Quick Answer
Shotgun patterns are crucial for turkey hunting as they directly impact the effectiveness of a hunter's shot, with a well-placed pattern increasing the chances of a successful harvest.
Understanding Patterns and Shotguns
When hunting turkeys with a 20 gauge shotgun, it’s essential to understand the pattern’s spread and density. A 20 gauge, with its smaller pellet size, requires closer shot distances to effectively drop a bird. A pattern of 6-8 inches spread at 20 yards is a good starting point for this gauge. The Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) load, for instance, provides a 6-inch pattern at 20 yards with a 4-bondant 20 gauge shell.
Patterns at Various Distances
To successfully harvest a turkey, it’s crucial to understand how patterns change with distance. For a 20 gauge, a 6-8 inch spread at 20 yards will increase to 8-12 inches at 25 yards, and 12-18 inches at 30 yards. To account for these changes, hunters should aim for the turkey’s head or neck, rather than the body, to ensure a clean kill. Aiming for the head or neck also increases the chances of a one-shot kill, reducing the risk of the bird running off.
Choke and Shotshell Selection
The choke on a shotgun also plays a significant role in pattern performance. A full choke can produce a tighter pattern, but may require a closer shot distance. Hunters should consider using a modified choke to achieve a 6-8 inch spread at 20 yards. When selecting shotshells, hunters should look for the optimal pellet size and load for their specific gauge and hunting needs. For a 20 gauge, a 3-inch, 1 1/8 oz load with 1/4 oz of tungsten is a good starting point.
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