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My dad picked up a 20 Rem 870 pump stock and had one running away from him and dust rolled him at like 40 yards last year. Those little guns are bad for sure. I want one.

Heres a pic of dad with the " little" 20.

Sounds like somebody got their feelings hurt. Calm down Bubba. If I had a scope on my turkey gun it wouldn't last a week's worth of hunting. I would have it knocked off from running, crawling, and knocking it around. If you like yours, well that is just awesome. I don't know any old timers or big woods hunters worth their salt around here that have scopes on their guns but it is most likely a lot different over there. I don't know, never hunted thunder chickens in Mississippi. And while we're throwing out numbers I'm 23 years old with 27 hardwoods raised Alabama longbeards under my belt and have called in at least 55 or 60 birds into their death. 2 seasons ago I killed my 5 then called in 16 other birds that died in that same season so I'm by no means a rookie. No need to get into an interweb pissing match here fellas, I'm just voicing my opinion.

aweyerman wrote:Sounds like somebody got their feelings hurt. Calm down Bubba. If I had a scope on my turkey gun it wouldn't last a week's worth of hunting. I would have it knocked off from running, crawling, and knocking it around. If you like yours, well that is just awesome. I don't know any old timers or big woods hunters worth their salt around here that have scopes on their guns but it is most likely a lot different over there. I don't know, never hunted thunder chickens in Mississippi. And while we're throwing out numbers I'm 23 years old with 27 hardwoods raised Alabama longbeards under my belt and have called in at least 55 or 60 birds into their death. 2 seasons ago I killed my 5 then called in 16 other birds that died in that same season so I'm by no means a rookie. No need to get into an interweb pissing match here fellas, I'm just voicing my opinion.

I don't think he got his feelings hurt...I think he was amused and maybe even offended that someone would make the unintelligent remark of calling someone using optics on their turkey gun a "topwater". Add to that the remark that "Ask anyone who consistently kills his limit of birds every year and I bet you not a single one of them has a scope on their gun. " I find that amusing as well. While I have never had any sort of optics on my shotgun, I know plenty of accomplished turkey hunters "worth their salt" that do. I've even borrowed their optics enhanced shotgun to take a few myself. I've seen Vicksburg post plenty of kill picks...though I've never met him, I figure he's worth his salt when it comes to turkeys. While you're throwing out numbers, the group of 4 that I hunt with killed 46 legal turkeys last year...one uses the FFII red dot sight, and believe me...he knows how to kill turkeys. I'm 36, killed 30 in the past three years, and I still consider myself a rookie when it comes to turkeys. Don't get the big head just because you've got a few under your belt...there will come a day when a wise old tom will put you in your place. And yes, I've hunted the same Alabama hardwoods raised longbeards as you...not much different than Mississippi. Just when you think you know it all when it comes to turkey hunting, someone or some gobbler comes along and teaches you otherwise. Hope you have a good season.

You know what, you're absolutely right. I give up. If you want to shoot them with a scope go ahead. Not sure what the point is other than something else to have to worry about failing or another pound to carry up a mountain. If you shoot them under 30 yards I just can't see the point, if you want to shoot them at 70 might as well use a rifle. We can argue until we're blue in the face but why would you want to shoot a pattern so tight it knocks a hole straight through their head? An inch in either direction and guess what, you miss!

vicksburg wrote:It's a MO Obsession Mossberg Bantam, with a 22"barrel . I bought the youth model for my 7 yr old son to use, but after shooting it last year, i'm hunting with it when he isn't with me! Plus, i love to see peoples face when i pull out the little gun. Rolled one at 55 last year with it after he busted me and took off, and had several yards to spare. His head was full of pellets.

Amen....I set up a 870 yute model 20G with a jelly head and a tasco red dot for my 7 year old at the time. Just like you I hunt with it when he's not with me. I love that little gun and it will dirt role a turkey at extended range. I put my Win X2 in the cabinet during turkey season now. Dont feel a bit bad about a dot scope, when its all said and done if I kill a turkey with a dot scope and somebody else kills a turkey with a bead, well then I guess we both got dead turkeys. To each his own I guess.

"If I had a scope on my turkey gun it wouldn't last a week's worth of hunting. I would have it knocked off from running, crawling, and knocking it around. If you like yours, well that is just awesome. I don't know any old timers or big woods hunters worth their salt around here that have scopes on their guns but it is most likely a lot different over there. I don't know, never hunted thunder chickens in Mississippi. And while we're throwing out numbers I'm 23 years old with 27 hardwoods raised Alabama longbeards under my belt and have called in at least 55 or 60 birds into their death. 2 seasons ago I killed my 5 then called in 16 other birds that died in that same season so I'm by no means a rookie. No need to get into an interweb pissing match here fellas, I'm just voicing my opinion."

Your reasoning for not using any kind of optics make me laugh. Wouldn't last a week huh? I guess the old timers and big woods hunters from AL(oh and 23 year old GURU'S with big kill numbers) are a little rougher on their guns than me and my hunting buddies Have you thought that maybe not every shotgun with a bead will shoot exactly where the bead is placed? The center of the pattern on my 870 at 30 yards is about 10 inches to the right and 6 inches low if using the bead so when you're shooting a softball size pattern at 20 yards it would be a guessing game to where I should aim. My dad's 870 doesn't shoot exactly where the bead is aimed either and I'm sure there's lots of guys having the same problem. The red dots we use allows us to adjust according. Do you have a problem keeping scopes on your rifles? I don't understand what's so different about keeping one on a shotgun. I don't care where you hunt I feel certain you're no rougher on your gun than I am. Mine gets used heavily beating and banging through the trenches and I've never had any issues with mine or the 6 or 7 I've tapped and mounted for my hunting buddies. I just mounted one on the 410 I'm setting up for my 4 year old daughter. As far as I'm concerned my daughter and I will always shoot with a red dot. Well maybe I won't since I'm thinking about going bow only this season. I hope the "top water" approach I've been using with my red dot doesn't hender me with my bow success If you're confident with your setup that's all that counts but I don't think you should go bashing hunters who have probably forgot more about killing gobblers than you know now. To each his own. Hope you whack and stack this season

rawalley,

To answer your question, yes in my opinion they are worth it. They're not hard to set and I've NEVER had a problem with knocking mine off. It's all what you feel confident with. Good luck this season

Wonder if Doug Camp would put a red dot on his gun?

Topwaters use scopes? I think not! I think it's personal preference! Before I got contacts I used a scope because I couldnt see as crisp and clear in low light conditions...... Truglos and beads made everything blurry to me beyond the barrel.... 99% of the time you don't get a second shot at a bird and if you do then I think it's your own fault... Rather it be rushing a shot or a smooth miss.... Or by a bad choice on movement....... I couldn't wear my glasses due to them fogging up with my face mask...... A mans skill and experience shouldn't be measured by how he chooses or has to hunt...... U wouldn't judge a man for a hearing disability if he wore a hearing aid or a quadriplegic for using a motorized rest would you? I say u hunt how you want and let others hunt how they want or have to......

bottomland84 wrote:My dad picked up a 20 Rem 870 pump stock and had one running away from him and dust rolled him at like 40 yards last year. Those little guns are bad for sure. I want one.

Heres a pic of dad with the " little" 20.

Hey hey hey! That bird was shot at a stand still! Don't be spreadin rumors like we messed up and almost let him get away! He got shot in the face!!

bottomland84 wrote:My dad picked up a 20 Rem 870 pump stock and had one running away from him and dust rolled him at like 40 yards last year. Those little guns are bad for sure. I want one.

Heres a pic of dad with the " little" 20.

what kind of decoy is that?

Its official I am the devil because I voiced an opinion I've drawn from my experience in the turkey woods.

aweyerman wrote:Its official I am the devil because I voiced an opinion I've drawn from my experience in the turkey woods.

me and one other dude that i hunt with were reponsible for the death of 87 one year, but 82 died from some corn that had alfatoxins that we spread down a road. those things were laid out everywhere.

kris Schaumburg wrote:

aweyerman wrote:Its official I am the devil because I voiced an opinion I've drawn from my experience in the turkey woods.

me and one other dude that i hunt with were reponsible for the death of 87 one year, but 82 died from some corn that had alfatoxins that we spread down a road. those things were laid out everywhere.

A couple years ago there was a big flock (probably 80 to 100) staying around these big fields until the farmer decided to spread fresh chicken litter. He said he found turkeys all over the place. I've heard of several other occasions where that happened.

quackerkiller wrote:

bottomland84 wrote:My dad picked up a 20 Rem 870 pump stock and had one running away from him and dust rolled him at like 40 yards last year. Those little guns are bad for sure. I want one.

Heres a pic of dad with the " little" 20.

Hey hey hey! That bird was shot at a stand still! Don't be spreadin rumors like we messed up and almost let him get away! He got shot in the face!!

Really? I swore daddy said he had to bust him on the run... May have been the one he shot with chris then! My bad turkey whisperer!