I will NOT stalk, belly-crawl or bushwhack to kill one. It's a game of skill. Mine against the bird's. 40 yards is where "My skill > his skill" and I feel justified in taking him.
Do you feel stalking to within 40 yards of a turkey doesn’t take skill?
Personally, I don’t call them much anymore. When they’re lovesick they’re about as challenging to call in as a drunk is to a bar. Easy, though I still do it sometimes.
I get MUCH more satisfaction out of stalking/belly crawling up to feeding birds and getting them killed than I do calling them to me.
To the OP, if I remember correctly my longest (via shotgun anyway) was about 60 yards with my BPS 10 gauge and some random factory turkey load with I believe lead #6 shot. Full choke, but not a special ‘turkey’ choke. It straight up rocked his world.
I called him into maybe 10 yards but he came in behind me. Once I realized he was there, he took off running. I stood up, spun 180 degrees and let him have it as he sprinted away.
Boom. Big ‘ol Idaho tom.
