Shotgun Patterning For Turkey Hunting

By Chris Larsen

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned veteran or a turkey hunting newbie, shotgun patterning is a must before heading to the woods. Patterning shows concrete evidence of ballistic performance. Perhaps just as importantly, it reacquaints hunters with their guns. Since most turkey hunting is done in the spring, many hunters haven’t fired a shot for 4 or 5 months.

The first step is choosing the correct choke tube. Full or extra full choke tubes are recommended for turkey hunting. Some manufacturers offer specialty chokes for even greater performance. If you have the budget, many of them are as good as advertised. It’s vital to pattern with what you will use when hunting to ensure consistent patterns from the range to the field.

Speaking of consistency, fire the same shells to pattern the gun that you will use when hunting. It’s amazing how patterns differ from brand to brand. When it comes to shot size, I recommend using the largest legal shot size. Larger shot holds energy longer and typically has greater knockdown power. The new non-toxic loads really pack a wallop. They are expensive compared to lead but turkey hunters don’t go through many shells.

If your gun has a scope or other attached sight, be sure the gun is firing straight before patterning. If the comb and bead is preferred, it still doesn’t hurt to fire a few test shots just to be sure the gun is working properly. Set up the initial target at 35 yards. If using turkey patterning targets, aim for the middle of the neck. Aiming for the head leaves half the pattern outside the kill zone. If using traditional targets, draw a rudimentary turkey neck and head with the middle of the neck at the bullseye.

If the shot is properly centered, count the number of pellets within the vital area. Look for a dozen hits at a minimum. 15 or more pellets within the neck and head area is ideal. Be sure there are no large voids in the shot pattern. Most extra full choke/shell combinations can easily achieve this standard. However, if performance is poor, try using different shells or perhaps an aftermarket choke. Experimenting with different combinations to find the optimal pattern is a great idea.

After getting the desired results at 35 yards, shoot targets at 20 yards and 45 yards. Patterns get pretty tight at short distances. Before taking shots at long distance turkeys, have a realistic idea of what a 45 yard pattern looks like. Wounding a bird by taking an ill-advised shot will ruin the hunt.

While at the range, simulate the hunt by shooting from a seated position. Some turkeys are bagged from a standing or even a prone stance, but most shots in the field will be from a seated position with a tree behind the shooter for support.

Preseason shotgun patterning is essential even if it isn’t your first turkey hunt. Think of it as a test session for you and your gun.