| Hunting for turkey is not so much different than | | | | fired at the further away targets. This will give |
| hunting other game in the woods, but one | | | | the hunter his effective range and the maximum |
| difference might be the size. To be able to hit | | | | at which the hunter can consistently hit the |
| such a small target, it is of utmost importance to | | | | turkey head with this shotgun. To be able to |
| pattern the shotgun. Not balancing and zeroing the | | | | determine this, the hunter needs to have at least |
| shotgun might keep a hunter from being able to | | | | four if not five or more shots strike the turkey |
| hit that turkey. | | | | head. |
| There are a few materials available that might | | | | Patterning a shotgun properly takes some time, |
| help a hunter pattern his gun. For example, many | | | | but it is time well spent. The more accurate a gun |
| of the better hunting and sports stores offer | | | | can be shot, the more game the hunter might |
| turkey targets. If a commercially produced target | | | | take home. While if the hunter has to guess |
| is not preferred, a hunter may draw roughly the | | | | where to aim to hit the animal, he for sure will |
| size of a turkey’s head on a paper and pin | | | | miss a target as small as a turkeys head. |
| this paper to the usual target used to train. | | | | For newbies to the hunting and turkey hunting |
| To properly pattern a gun, targets need to be | | | | sport, many hunting books, online pages and even |
| set up about every ten yards starting at twenty. | | | | employees at the local shooting range should be |
| This means 20 yards from the shooter, 30, 40 | | | | able to help. By the way, before going out there |
| and then five yards distance for any targets | | | | and try to pattern a gun in the backyard, make |
| after the 40 yards one. When shooting at the | | | | sure that it is allowed to shoot a gun in the |
| targets, try out different types and even | | | | backyard. Many states have laws that do not |
| different brands of ammunition, since most | | | | allow for the use of guns within city limits, |
| shotguns and rifles have different accuracy levels | | | | especially in big suburban neighborhoods. If |
| with different loads. If the hunter is lucky he has | | | | patterning the gun is still necessary within city |
| one of the few shotguns that is very accurate | | | | limits, the hunter can go to the nearest shooting |
| and there will not be much pattern work | | | | range and do it there. |
| necessary. After setting up the targets, the | | | | It is also important that the hunter does not |
| hunter needs to aim at the turkey head. By | | | | pattern his shotgun too much ahead of time. |
| shooting the head, he will learn several things | | | | Time and even usage can change what the |
| about the gun (given of course that the shooter | | | | hunter has learned from his gun and therefore, |
| is a good shooter). First of all the hunter will learn | | | | patterning it just before the trip is the better |
| from his shot pattern, where he has to aim at | | | | choice. |
| with the bead of the shotgun to be able to center | | | | So, before planning the next turkey hunting trip, it |
| his shooting pattern on the turkeys head. It will | | | | is important to check the gear for completeness |
| show if the gun is dead on, or maybe a tad bid | | | | and to make sure everything is packed. It is also |
| high or low. As mentioned before, the hunter | | | | essential to pattern the gun. The better the gun is |
| should try out different loads, so that he can learn | | | | zeroed, the better for the hunter, because the |
| which load gives him the best, most accurate | | | | hunter can more rely on his skill than on good luck |
| pattern. | | | | for aiming. |
| It is also important to make sure that shots are | | | | |