Shooting a flying turkey

[moarcher88]

I missed a bird at 10yrds Saturday morning. After the shot he ran past me and took flight, he was still well within range and I almost took the shot but hesitated and that was that. My question is, would you shoot a flying turkey?
I haven't been turkey hunting that long and haven't had that situation yet.

[Pager24]

From an ethics standpoint I don't necessarily see anything wrong with it- as long as the bird was within 25 yards or so. Although, it's definitely risky given the high probability of a non-lethal hit (especially if using a tight long distance type choke). For me personally, if I miss the bird on the ground then I view it as I had my chance and the bird won. There's always another bird out there and not worth the risk

[wolverinebuckman]

I've not been turkey hunting yet... but, If I had a pump shotgun, there would be at least a couple more shells flying his way.. just saying.

[hunter_mike]

Maybe I'm wrong but ive always wanted to drop a flying turkey ever since I missed my first opportunity to do so. Just think it would be awesome, like shooting the biggest pheasant ever

[dan]

If I shot at it already I would take the shot cause though you view it as a miss its likely you put a pellet or two in it and its actually wounded. If not, personally I would likely pass. But I don't have anything against it. Just that reasons I hunt might differ from someone taking that shot. How I kill the bird is slightly higher on my priority list than actually getting a bird. Its more about the experience for me.

[Moose]

If I was confident in the shot I would take it.

[Ol Split ( ) Toes]

If I shot at it already I would take the shot cause though you view it as a miss its likely you put a pellet or two in it and its actually wounded. If not, personally I would likely pass. But I don't have anything against it. Just that reasons I hunt might differ from someone taking that shot. How I kill the bird is slightly higher on my priority list than actually getting a bird. Its more about the experience for me.

X2

[brancher147]

If I’ve already shot I am shooting again if I get a chance. Not really something I can control just how I’m wired.

[UntouchableNess]

Many years ago, I was hunting in a thick area of public hunting. I did some calling, then dozed off for a quick nap. When I woke up, I stood up and a jake that had snuck in flushed really close, somewhere around 7 yards. I had my Winchester model 37A 30" full choke 12 gauge with 3" copper plated buffered 4 shot. Tore him right out of the sky, DOA. Only time I've attempted wing shooting a turkey.

[Elite]

I did it once after stalking a longbeard and hens several hundred yards. They worked into a super thick berm, and we basically flushed them out without knowing they were in there from the last spot we saw them. It sounded like a meteorite crashing into the trees as he fell out of the sky. He flew parallel to me and I wouldn’t had taken the shot from any other angle.

[blackwidow]

Yes, I’d do it again. This one jumped up out of some grass after I walked by at about 15 yards. Confirmed he had a long beard when he took off flying and dropped him into a slough with my single shot.

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