Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk ALTurkey Talk -- Beards and Spurs Red dot site spooking birds

PoorCountryPreache
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I’ve never noticed it spooking a bird. Of course, I’m quick to shoot and don’t give them much of a chance to see anything.

Y'all made me curious so I just looked at my FF3. With it set on auto, I couldn't see a dot, glare, or anything else related to a light when looking from the muzzle. The only way I saw anything at all was in a dark room with it on high, and then I could barely see the dot. Of course, you wouldn't want it on high when it's dark, so I am declaring this something I am not gonna worry about.

Get a FF3 if it's a concern, but I gotta say that a turkey can spot a fully camoed hunter who doesn't move a muscle, so how would you ever know he saw the sight? Maybe it was just the normal sharp eyes of a turkey spotting a hunter. Of course, if you have a different brand of sight that does put out a glow he could have seen that. I'd say to run a test if you can see anything yourself when looking at your gun from 25 yds or so. If you can't see anything, the turkey can't either.

Are you sure they’re not smelling you? You have to watch when they go down wind… lol

It’s not the red dot, it’s the orange lens coating that some sights have, and if you aren’t in the shade, they can absolutely pick you off. It’s like mirrored sunglasses on some sights

Removed all scope type sights from all our turkey guns. If they are not close enough to shoot with yhe bead we dont need to shoot at them.

This. The red dot has nothing to do with it. It’s the lens coating they will pick up on. I think this detection alerts them to the big dark blob holding the gun.

PCP, I ran the test. It was called getting picked off by nearly every turkey one season so I put my gun on a bench, backed away like you said, and immediately went “Dang. That’s unacceptable. No wonder.”

I use a mil dot scope and use that to measure spurs and make sure he is at least 4 yr old.

I ordered one this week after missing a few birds this year and last. Needing reading glasses means I can't focus on both the bead and the gobblers head at the same time. Hope the red dot will help with my turkey shooting. Really have no desire to shoot past 40. If it spooks birds, I will put the clippers back in my vest and start building small blinds.

I had the same problem. Never missed any birds because of it but I knew it was time when turkey and the bead was blurry.


It will..... guaranteed.

I'm not doubting you, I just don't see any sort of reflection like that on my Burris. What brand were you using?

One of my eye problems is a pretty severe astigmatism, though I also have glaucoma and a bad case of dry eye syndrome. I can see the bead ok, but the problem is that I see 3 of them. I could just use the bead and I probably would be able to kill 90% of those I shoot at, but that isn't acceptable to me. I would much rather use just a bead, but there are few things worse than a wounded turkey and I don't want to be responsible for one. If the dot scares one off, I can live with that.

Mine was a Holosun. I’ve repurposed it to an AR 15. It’s a good red dot. Just not for sneaking up on turkeys. 😁

Can they see an iPhone too? Maybe I should quit using YouTube to call em in.

Y’all just need to quit setting up with the sun in your face. . Thats turkey hunting 101.

Look how bad this reflection is on barrel before sun came up.

"If a turkey could smell you, you'd never see one."

If it’s not moving at all, it could probably have a flashlight on it and not spook birds.