Turkey hunting around Penticton

[badgreenbird]

BC seems to be among the few places that allows rimfire for turkey hunting. And for sniping them in fields, it's a good tool. But I can't recommend a .22 or .17 for turkey or grouse hunting. Lots of guys say they take head shots and either kill or miss. I say they are being naive. There are undoubtedly lots of birds wounded by rifle bullets... just nicked, or the beak shot off, or leg, or whatever. I've seen it, and I encourage the use of a shotgun for these birds... plus, you don't have to put the gun down when the bird takes off! And a shotgun is infinitely better is brushy situations..

Admittedly, I did shoot my first turkey with a .22. My scoped rifle was sighted in at 75 yards.... and when the bird quickly closed to 15 yards I shot right over its head with my first attempt!

[mikellini]

BC seems to be among the few places that allows rimfire for turkey hunting. And for sniping them in fields, it's a good tool. But I can't recommend a .22 or .17 for turkey or grouse hunting. Lots of guys say they take head shots and either kill or miss. I say they are being naive. There are undoubtedly lots of birds wounded by rifle bullets... just nicked, or the beak shot off, or leg, or whatever. I've seen it, and I encourage the use of a shotgun for these birds... plus, you don't have to put the gun down when the bird takes off! And a shotgun is infinitely better is brushy situations..

Admittedly, I did shoot my first turkey with a .22. My scoped rifle was sighted in at 75 yards.... and when the bird quickly closed to 15 yards I shot right over its head with my first attempt!

Appreciate your post. I'll keep that in mind for close shots, the 17 shoots quite a bit flatter so if I sight 1/2" low at 100 yards I should hit everything in between.

I will be trying a few methods, it turns out I'm a natural with a diaphragm call so I'll try to call them in from a blind and spot and stalk for longer shots.

[btridge]

BC seems to be among the few places that allows rimfire for turkey hunting. And for sniping them in fields, it's a good tool. But I can't recommend a .22 or .17 for turkey or grouse hunting. Lots of guys say they take head shots and either kill or miss. I say they are being naive. There are undoubtedly lots of birds wounded by rifle bullets... just nicked, or the beak shot off, or leg, or whatever. I've seen it, and I encourage the use of a shotgun for these birds... plus, you don't have to put the gun down when the bird takes off! And a shotgun is infinitely better is brushy situations..

Admittedly, I did shoot my first turkey with a .22. My scoped rifle was sighted in at 75 yards.... and when the bird quickly closed to 15 yards I shot right over its head with my first attempt!

I've been hunting turkeys since the season started many years ago in the Creston Valley. I have shot many turkeys, from very close to 50 or so yards. Many times I find that the turkey has been wounded at some point in its life. never have I found a rifle bullet, but many shotgun pellets!
I have used a old 22mag rimfire since the start and find it to be a VERY effective turkey gun.

[hoochie]

So is there any good places to go? Im trying to justify the cost of a spring hunt, as the fuel prices etc....
its a very expensive bird!

[mikellini]

Better check page 16 of the regs.....no rimfire.

Are we reading the same regs? Page 16 says rimfire for grouse, ptarmigan and turkey.