Blackpowder Spring Turkey
A new way to hunt an old favorite
by Kevin Lee McIver
Turkey hunting is a great sport enjoyed by
many outdoor enthusiasts. During the Spring season held throughout much of
the United States, hunters have an opportunity to head back to the woods
soon after the close of the annual deer season.
But even though turkey hunting is exciting,
it is not without boredom, especially near the close of the season. One
way to add additional excitement to this "gobbler" fest is to
hunt the big bird with a blackpowder rifle.
If you never have considered it, give it a
try. Many states now allow hunters to use muzzleloading weapons to hunt
turkeys.
I enjoy hitting the trail, scouting for Mr.
Tom, but with a blackpowder rifle in my hand, I can do it the way my
great-grandfather did -- leaving only smoke and feathers in the woods.
We all know hunting whitetails with a
muzzleloader is a unique challenge, but think about going after turkeys
with a smokepole. With a deer, you can sit high in the trees, waiting to
get a shot at a passing critter.
But with turkeys, you must call them into
range, stay undetected, fidget around to get the shot, and then hit a
target the size of a snuff-can. If this isn't a challenge, I don't know
what is!
Hunting turkey with blackpowder is not much
different than using a shotgun, except you are limited to one shot only,
making it almost as difficult as using a bow. Of course the advantage over
using archery equipment is you still have a bullet heading down-range,
albeit only one.
Ensure you read the state wildlife
regulations before you start shooting turkeys, because you may hunt where
a specific caliber is required. If you're lucky, however, you can use the
same muzzleloader as you do for deer (I use a T/C or CVA .50 caliber),
though you should consider shooting lighter loads so there's some meat
left to take home.
Go ahead and use your shotgun during
opening day, but as the temperatures rise and boredom sets in near the end
of the season, dig out your Hawken, swab the bore and head back out with
your box call. It will spice up the hunt, and give Mr. Tom an equal chance
during the hunt. You won't be disappointed.
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