or 9 size shot have more pellets to potentially hit the target center.
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Aim for consistency – Use the same make/model shotgun and shells every time for consistency in patterns and performance.
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Pattern your shotgun – Test various ammo and chokes at 25 yards to learn your gun’s capabilities.
5 Tips to Improve Your Accuracy
Follow these pro tips when shooting in turkey shoots to dial in your accuracy:
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Shoulder properly – Keep the stock firmly planted for stability. Don’t “chicken wing” your elbow.
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Aim small – Focus intensely on a small point within the target center rather than the entire X area.
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Control breathing – Inhale, exhale halfway, and squeeze the trigger at the natural respiratory pause.
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Pull straight back – Keep steady pressure directly back on the trigger. Any side-to-side motion can skew the shot.
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Follow through – Resist the urge to immediately look for your shot. Maintain form and focus for a few seconds after the shot.
Adjusting Your Aim and Finding the “Sweet Spot”
Here’s a key tip on adjusting your aim to find the shotgun’s sweet spot:
- Fire multiple test rounds at the center X, keeping your aim point consistent
- Note any pattern of shot placement (high/low, left/right etc)
- Adjust your aim point slightly to compensate and bring your group closer to center
- Continue minor adjustments until you “zero in” on the sweet spot
- Stick with this aim point in competition for improved accuracy
Common Turkey Shoot Mistakes to Avoid
Steer clear of these common errors that can throw off your shooting:
- Jerking the trigger instead of a smooth pull
- Rushing your shot instead of proper rhythm and timing
- Changing aim points erratically instead of methodically
- Not paying attention to safety procedures
- Using a shotgun with too much recoil that causes flinching
- Choosing improper ammo/chokes without patterning first
Turkey Shoot Strategies and Pro Tips
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Arrive early to watch and learn. Pay attention to other shooters’ techniques, wins and misses.
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Don’t get discouraged. Even the best shooters can hit bad luck. Stay positive through the ups and downs.
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Relax and have fun! Turkey shoots should be entertaining, even if you don’t win. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
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Be a good sport before, during and after. Follow all range rules and safely handle firearms at all times.
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Consider taking a beginner shooter under your wing. Turkey shoots are a great way to introduce new people to the sport.
Enjoy an Age-Old Tradition
Turkey shoots uphold time-honored traditions while bringing communities together. With the right skills and positive mindset, they can be exciting and rewarding for all experience levels.
Hopefully these tips give you a better feel for what to expect at a turkey shoot event. And ideally you’ll head home with a frozen bird or tasty ham after a day of good old-fashioned shooting fun. Just remember to put safety first, choose the proper gear, focus on your form, and adjust your aim diligently.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself hooked on this classic American pastime after your first turkey shoot. They offer camaraderie, friendly competition and the chance to show off your shotgun prowess. Now get out there and start practicing to up your odds. Happy shooting!
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- Jeff Johnston
posted on March 25, 2013
If your shotgun, choke and load combination is unproven or suspect, tape a piece of freezer paper to a box then draw a 3-inch circle inside a 10-inch circle in black marker. (The 3-inch circle replicates a turkey’s head.) Better yet, get a turkey head target from Caldwell. Step off 40 yards, take a steady rest and let her rip. Then count the pellet holes in the 3-inch circle.
5 pellets or less: You call that a turkey gun?Either you are such a turkey master that you shoot a .410-bore and rely on your hen-like mannerisms, or you need to break down and buy a new shotgun because the one you have sucks eggs. Any full-choked 12-gauge with a modern shell should put more than five pellets in a turkey’s head at 40 yards. If the gun is sentimental and you refuse to use anything but it and your old paper-hulled shells, fine, Havilah Babcock, but you better not shoot till you see the hair on his snood. The cheapest remedy is to experiment with various loads. If you are using No. 4, try a 6. If neither covers your target with glory, try 5’s. Try various brands, as some guns’ bore dimensions seem to prefer some wads over others. I’ve had great luck with the Flite Control wad in some Federal Premium loads. It stays with the pellets longer, therefore keeping them together better. Hornady uses the same wad, only called Versatite. Hevi-Shot generally patterns well. And new tungsten-based pellets like Winchester Hi-Density or Federal Heavyweight actually allow you to use a smaller pellet that weighs the same as a larger one, allowing more pellets to strike the target without sacrificing individual pellet energy. The only bad thing is that it would be cheaper to simply buy a Butterball from Safeway.
If changing loads doesn’t work, buy an aftermarket choke tube from Carlson’s, Trulock, Tru-Glo, Primos or others. Many shotgun manufacturers make extra-full chokes. Standard full choke for a 12-gauge is about .693 inch, while some “turkey” chokes are as tight as .665 inch. Just know that it’s not as easy as simply finding a tight choke that will fit your gun’s threads. Again, some barrel/load combinations prefer certain chokes, so it’s a crapshoot whether a new choke tube will dramatically affect your pattern. Likely it will be better than five measly pellets. At any rate, install it then try various loads again. Trial and error is the key.
6-11 pellets: “Congratulations, you are adequate.”Said no Olympic judge ever. Your gun will kill any turkey on Earth at 40 yards if you aim it in the right place, but typically the pattern will be spotty and will quickly become marginal past 40. Experiment with various loads. Consider a 31/2-inch shell if you are shooting a 23/4- or 3-inch, because despite what sissies say, the more pellets that leave the barrel the more potential there is to place more pellets in a gobbler’s grill. In general, lower velocity shells pattern better than high velocity. Lastly, if after several shots you notice the pattern is actually denser in other places than the 3-inch circle, try buying sights or mounting a scope on your shotgun. I know it sounds blasphemous, but your problem may not be in patterning but in point-of-aim/point-of-impact issues. If an optic doesn’t work, try the aforementioned remedies. If you’re happily married to mediocrity, just keep it inside 40 yards, mister.
12-24 pellets: Bona fide turkey gunDon’t do anything to this rig other than place it high on the mantel to keep your kids’ grubby hooks off it. Buy a bunch of the shells that produced these rich patterns, because you never know when an ammo company will discontinue that particular load for something “new and improved.” You don’t need any better; what you need is more time to hunt turkeys. If you are a perfectionist who wants to win the world turkey shoot championship, the best option is to give it to a shotgun choke specialist and have him back-bore it, put a scope on it and then handload shells, because as the beer commercial goes, “It doesn’t get much better than this, boys.” So save your money to buy something nice, like a guest house for your mother-in-law.
25 pellets or more: Turkey Shoot GoldThis gun practically sends each pellet through a turnstile before letting it loose. It’s a rifle in a shotgun’s physique. It’s a rig fit for a turkey shoot. After you shoot a turkey at 65 yards and drop it like the “Huffington Post,” go ahead and enter the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Still Target Championship, which awards shooters for the tightest turkey load patterns. While the record is 54, generally a pellet count in the low 30s wins it. But I caution against hunting with patterns that are too tight. It’s like the championship duck caller who can’t call real ducks: A real turkey bobs and weaves like Muhammad Ali in his heyday, and therefore a pattern that’s too tight can result in misses if the shooter isn’t perfect with his placement. Turkey Shoot Gold patterns look good on paper, but they can appear rather thin as your hard-won gobbler is running away from your hot skillet. In this article
How to win a Turkey Shoot
FAQ
What is the best distance to shoot a turkey?
What are the rules of a turkey shoot?
How far can you shoot a turkey with a 20 gauge?
What is the best choke for a turkey shoot?
How do you win a turkey shoot?
Before you feel defeated without even trying, a turkey shoot in ten-percent skill, ten-percent equipment, and eighty-percent luck. All it take is one pellet in the right location to win so anyone from beginner to veteran can win any game at any time.
What is a turkey shoot?
A turkey shoot in many cases is just that, a shooting contest to win a turkey. In many cases the club or organization also gives out hams, sausage, roasts, and other cuts of meat. Occasionally they award cash prizes. Before you feel defeated without even trying, a turkey shoot in ten-percent skill, ten-percent equipment, and eighty-percent luck.
Do you shoot real turkeys?
At our modern turkey shoot we don’t shoot real birds, but we still win them. Prizes for this match are always frozen turkeys, with most shooters going home with a bird for Thanksgiving.
What is a frozen turkey shoot?
It may also refer to a shooting contest in which frozen turkeys are awarded as prizes, sometimes more generically known as a ” meat shoot .” The shoot is most commonly held using shotguns aimed at paper targets about 25–35 yards away. The winner is chosen according to which target has a shot closest to its center crossmark.