I'll go ahead and agree with a portion of this. Standard turkey loads are fine IF you can get them into acceptable range. Standard range prior to the introduction of specialized ammo was approximately 35 yards. I patterned my shotgun and fell several turkeys at this range, or shorter, with the proper turkey ammo and shotgun. I started using Wincheter's Longbeard XR when it first came out about 7-8 years ago and when I pattered it at the range, it was a significant improvement. After seeing what it did at the range out to 60 yards, I felt comfortable taking a shot at a turkey that was within 65 yards. With standard ammo, there's no way I'd even consider it. Well then I got my chance the next couple seasons to see if it worked on a turkey that far out. The first two seasons I used it I dropped turkeys at 50 and 61 yards. That sold me on it.
I was having difficulty getting turkeys to come within that 35 yard range so the new longer range ammo was really a game changer. They would always hold up around 50 yards.
Fast forward to the last couple of seasons. Now, the issue is getting a legal bearded turkey to come within 65 yard range. They're holding up around 75-80 yards out. There's nothing I can do other than watch them. Its extremely frustrating.
When I deer hunt, I use a scoped rifle. I've dropped deer that were almost 400 yards away. Taking a 250 yard shot with a good leaner is nothing. Basically, if I see a deer, I can shoot it, more or less. So to just sit there and watch my target like a turkey for an hour because its out of range really sticks in my craw. I don't archery hunt, but I have to imagine that constantly seeing a deer or turkey but not having them come within close range would tick me off too.
