The author has become a big believer in the use of red dots for turkey hunting with his success from this past spring.
February 27, 2024
By Dale Evans
Traditionalist might scoff at the idea of putting a sight on top of a scatter gun. After hunting turkeys for over two decades without one, and finally giving it a try last season, I’m a firm believer in using one. This past turkey season, I had the opportunity to hunt turkeys in a few different states in a variety of terrain , and every hunt I had a different red dot on top of the gun. Though sights have become more popular over the years, there are still skeptics out there. Here are a few reasons why a red dot helped this veteran turkey hunter when the moment of truth arrived.
First, faster target acquisition. I’ve noticed it seems almost instantaneous to find the dot and put it on the bird’s head. Whether you’re having to quickly get on a bird because he showed up unannounced at 20 yards or he’s strutting out there at the edge of your range, a red dot can help you get on him quicker. With a bead, you could potentially cover the head and neck as you make a quick shot, causing you to miss entirely.
The next point goes hand in hand with what I just referenced in that last sentence, that is the ability to focus on your target. A red dot will allow you to have a clean sight of reference when aiming your shotgun at that turkey’s head and neck. With a bead, depending on shot distance, you could potentially cover the entire target you’re intending to hit. I’ve had it happen myself, years ago in Nebraska I had a bird at 50-ish yards and kept having to raise and lower the bead to feel I was on target. That said, this past season while hunting in Illinois, I had a bird come in and start looking around from across the field. Having a red dot on the gun, I was able to accurately aim directly at the turkey's head and put him down with a single shot, at a range further than I’d like to admit.
Now that we have covered the reasons for having a red dot, let’s look at some of the best options for the turkey woods.
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Remember that Illinois bird I just told you about? This Bushnell was sitting on top of my gun on that hunt. With its 4 MOA dot and ten brightness settings, it produces a strong, crisp dot that will allow you to adjust brightness settings throughout the day. It’s a low-profile sight, which I personally really think helps you keep a proper cheek weld while honing in on that strutter. Not to mention, it has a battery life that’s out of this world - boasting 50,000 hours (that’s over 5 years) on a mid-setting. You won’t have to worry about replacing the battery anytime soon when you accidentally forget to turn it off.
This past season, I was in California chasing birds with one of Mossberg’s new 28 gauges. Having a sub-gauge, I wanted to ensure to put as many pellets on target as possible. I put this dot on top and felt extremely comfortable at 40 yards. The FastFire 3 comes in two different variations of dots, a 3 MOA or 8 MOA. It has an automatic brightness sensor that helps to match the environmental conditions, but also comes with three manual brightness settings. It too has a five-year battery life and will automatically shut off if left on for eight hours.
I had an opportunity to put this dot to use as a Merriam’s longbeard came peaking over the hill here in my home state of Montana this past season. This beefy red dot is built out of aircraft-grade aluminum and gives a clear field of view with two reticle options available, a 2.5 MOA and 6 MOA dot. With Leupold’s optical system, it offers extremely high light transmission in challenging light scenarios. It also comes equipped with their Motion Sensor Technology which helps to extend the battery life by automatically shutting off the reticle after only five minutes of inactivity or motion.
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Though I’ve yet to test the Acro S-2 in the field for a turkey hunt, I will say this new reflex sight recently released from Aimpoint checks all the boxes. The Acro S-2 is the only one on the list that comes fully enclosed and weather sealed, which ensures rain, mud, sand or snow can’t get in it. This lightweight sight has a 9-MOA red dot for easy target acquisition and boasts the highest capacity battery. Built for the military, this rugged red dot is sure to withstand any abuse you can throw at it. With its variety of mounting options sold separately, but comes standard with an integrated shotgun rib mount for of your turkey gun.
The author with the aforementioned bird he took in California this past spring.
