I have no problem with reaping, people who participate in the tactic or states that ban it. NJ bans it and their turkey population is declining regardless, nope not reaping's fault. It is a very effective tactic, exciting and moderately physically demanding. The last point will limit the participation. Yes, I have reaped a turkey and had two other partners reap one each. It is fun, but neither of us have done it since, still prefer to call them in and see the show.
I hunt a neighboring state and some public land, mostly private but I do belong to several gun clubs and I know a fair amount of turkey hunters and even more general hunters. None of them have ever attempted to reap a bird, some say "that must be exciting". Most say that the fun is calling them in.
To say it's dangerous that someone from a distance will rip a rifle round at you, especially in a state that bans rifles? You stand a better chance of getting hit by a drunk driver early on a saturday AM going to your hunting spot to reap a bird than you are of getting shot.
States should ban shooting hens all year, no fall birds and no bearded hens in spring. Maybe ban fall turkey hunting all together. Move seasons back a week maybe even 2 weeks to allow more nesting, reduce bag limit of males. No two birds in one day, spread it out one in the beginning half and one the last half.
Seriously how many birds are "reaped" as a percentage of the harvest? I'm going to guess its less than 2.5% making it statistically not significant.
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