Lightweight, low-recoil, "crawlable" and up close and personal all describe hunting turkey with a 410-bore shotgun.  For under $300, many of the best 410 shotgun options are very affordable.  If you are looking for a challenging and fun way to hunt a spring turkey, this is a great way to go.

On a recent hunt in South Texas, we were able to call up several turkeys to have a shot at.  But, with a 410, you really need to get these birds in around 20 yards to have the best chances of killing one.  And that is not easy with a smart tom and his eyesight. So, we went one for three on our birds.  The first one that came in with a mouth call was on a rope, right up until he spotted us and made a quick U-turn before we could get a shot off. The second spotted our silhouette in the bushes from about thirty yards out and quietly moved on.  But the third came in with a group and was about 15 yards out before he was quickly dispatched.

Getting into position on one of these guys with a fan decoy involves calling, locating, and crawling around behind the decoy to get into prime ambush position. I recommend some Aleve after the hunt.  For our hunt, we used a single shot 410 with a full choke.  There are various manufacturers of ammunition specifically for the 410 and turkey. It’s always best to pattern your specific gun with a specific brand of ammunition before the hunt.

Spring turkey season is a fun way to hunt as it combines many opportunities for exercise, pleasant weather, multiple hunting techniques and a challenging quarry. For more information on turkey hunting and hunting opportunities, see our Turkey Hunting page on the website.