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Wild Turkey in CA
- Thread starter gdeal
- Start date
davlandrum
New member
A quick look at the game regs for CA would indicate that rifles are not legal for taking turkeys.....
I prefer #4s. If you use your 870 be aware that a hunting shotgun in Califiornia must be incapable of carrying no more than 3 rounds (two in mag, one in chamber) so you'll have to have your magazine plugged. This Remington link explains how, scroll down to applicable section. http://is.gd/hGoz9
12ga 3" #4s seem to be the preferred rounds with people I know. Always worked for me. Think I'll apply for next spring here in WY. Not sure if rifles are allowed here. Don't think so...just need to look at the regs. To the OP, the question of rifle or shotgun only has gotta be in your regulations somewhere. Just keep looking. There's usually a section toward the front called "legal firearms" or something similar that I've seen in state hunting regs.
Page 16 of the CA DFG Upland Game Bird And Waterfowl Hunting Regulations booklet:i looked and all i could find were date ranges and bag limits and limit per season. didn't say anything about firearms.
311. Methods Authorized for Taking Resident Small Game.
Only the following may be used to take resident small game:
(a) Shotguns 10 gauge or smaller using shot shells only and incapable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. If a plug is used to reduce the capacity of a magazine to fulfill the requirements of this section, the plug must be of one piece construction incapable of removal without disassembling the gun;
(b) Shotgun shells may not be used or possessed that contain shot size larger than No. BB, except that shot size larger than No. 2 may not be used or possessed when taking wild turkey. All shot shall be loose in the shell.
#6 will deflect off of heavy feathers. #4 or #5, if you are buying a shotgun for them full choke.
That's why you shoot them in the head. I prefer #4's myself, but I wish I had a nickel for every turkey that'll fall to 6's this year.
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No rifles for turkey in CA. You can hunt them with a pellet rifle of more than 17 caliber, but I would strongly recommend that you use your 870. You will need a different barrel; the Police model has a choke that is far too open. Get a full choked or better yet removable choke barrel that will take a proper turkey extra full choke.