Turkey Hunting

April 20, 2023

Question: Can I use a 10-gauge shotgun to hunt turkey?

Answer: Yes. California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 311(a) authorizes use of a shotgun, 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 per the requirements of this section, the plug must be made of one-piece construction and incapable of removal without disassembling the gun.

While it’s legal to hunt turkey with a 10-gauge shotgun, we’d like to share some additional perspective. Keep in mind that one of the most enjoyable elements of turkey hunting is coaxing the bird into your decoys, or concealed position, to get a close shot. With experience, practice and patience, you’ll be able to get birds in close enough to take them with a firearm as simple as a .410.

California's general spring turkey season opened statewide on March 25 and runs through April 30. Archery season follows from May 1-14 and runs concurrently with the junior hunt period. Shooting hours for spring turkeys are one half-hour before sunrise to 5 p.m. A valid hunting license and upland game bird validation are required to hunt wild turkeys. Hunting licenses can be purchased on CDFW’s Online License Sales and Services web page ( https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales/ ).

I might miss spring season this year! Having too much fun on the water. Thanks for posting this. Personally, I hadn’t even considered using a goose gun for turkey. No need.