Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Sub 12ga thread

Pic from a couple of years ago. Took the first bird to wander in to the decoys, a little jake. Model 31 from 1936 in 16 ga FULL.

Nice bird, but beautiful old Model 31, what a gem !

Thanks Vic, I like the old gun quite a lot. I've taken it out for doves and chukar and it is a pleasure to shoot

Second tom of 2020 for me. Posted before but appropriate for this thread (plus I'm pretty proud of myself, first tom called in and killed by myself ) Blaster is a 20ga. JL Galef Companion singleshot, Fiocchi 3" Golden Pheasant 1 1/4oz #6, about 30 yards.

Spotted him the day before following a hen down a power line right of way. Went in and set up, called some and got him gobbling but he wouldn't budge. Went back the next morning, cold called and he gobbled back. Found a better spot to lay up and sent out a few more yelps on my box call. He gobbled right back and was closer, so I yelped a couple more times, getting a gobble back and it was clear he was coming in. A minute or 2 later I see his head coming up the hill looking for the hen and I let him come another 5 yards or so. He stops and starts getting the nervous head weave going so I decide it's now or never, bang, flop! Sometimes it just works out.

Good luck to those getting after them this spring!

I remember those Companions. Nice snag.

I plan on hitting them hard next month. Am heavily invested in new guns, vest, boots, calls, even pants! Got a bunch of TSS in .410 and 20. Hope they appreciate my commitment.

Looking good ryoushi!

Pappy, post up pics next month of that .410 bird please

Looking forward to the opener!

Nice Dan. Just sittin here thinkin about a Turkey hunt to Idaho if I don’t get a spring bear tag. Make a shed/Turkey/scoutin trip over to my whitetail spot.

Thanks! I inherited the Companion from my FIL after he passed. It has become a favorite, especially for high country blue grouse in the alpine.



That would be a fun trip. Some great turkey hunting in Washington too, Jud. One of the few places (maybe the only?) where you can kill 3 different subspecies of turkey in one season.

Thanks longarm! This is a great thread, goes to show you don't need a big blaster to kill these birds. I'm likely to miss turkey season this year so am looking forward to seeing success pics from those who get after 'em.

Ya father in law has a chunk of ground up tonasket, gotta buncha birds. Area I go in Idaho is covered up with em too. Just lookin for a excuse to get out camp and kill a bird or 2.

ryoushi, if you get the time I would happily host you on a local hunt here. PM me for details

Gotcha. It's unreal how many turkey are out in E WA and N Idaho, a real success story, almost too much so.

Sent!

Hey Jud,
Didn't see your response earlier. You know you are always welcome down this way!

Appreciated Dan, I’ll take ya up on it. 👍

Perfect timing. This Saturday I was pattern checking the TC turkey gun, I have a 4x scope on it to zero in on the head a bit better and have killed several birds with it over the years. I must be getting forgetful more so the closer I get to 70, or I just got used to shooting my 28 at quail this year.
I got a "scope bite" on the bridge of my nose. Something I haven't done for over 10 years., musta just got lazy.
Yesterday I finally got around to cleaning my 410 Companion after shooting some wobble trap with it a few weeks ago. Thought to myself as I rubbed the bridge of my nose that I might want to try the 410 this year and chuckled as I put it back in the safe.

After reading this post, I checked and I do have two boxes of Fiocchi GP 3inch on the shelf. Might need to test my "cluckin and puttin" skills this year.
Your post must have been my message from God.

(In my best God-like voice) I command thee to go forth and turkey hunt with the Companion!

Ain't gotta tell me twice...that's my wife's job.

Looking forward to the grip-n-grin.

You guys got me on a roll now. Just ordered some TSS 410's on line for the 410 Companion, and an Optima 2XF choke for my 28 ga A 400 Beretta.