BigBill
Absent Comrade
I moved to a more rural area and the local fish n game club is having a turkey shoot?
What’s a turkey shoot?
What’s a turkey shoot?
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What’s a turkey shoot?
- Thread starter BigBill
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Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
The one I went to had one shot at target with birdshot. Most pellets inside the circle won.
I'm sure there are plenty of score keeping deals.
I'm sure there are plenty of score keeping deals.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Typically a turkey shoot is conducted using shotguns at a specified range with the resulting shot patterns on a paper target determining the winner. In most cases the contestants will all use the same ammunition (so a 12-ga. competition, a 16-ga. competition, a 20-ga. competition, etc, each contestant using the same ammunition).
The object of the exercise is to place the greatest number of pellets onto the paper target, with each contestant shooting from the same position and range using the same ammunition.
At my club the prize is typically a frozen turkey (ready for the oven) for each round of a dozen or so shooters. After the guns are put away we frequently have a few adult beverages, maybe a little lunch. A good time is the goal, and we usually accomplish that goal.
I am both fortunate, and unfortunate, to own a shotgun that repeatedly wins at the turkey shoots, whether I am using it or anyone else uses it. Consequently, there is always at least one round in which everyone gets to use my shotgun. The scoring is lots of fun.
The object of the exercise is to place the greatest number of pellets onto the paper target, with each contestant shooting from the same position and range using the same ammunition.
At my club the prize is typically a frozen turkey (ready for the oven) for each round of a dozen or so shooters. After the guns are put away we frequently have a few adult beverages, maybe a little lunch. A good time is the goal, and we usually accomplish that goal.
I am both fortunate, and unfortunate, to own a shotgun that repeatedly wins at the turkey shoots, whether I am using it or anyone else uses it. Consequently, there is always at least one round in which everyone gets to use my shotgun. The scoring is lots of fun.
fiasconva
Member
All the ones I went to way back when were 10 people on the line each shooting at their own 8 X 10" piece of paper with an X drawn in the middle at 40 yds. The one that had a pellet closest to the center of the X won the turkey. Of course, the one that put the most pellets in the target at that range had the best chance of winning. My grandfather's old Fox Sterlingworth with the 30" full chokes would load that target up. After a few shoots those old timers wouldn't shoot if I went up to the line. Those guys hated getting beat by some scrawny kid with a 1920 vintage shotgun.
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DWalt
Member
There are variations as to how a Turkey Shoot works. Most common use shotguns and paper targets "Closest to the center of the X" and "Most pellets in a circle". Sometimes both, shooter's choice. It's largely a matter of luck as to how tightly your shotgun patterns with a specific shell and shot size being provided by the club in the Shoot for most pellets in a circle. You can't use your own shells for obvious reasons. Closest the center of the X is even more luck. Most shooters use a full choke 12 gauge shotgun. At least I have not known of any other gauge shotguns being used. I have seen Turkey Shoots which require that all shooters must use only the same shotgun (and ammo) supplied by the club, not their own shotgun. Back in the "Old" days, Turkey Shoots usually involved using a rifle, shooting at a live turkey's head as a target at some distance, say 25 yards (body of the unfortunate bird was protected behind a log barricade). I doubt that is done anywhere these days. I have also heard of Turkey Shoots using .22 rifles and "Closest to the center of the X" targets at some distance but haven't seen one.
Back when I lived in rural western Maryland almost 50 years ago, there were always some roadside turkey shoots in the area that operated every day during the period leading up to Thanksgiving. Anyone driving by could stop, pay the tariff for a shot, and shoot, winner to be determined later. Almost universally, a Turkey Shoot is principally a fund raising activity either for some charitable purpose or for the club. Marksmanship skills have little to do with who wins a frozen turkey (or sometimes a ham).
Back when I lived in rural western Maryland almost 50 years ago, there were always some roadside turkey shoots in the area that operated every day during the period leading up to Thanksgiving. Anyone driving by could stop, pay the tariff for a shot, and shoot, winner to be determined later. Almost universally, a Turkey Shoot is principally a fund raising activity either for some charitable purpose or for the club. Marksmanship skills have little to do with who wins a frozen turkey (or sometimes a ham).
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That was when they were shooting for a beef critter . The turkey shoot you shot a live turkey, if you could get him to stick his head up .
Being from a place where there are no wild turkeys.
The only "turkey shoot" I remember is this one:
Battle of the Philippine Sea - Wikipedia
The only "turkey shoot" I remember is this one:
Battle of the Philippine Sea - Wikipedia
THE PILGRIM
Member
‘He’s got a 16 gauge choke down like a rifle.’
I’ve known folks up in the Midwest, like Indiana who had barrels custom choked for Turkey Shoots.
I’ve known folks up in the Midwest, like Indiana who had barrels custom choked for Turkey Shoots.
DWalt
Member
I don't doubt that may have been done, but as one who has patterned many shotshells for use in trap shooting, I know a shell of some specific brand and shot size and weight may shoot a uniformly tight group, but not necessarily if that same shotgun is fired using a different brand of shell having the same shot size and weight. If you want opinions regarding performance of different brands of shotshells, talk to a top-level competitive trap shooter or live pigeon shooter. Those guys will always use only the brand that they have determined to shoot the best in their shotguns.
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Harrison
US Veteran
I have been to turkey shoots where a shotgun was used and I have been to ones where a rifle .22RF or center fire was used. The common thing was that a turkey was the prize.
Tubbsy
Member
My grandpa's got an old "jug gun" which was used in these sorts of shoots....
bulletslap
Member
Some call them Card Shoots.
I had a 1950 vintage Superposed that would pattern very tight, and took a few prizes.
I had a 1950 vintage Superposed that would pattern very tight, and took a few prizes.
In my area turkey shoots are often trap shoots, with the best score winning a frozen turkey. Same theme.
This is a common fundraiser with many gun clubs in central Pennsylvania. Pellet closest to the X on a target wins. Shells provided by club. Not uncommon for shooters to have custom built shotguns and chokes, equipped with scope/red dot for the shoot. In response to shooters demands, some clubs are providing quality shells, such as Winchester AA, for the shoots in order to provide more consistent patterns. This can be competitive.
Tubbsy
Member
That appears to be a shot turkey.... this would be Turkey shot....
4barrel
Member
You can draw shooters that are not very good by having numbered squares on a piece of square paper at 10 yards pistol or rifle with a 22. Turn the paper around to the blank side and fire 3 shots. High score wins. Not the best shot. All you do is hit the paper. The shooter doesn't know which direction <4 possible> the paper is turned. Usually you win a paid receipt for a frozen turkey at the local grocery.
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