Choosing The Best Red Dot For Turkey Hunting

Turkey hunting, like many other aspects of the outdoors, is driven by gear. Many wild turkey enthusiasts decide to hunt with a red dot scope each spring (and sometimes, fall). Here is a quick guide for choosing the best red dot for turkey hunting, with some great options for the 2024 season.

Best Red Dot For Shotgun Turkey Hunting

Those who’ve turkey hunted for very long understand how valuable a red-dot sight can be. These are incredible for accurate shots on wild turkeys, especially at the far end of a turkey hunter’s ethical range. Fortunately, there are many great options on the market, but one preferred above the rest. That selection is the Trijicon MRO.

The MRO technically stands for “Miniature Rifle Optic,” but this sealed reflex sight works exceptionally well with shotguns, too. It offers fast target acquisition. It features a large aperture and tapered light path. This maximizes the viewing area, allows for better situational awareness, and gets shooters on target faster. It helps keep them on target, too.

Additionally, it features ambidextrous brightness controls, sub-flush adjusters, advanced lens coatings, and more. It boasts housing that’s crafted from waterproof, fully-sealed, hard-anodized forged 7075-T6 material. It’s built to be rugged and offers both superior quality in glass lenses and long-lasting power. It comes in numerous variations.

Best Budget Red Dot For Turkey Hunting

Those who don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for a higher-end red dot sight can land softly in the budget category. One of the best options for such a buy is the Bushnell RXS-100 Reflex Sight. It offers a 4 MOA dot with eight different brightness settings. It even sports a side battery door, and provides up to 5,000 hours of battery life.

This sight comes with a durable aluminum construction that’s aircraft grade, and does well protecting its glass and electronic internals. It even provides a great layout and design. It has 100-plus MOA adjustment range, a 50-yard maximum parallax distance, and more. It weighs 1.3 oz. Get it for $99.99.

Best Reflex Sight

Many turkey hunters like a good reflex sight for their hunting setup. The Venom by Vortex is an excellent option. This low-profile sight offers a rugged aluminum housing, which surrounds a large viewing window. It sports a great sight picture, 1X magnification, a 3 MOA Dot reticle, 1 MOA adjustment graduation, 100 MOA max windage adjustment, 130 MOA max elevation adjustment, and has a 3 MOA dot size. The dot is bright red. It comes with a weaver/picatinny rail mount.

It includes several features, including the ArmorTek, which is an ultra-hard, scratch-resistant coating that protects exterior lenses from scratches, oil, and dirt. It’s also fully multi-coated and shockproof, which provides a solid build that can withstand recoil, and some impacts. This sight also offers up to 150 hours of battery life on the highest setting. It produces up to 3,000 hours on the lower settings. The sight is 1.9 inches long and weighs 1.05 oz.

TruGlo Gobbler Stopper

The Gobble Stopper Turkey Sight by TruGlo is a great option. Ranging from $80.99-$102.99 (specifics depending), it’s a solid budget selection. It’s a durable sight that gets the job done without hammering the bank account.

Of course, it’s designed to fit any railed shotgun. It incorporates a Dual-Color Center Dot reticle, which can be changed between red or green, depending on preference. It also has a sunshade, effectively preventing glare, especially low-angle light common during early morning hunts. It even comes with a spare battery storage compartment. It comes fog-proof, shock-resistant, and water-resistant. 

Best Red Dot Scope For Turkey Hunting

The Freedom RS with Mount by Leupold is another great choice, and is an excellent red dot scope for turkey hunting. This is a consistent, reliable option. It is an enclosed dot that stays clean, even in the elements. It even stays mounted and zeroed, even when changing the battery. It’s built for durability, even in rugged use.

This model comes with Motion Sensory technology, which helps extend battery life. Additional features include being fog-proof, water-proof, impact-tested (and verified), and comes equipped for extreme climate exposure. This system is 5.43 inches long and weighs 7.2 ounces.

Best Shotgun Optic For Turkey Hunting

Those looking for the best shotgun optic for turkey hunting might also consider the Bushnell RXS-250 Reflex Sight. This model has a great design, and has a 1 MOA per click adjustment rate. It’s very durable, too. This one weighs in at 1.4 oz.

It offers a clear 4 MOA dot with 10 brightness settings. It produces a great dot while optimizing battery life. It can last up to 50,000 hours (5-plus years) on the mid setting. But the battery is easy to replace, once time. It comes dust-proof, water-proof, and more. It comes fully multi-coated with true tone colors. It includes the Bushnell Lifetime Ironclad Warranty.

How To Mount A Red Dot On A Shotgun

The best way to mount a red dot sight on a shotgun is via a picatinny or weaver rail. If you don’t have a rail, there should be a tapped receiver for mounting one. Place the red dot on the rail, and determine where the best positioning is located. Make sure the red dot scope eye relief is correct for the primary shooter. That said, there isn’t really much eye relief to get right (or wrong) with a red dot sight, so it really boils down to preference. It’s more about field of view. Find what looks the best for you.

How To Sight In A Red Dot On A Shotgun

Sighting in a red dot sight on a shotgun can be a difficult process, but doesn’t have to be. The zeroing process should be simple, if done correctly. Once the sight is mounted, shoot at a paper target at 20 yards. Adjust the scope as needed to center the shotgun pattern over the vitals (the turkey’s neck and head). Adjust the number of MOA clicks as needed to line it up.

Final Thoughts On Turkey Hunting Red Dots

As you gear up for the upcoming turkey hunting season, selecting the right red dot for a turkey shotgun can make all the difference in your success out in the field. Whether you opt for the top-of-the-line Trijicon MRO, the budget-friendly Bushnell RXS-100, or another great option mentioned here, you’ll be equipped with the tools you need for accurate shots and memorable hunts. Remember to consider factors like durability, battery life, and ease of mounting when making your decision. With the right red dot scope mounted on your shotgun and properly sighted in, you’ll be ready to bag that trophy gobbler when the season rolls around.