Turkey hunting w/ a .22.... legal or not??

[Diggs27]

hello there. Just ordered my Mossy 702 and was checking out the hunting regulations through the Fish & Game site. Did see that deer and Bear are out of the question.... says nothing smaller than .23 caliber. Did not see any mention of turkey thoug and was wondering if it was legal or illegal to do so in Virginia. I recently moved from NJ and know it was illegel to do so up there, so trying to get used to all the "new" regulations down here. Thank you in advance for your input.

[FiremanBob]

Please tell me you weren't seriously considering using a .22LR on a large game animal.

[Diggs27]

nope..... definitely was not considering on using it for bear or deer. Just made the statement as to what the book states. As I stated; there is nothing about turkey there so was actually using this to justify the "legalities" of hunting the turkey with a .22

[jdonovan]

The data on VA DGIF's web site is a bit thin....

under legal methods they list:

Code: Select all

Modern firearms.
Archery tackle (including crossbows).
Muzzleloading firearms.
Decoys and blinds may be used.
Dogs may be used.
Unlawful to use electronic calls.

Unlike deer there is no mention of minimum caliber, nor muzzle-energy requirements.

It seems like a .22 rimfire would be permissible, but perhaps not the most wise of a choice.

[jrswanson1]

You can use it during the fall season, but not during Spring Gobbler.

[Snakester]

Anyone that has done any Turkey hunting at all would never consider a .22 to hunt such a large and intelligent Game Bird. There are a lot of Guns and shot loads made especially for hunting Turkeys.

[TacticalTedcom]

Using a 2/ and taking a head shot is real sport!

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[WRW]

Using a 2/ and taking a head shot is real sport!

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Long years ago, before the growth in this area, a news article described the sense of pride on the part of turkey hunters making head shots...and any miss would not leave a wounded bird.

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[dorminWS]

Way back about 1973/74, they were just getting ready to open turkey season 5 years or so after having re-stocked them on the Appalachian plateau, and I bought what was being sold as a "real turkey gun". It was a Savage .22 magnum over a full-choke 20 gauge magnum. It had been so long since there had been any turkeys to hunt I didn't know any better. Before season ever opened, I got into the graduate school that I wasn't expecting to admit me and never took it into the woods. Never heard tell of anybody else turkey hunting with one. In other words, I was HAD on that particular gun purchase. I think experience has shown that there is a good reason nobody is running around in the woods with one of those things. Around here, most folks turkey hunt with a 10-gauge with an extra-full "turkey" choke. I think Snakester is right; anyone who hunts with a .22, whether it is legal or not, is seriously under-gunned.

[drakb]

lol

[Machias]

Growing up in the Ozarks of Missouri back in the 1970s, I have seen dozens of turkeys killed with a .22, none were legal, but I seen them drop all the same. I do not believe they should ever be made legal or used though.

[Taggure]

There is no reason that a well-placed (Head Shot) .22 would not take a turkey, but in saying that; if you are going to hunt with the .22 I would use the CCI Stingers or equivalent or as some has suggested a .22 magnum to take the bird. My preference would be my Stevens Single Shot 16 gauge that my Grandpa gave me way back when.

[dorminWS]

Growing up in the Ozarks of Missouri back in the 1970s, I have seen dozens of turkeys killed with a .22, none were legal, but I seen them drop all the same. I do not believe they should ever be made legal or used though.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I know some people that poached deer poached with a .22LR, too. But the fact remains that a .22 isn't enough gun to deer hunt with just as it isn't really enough gun to turkey hunt with. Hellfahr, David kilt Goliath with a slingshot; but I wouldn't recommend THAT, either.

[Machias]

I've also seen a lot of deer killed with a .22, I would never advocate using a .22 for deer.....just like I wasn't advocating using them for turkeys.

[dorminWS]

I've also seen a lot of deer killed with a .22, I would never advocate using a .22 for deer.....just like I wasn't advocating using them for turkeys.

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Yup. I pretty much had that figured out when I read where you posted "I do not believe they should ever be made legal or used though.".

[Machias]

[docapos]

I know legality was already established and I'm not advocating but i stumbled on this and couldn't believe it

"Rifles (including air rifles), pistols, and revolvers may be used for hunting turkeys, except where prohibited by local ordinances."
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... #legal-use

Air rifles? really?

[Machias]

I saw video of a hog being dropped with an air rifle.....not your grandpa's air rifles though.

[jdonovan]

Air rifles? really?

Might have been a while since your red ryder days, but the airgun world has changed. A lot.

http://www.airgundepot.com/samyang-909-rifle.html

45 cal 180 gr @ 780 FPS

Not exactly hot-magnum power, but very respectable for an air gun.

[docapos]

wow jdonovan No kidding! lol