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Fall Turkey Hunting Essentials

October 28, 2022 | 0 Comments

The tradition of turkey hunting began only in the fall season initially. During the first half of the 20th century, very few states even offered spring hunting seasons due to the limited turkey population. Though In time a rise in turkey populations made the spring hunt more popular and widely available, fall turkey hunting remains a cherished tradition.

As many as 44 states offer fall turkey hunting, giving shooters a second chance to bag that prized bird as well as an opportunity to experience the time-honored fall hunt. Whether you’re a veteran of turkey hunting or a newcomer, there are several factors to consider. So before you head out, check out our list of fall turkey hunting essentials to be fully prepared.

Get all your hunting essentials online from GrabAGun. We’ve got Winchester, Mossberg, and Remington shotguns along with 12 gauge ammo and archery supplies. Get the best turkey hunting shotguns from GrabAGun today!

Fall vs Spring Turkey Habits

Fall turkey hunting is its own unique sport. Many tactics and gear that you’d normally use in the spring won’t necessarily work in the fall. For example, scouting is key to finding turkeys in this season. Unlike spring turkey hunting, fall hunters must rely less on sounds, scratching, or flapping wings.

Fall Turkey Habits:

Hens and Jakes tend to flock together in search of food like hickory nuts, beetles and bugs, corn and grains, grass, and acorns
Toms tend to be loners, keeping to themselves while searching for food
Fall flocks wander over a wide area and sometimes will not return to the same spot for many days. The typical range for a fall flock is between 250 and 400 acres

Spring Turkey Habits:

Toms turn into lovers instead of loners. They are notably vocal and will strut more.
Jakes and Toms will flock together and a pecking order within the group will be established.
Every Tom and Jake are in competition to capture the attention of a hen, so decoys are a great tool for hunters.
Turkeys typically visit the same roosting, strutting, and feeding areas each day.

Choose Your Weapon

There are countless methods hunters use to take down their game. Each has benefits and drawbacks, and some are more apt for beginners than others. When choosing your weapon, consider your hunting style, terrain, experience level, and price range.

Archery

Using a bow for fall turkey hunting is, typically, not for beginners because it can be challenging. However, bow hunting is incredibly exhilarating and rewarding. Fall and winter bow hunting seasons for wild turkeys are often long and generous in many states, which means you’ll get ample opportunity to land your prized bird.

Turkey Hunting Tips for Fall Bow Hunting:

Make sure you are comfortable shooting your bow from a seated position; most turkey hunts happen on the ground.
If you are positioned in a blind, ensure that you have enough room to draw back your bow. If you can’t comfortably sit and draw back your bow, consider reducing your draw weight.
Compound bows are a great, safe option for beginners. Compound bows are faster and more forgiving while you’re figuring out form.
Consider all your broadhead options. Some are designed for aiming at a turkey’s neck and head, while others are designed for the turkey’s vitals in the body. In order to ethically take down your turkey, do your research and pick the broadhead that best fits your needs.

Turkey Hunting Shotguns

The shotgun is by far the most popular choice for turkey hunting. However, not just any shotgun will do. In fact, many manufacturers now specifically design turkey shotguns for sale, which include unique features that are specifically compatible with turkey hunting such as:

A short barrel
A tight choke
The ability to shoot heavy loads
Sling swivels
A matte or camo finish

Additional considerations for your hunting shotgun should include weight. If you are hiking or tracking, you will want a platform that is lightweight. A 12 gauge shotgun such as the Remington 870 12 gauge, is traditionally the preferable option. GrabAGun offers an extensive line of turkey hunting shotguns which includes Winchester, Mossberg, and Remington shotguns.

Remington 870 Express

The Remington 870 Express is the ultimate pump-action shotgun delivering high performance, reliability, and consistency. The Remington 870 12 gauge comes with a 3.5 inch chamber and 28 inch barrel. This Remington 870 shotgun features a synthetic stock, HiViz Fiber optic front sights, a Rem choke, a Realtree Max-5 finish, and a 3 round capacity. With a foundation of strength, silky-smooth bind-free action, and sleek classical lines; this Remington shotgun is a staple platform to add to your turkey hunting shotgun collection. Get the Remington 870 for sale and 12 gauge ammo online from GrabAGun today!

Remington 870 Express

Model: Remington 870 Express	Action: Pump	Barrel Length: 28″
Capacity: 3+1	Chamber: 3.5″	Gauge: 12 Gauge
Stock Finish: Realtree Max-5	Stock Material: Synthetic	Hand: Right
Sights: HiViz Fiber Optic Front	Choke Configuration: Rem Choke	Receiver Material: Steel

Check out one of the newer Remington 870 12 Gauge Shotguns, the Remington 870 Fieldmaster at https://grabagun.com/remington-870-field-12-gauge-28-barrel-4-rounds-3-chamber-walnut.html.

The 870 Fieldmaster was also featured in our recent blog post entitled Waterfowl Hunting Shotgun and Ammo Essentials. Go to https://blog.grabagun.com/2022/10/waterfowl-hunting-shotgun-and-ammo-essentials to read more.

Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter

Keep it stealthy with the Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter. It comes chambered in 12 gauge with a 3.5 inch chamber and 24 inch barrel. The Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter features a synthetic stock, a black chrome bolt for faster cycling, a cross bolt safety, one Invector-Plus X-Full Turkey choke tube, and a 4 round capacity. The adjustable TruGlo sights make aiming easy and the aluminum receiver is drilled and tapped to accept optics. Its mossy oak obsession camo finish will submerge you into nature and guarantee a successful hunt.

Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter

Model: Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter	Action: Pump	Gauge: 12 Gauge
Barrel Length: 24″	Chamber: 3.5″	Capacity: 4+1
Barrel Description: Back-Bored Vent Rib	OAL: 45″	Hand: Right
Sights: Adjustable TruGlo Fiber Optic Front & Rear	Size: Full Size	Choke Configuration: Invector-Plus
Chokes Included: XF Turkey	Drop: 1 5 / 8″ @ Comb & 2″ @ Heel	Safety: Crossbolt
Receiver Material: Aluminum	Trigger: Drop-Out	Stock Finish: Mossy Oak Obsession

Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl

The Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl offers a reliable and durable semi-auto shotgun. Chambered in 12 gauge with a 3 inch chamber and 28 inch barrel, this shotgun features a true timber prairie synthetic stock, a tang safety, and a 4 round capacity. The Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl includes HiViz CompSight fiber optic sights, an extended X-Factor ported choke, and a streamlined forend with signature texturing for a secure grip. Get the best hunting shotguns for sale online from GrabAGun today!

Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl

Model: Mossberg 940 Pro Waterfowl	Action: Semi-Auto	Gauge: 12 Gauge
Barrel Length: 28″	Capacity: 4+1	Chamber: 3″
OAL: 48.75″	Hand: Right	Sights: HiViz Comp Sight Fiber Optic
Choke Configuration: Briley	Chokes Included: X-Factor Ported	Receiver Material: Steel
Safety: Tang	Receiver Finish: Patriot Brown Cerakote	Stock Finish: TrueTimber Prairie

Tungsten vs Lead Ammo

There are a few things to consider when choosing ammo for fall turkey hunting. For example, a heavy load may not be a necessity in the fall season as it would be in the spring season, since fall turkey’s tend to be smaller and more fragile. Other things to look for include the length, price range, and shot size. The most popular turkey hunting loads are lead and tungsten-based. Find the best type of ammo for sale at GrabAGun that fits your needs!

Lead

Turkey hunting with lead ammunition is a hugely popular choice. This shotgun ammo has a proven track record of consistency and power. It is the traditional choice for many turkey hunting loads, and thanks to modern innovation, many lead loads are more effective than ever.

Tungsten

An increasingly popular shotgun ammo choice is Tungsten. Not only is it much denser and heavier than lead, but it also penetrates deeper and maintains a sturdy shape. Thanks to tungsten’s heavier pellets, these loads carry more energy further downrange. The result is the take down of turkeys at greater distances and with greater stopping power.

Fall Turkey Hunting Essentials at GrabAGun

Fall turkey hunting is, for many hunters, an undiscovered gem. It is equally challenging and rewarding, as well as relaxing and adrenaline-filled. With fall rolling in, now is the perfect time to experience this classic hunt for yourself. While prepping your gear, remember that GrabAGun has the best gun deals online for all your turkey hunting needs. So whether you choose archery or a turkey hunting shotgun, you can find what you need. Get the best Mossberg, Winchester, and Remington shotguns for sale online. GrabAGun is the best place to find deals for all your hunting gear, so you can go into the wilderness prepped and ready.

—Melissa Quist

Edited By: Nina Manzanares

Elk Hunting: Bow versus Rifle

October 21, 2021 | 0 Comments

There is a long-standing debate as to the best weapon of choice for elk hunting: the bow or the rifle. When you’re face to face with a 700-pound bull, you want to trust whatever weapon is at your side to get the job done. This is why we’ve compiled the top advantages and disadvantages of using a bow versus a rifle for elk hunting. We know there are plenty of crossbows and rifles for sale out there, and this list will help you choose what is best for your next hunt.

Elk Bowhunting

Elk bowhunting is a challenging sport that requires a high skill level and countless hours of training. It takes not only time but also patience to perfect your archery skills to takedown a full-size, adult bull. Once you’re comfortable with a bow, however, elk hunting becomes an exhilarating test of skill and knowledge. After all, when you get the shot right, a bow’s take-down power is incomparable.

Browse GrabAGun’s huge archery selection here!

Advantages of Bowhunting

Elk bowhunting seasons are usually quite a bit longer as compared to rifle hunting seasons. Bowhunting requires a high level of skill, so the season can afford to be longer while still maintaining a healthy elk population.
Depending on your location, you might have more opportunities to practice before your hunt. All you need is a private location, such as a backyard, with 50 yards or more of space. This is much easier than heading to the nearest gun range.
You have more opportunities for elk encounters when bowhunting. Many archery seasons align with elk’s breeding season, also known as the rut. Not only does this occur before the rifle season, but you’ll also be hunting when elks—especially large bulls—are at their most active.

Disadvantages of Bowhunting

There is no room for error and inaccuracies could lead to unethical practices. For example, a miscalculated shot with your bow might hit your target, but instead of a clean kill, you could leave a long-lasting wound. This defeats the purpose of a quick, one-shot takedown.
The range for bows is around 40 yards. This means you’ll have to get pretty close to your target for a successful, effective shot.
It is difficult to fire a bow while sitting or lying down. In order to fire effectively, you must keep a still and steady upper body when aiming and releasing your shot. This can be tiring, especially after walking miles tracking herds.

Elk Hunting with a Rifle

There’s nothing quite like scanning the horizon in hopes of finding an elk herd. The challenge of finding those worn-out, post-rut bulls is even more exciting. This is exactly what you get when experiencing elk hunting with a rifle. Hunters spend months perfecting their gear, searching for that perfect rifle for sale to add to their collection, just to take part in this experience.

Advantages of Rifle Hunting

It is less physically demanding to hunt elk with a rifle as compared to bowhunting. You can fire your rifle while sitting, standing, or even lying down. Further, you can take pressure off your body by utilizing the ground to steady yourself and your weapon.
Your range automatically increases with a rifle—by several hundred yards. Your rifle’s scope enables you to scan large areas of land at greater distances without moving a muscle. Additionally, you can take your shots from much farther away, which negates the need to spend extra time and energy tracking for a close-range shot.
Although precision and accuracy are important, a misfire or accidental shot is still more likely to take down a full-size elk as compared to misfiring a bow. Further, it is easier to take a quick follow-up shot to correct any mistakes for a clean, ethical takedown.

Disadvantages of Rifle Hunting

Hunting elk with a rifle might seem easier, and while it is great for beginners, it still takes time and consistency to perfect your shot. Shooting a rifle is not always an easy task, so it is important to spend time at the range before your hunt.
It is more popular to hunt elk with a rifle, so you will be at a disadvantage with crowds. Additionally, the season for hunting elk with a rifle is shorter than with a bow, which means you might not have as many opportunities to bring home your prized bull.
Although your range increases when shooting with a rifle, you don’t get to experience being up close and personal with the animals and environment. Hunting elk with rifles is a long-range experience.

Find your next hunting rifle at GrabAGun!

What will your weapon be?

At the end of the day, a weapon is only as good as the hunter. While there are definitely advantages to both bow and rifle hunting, each has unique qualities that are fit for different shooters. It is important to find what hunting method is best suited for you—your price range, hunting style, location, and top preferences. To make the most of your hunt, spend quality time with your weapon of choice, learning its quirks and capabilities before you bring it into the wilderness. Then, check out your state’s laws concerning tagging limits, season duration, and more.

Reliability and durability are key components whether you use a bow or hunting rifle, and you shouldn’t have to sacrifice high-quality weapons for low prices. That’s why GrabAGun gives shooters the best gun deals out there. Between our rugged crossbows, hunting accessories, and heavy-duty hunting rifles for sale, you’ll be able to find your next hunting companion for an unbeatable price. That way you can face your next elk hunt, ready and prepared to bring home a prize like never before.

—Melissa Quist