Gearing up for Spring Turkeys

by
posted on March 2, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gearing_up_spring_turkeys_f.jpg

Editor's Note: Adam Heggenstaller put all of this gear to use on a recent Gould's turkey hunt in Sonora. Catch up on his adventure here.

I am a strong proponent of red-dot optics on turkey guns, but for my trip to Sonora, Linda Powell from Mossberg talked me into using a new version of the company’s Model 535 that comes with Marble Arms Bullseye iron sights. The Bullseye rear sight is a pair of concentric rings, with the smaller centered in the larger, and a fiber-optic pipe serves as the front sight. The human eye naturally centers the front “bead” in the smaller circle when looking down the barrel, and it’s easy to spot misalignment. While the steel rings of the rear sight are thin and do not block much of the target, the outside diameter makes the Bullseye more difficult to ignore than the low bump of a rifle-style rear sight. The Bullseye almost forces you to look through it, which reminds you to keep your head on the stock and aim. I had a split-second to raise the 535 and draw a bead on the head of a Gould’s when it reappeared from behind a tree, and the Bullseye helped me hit the mark.

When Federal Premium developed 3rd Degree, its goal was a turkey load that would throw an effective pattern at any distance from 10-40 yards. The three types of shot stacked within a 3rd Degree shell—No. 5 nickel-plated lead FlightStopper, No. 6 copper-plated lead and No. 7 Heavyweight—are designed to spread wider than conventional loads at close range while still holding a tight pattern for longer shots. In my tests (see “Hardware” review on AmericanHunter.org) 3rd Degree produced 10-yard patterns that were about 50 percent wider than standard loads and 50-yard patterns that were every bit as devastating. The load works just as well at any range in between, as one 3-inch shell dropped my Gould’s at 18 paces.

Ted Jaycox of Tall Tine Outfitters offers hunts for Gould’s turkeys on Rancho Mababi, the ocellated subspecies in Campeche, Mexico, and Osceola gobblers in Florida. His other specialties include Coues deer on Mababi, whitetails in Kansas and elk in Colorado. Ted’s affable, enjoys sharing his considerable expertise and will even carry the snacks for his clients.

Latest

44 Mag HST LEDE
44 Mag HST LEDE

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Breeding Duck Numbers Decline Again in ND

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th-annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66-million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.