Shooting Turkeys Within City Limits

April 5, 2012

Question: We have about two dozen turkeys that are running around our local streets? If I use an air gun, can I legally kill (and eat) a turkey within the San Pablo/Richmond city limits? (Bob C.)

Answer: Turkeys can be taken under a hunting license with air rifles firing pellets and powered by compressed air or gas (0.177 caliber minimum for taking wild turkey), but I seriously doubt you can shoot anything within the city limits there! It depends on local city and county ordinances on discharging air rifles within the city limits. Fish and Game Section 3004(a) generally prohibits the discharge of any deadly weapon while hunting within 150 yards of a building without specific consent of the owner. Most city and county ordinances say, “No discharging of firearms or other dangerous weapons,” which would include air rifles. Check with the local Sheriff’s Department for the local policies to be sure.

What about a bow? Can I shoot one of those little bastards with my bow if they are in my backyard?????

I'm sure there are plenty of rednecks and good ol' boys who kill them. Those things are everywhere now a days. I don't remember seeing them 10-15 years ago. This is a huge one I saw in Downtown Concord!

I'm sure there are plenty of rednecks and good ol' boys who kill them. Those things are everywhere now a days. I don't remember seeing them 10-15 years ago. This is a huge one I saw in Downtown Concord!

There is a huge flock living at the now closed Concord Naval Weapons Station.

Yeah, that one was from Willow Pass & Diamond Blvd. I bet there are tons at Naval Weapons.

I was thinking of using a slingshot and a baseball bat.

Neighbors feed the damn things

I was thinking of using a slingshot and a baseball bat.

Neighbors feed the damn things

One of my neighbors also fed them. Used corn sprinkled in a line. A week later the corn line ended in a 8x8 foot wire enclosure. At least a dozen went into the freezer. Quiet and subtle.

When I lived at Lake Wildwood, I put crackers on the driveway into the garage, and when they went in, I would click the opener. They kept tripping the photoeye and opening the door back up. So I ran at the garage when I closed it and got one! Do you know how hard it is to kill a wild turkey in a garage? Then, seems like they flopn do the kickin ckicken for days! The whole time expecting the sheriff to pull up any minute! Only did it once, must have been a lot like how OJ felt!

Do they taste like regular turkeys from the store? Or are they game-y?

Do they taste like regular turkeys from the store? Or are they game-y?

Wild turkeys are tougher, not like a tender store bought turkey.

They don't taste like the turkys in the store their is more dark meat.
I like to make sausage out of them. Try a  bow and head shoot um with gilateen  broad heads.you kill um or you miss they can't fly with out um

I've slayed a few up in Cool where I use to live.  the hens are more tender then the toms.  brine helps and id put em on smoke for a few hours