Change in Legal Shotguns for Hunting Wild Turkeys in Illinois

There is no doubt, spring turkey hunting is considered by most to be a shotgun pursuit. When trying to bag America’s largest gamebird, it stands to reason that bigger is better when considering shotgun gauge. After all, the larger the gauge, the larger the payload of pellets and powder. As with many aspects of hunting gear, however, technological advancements have a way of influencing hunter perspectives and preferences.

When I first stepped into the role of Wild Turkey Project Manager, I was approached by many people interested in wild turkeys both professionally and recreationally about changes they would like to see in Illinois’ turkey hunting regulations. A common theme was allowing .410 bore shotguns as legal method of take. At the time, the regulation only allowed shotguns not larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than 20 gauge. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) staff took those suggestions to heart and in 2019 asked the question in our Illinois Turkey Hunter Survey to get a feel for how widespread the sentiment was. Survey participants were asked to give a level of opposition or support (from “strongly opposed” to “strongly support”) for “Allowing hunting with .410 shotguns.” To our surprise, almost half of the responses (46 percent) indicated Illinois hunters were not ready for a shift in regulations. Only 29 percent of hunters said they supported the change while 25 percent indicated they were not sure.

In hindsight, the level of opposition made sense considering how few turkey loads were being manufactured in the smaller bore, that were more commonly used for hunting small game such as rabbits, squirrels and quail. Lead payloads in the diameter of .410 inches hadn’t been considered lethal enough to ethically use for wild turkeys because of how few lead pellets they could hold. For comparison, consider a common .410 “game load” designed for upland hunting: the plastic shells are 3 inches long and loaded with approximately 155 lead #6 pellets weighing 11/16 ounces. That’s certainly enough to kill a turkey at short range but beyond 20 yards, velocity and penetration energy drastically decrease all while the shot pattern is dispersing. Compare those specifications to a 12-gauge load manufactured for turkey hunting in the same length hull and same shot size: 422 pellets weighing 1 7/8 ounces. In the same length of shot shell and same size of shot you’re able to more than double the shot count, shot weight and powder weight by going from .410 to 12 gauge.

Perceptions around the .410 for turkey hunting shifted when Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) became more widely available. TSS is a high-density shot material made from tungsten alloy. It delivers superior ballistic performance and penetration compared to most other shot materials. Lead and steel, for example, have a density of ~11 g/cm³ and ~8 g/cm³, respectively. TSS, on the other hand, has a density of 18 g/cm³. A higher density allows pellets of the same size, and even much smaller, to retain velocity and penetration energy at longer distances. An added benefit is that it is nontoxic, making it an option in most areas with lead restrictions.

Suddenly, the modest .410 bore was looking much more capable in the turkey woods. When loaded with #9 TSS shot, a 3-inch shotshell can hold 294 pellets, all of which are heavier than lead pellets of larger sizes. This means that by switching from lead #6 to TSS #9 in a .410, hunters can nearly double their shot count while increasing penetration energy and velocity by more than 25 percent at 40 yards.

As the availability and knowledge of TSS became more widespread, it became apparent that most Illinois turkey hunters would be ready to see regulations changed. However, because that regulation was set in Wildlife Code, it required legislative action by the Illinois General Assembly to change the statute.

IDNR worked with members of the General Assembly to draft and introduce a bill. Being well received every step the way, the bill found no resistance and was signed into law by the Governor Pritzker on July 1, 2024 as Public Act 103-0622. As of January 1, 2025, both .410 and 28 gauge shotguns can be used as legal method of take for both the Illinois Spring Turkey and Fall Shotgun Turkey seasons.

Hunters need to be aware that although TSS turkey loads are considered adequately lethal in .410 bore and 28-gauge, being sure of one’s target distance is essential for success. A general rule of thumb has been to not shoot at turkeys beyond 40 yards, and we feel this is a great range to keep in mind, especially for shotguns with the smaller bore. Taking the time to pattern your turkey gun, regardless of size, is always highly encouraged.

We hope that the attributes of .410 bore and 28-gauge shotguns, such as lower recoiling shotshell loadings and reduced firearm weight/size, will provide welcome options for smaller-framed hunters, hunters with disabilities, and hunters who just want the extra challenge of taking turkeys at closer range.

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Luke Garver is the Wild Turkey Project Manager with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources.