Quick Answer
Federal law requires non-toxic turkey loads in all states for waterfowl hunting, but for wild turkey hunting, it's a different story. Non-toxic loads are only necessary when hunting with a 12-gauge or smaller shotgun with a total shot weight of 1 1/4 ounces or less. This is to reduce lead poisoning risks for scavenging birds.
Understanding Non-Toxic Loads for Wild Turkey
When hunting wild turkey with a 12-gauge or smaller shotgun, you’ll need to use non-toxic shot if your total shot weight is 1 1/4 ounces or less. This is due to the small size of the bird and the potential for lead poisoning in scavenging birds that eat the turkey’s remains. For example, if you’re using 8-ounce buckshot, you’ll be fine since it exceeds the 1 1/4-ounce limit. However, if you’re using 1/4-ounce steel shot, you’ll need to switch to a larger gauge or more lead shot to comply with regulations.
Choosing the Right Non-Toxic Load
When selecting non-toxic shot, consider the range you’ll be shooting at and the size of the turkey. For closer shots, a larger shot size like 1/4 or 1/2 ounce may be sufficient. At longer ranges, you may need to switch to smaller shot sizes like 3/4 or 1 ounce. Steel, bismuth-tin, and tungsten-iron are popular non-toxic shot materials, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, steel shot is more cost-effective but may not penetrate as deeply as other materials.
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