Just curious how many birds do you normally take a season/year?
I normally take 1 or 2, sometimes 3 to 4. This is for the entire spring season and birds could be from multiple states.
I was thinking about this recently. It started with some of the well known turkey social media stars calling people out who fan/reap to harvest birds. I personally have never done it. But I was thinking some of these social media stars kill 20-30+ birds a season as they travel the states obtaining film to put their videos together so they can make money doing what they do. It started to rub me wrong that these guys kill alot of birds, they killed alot of birds last year, and they are already putting plans together to kill alot of birds next year. I believe a dead bird is a dead bird. It doesn't matter if you hit it with the truck, reap it, call it in. At the end of the day its one less bird in the population and one less bird to breed a hen in the future. Its the reality of the sport we partake in, and by no means am I saying we need to turn into bird watchers. I guess what I am saying is what does more harm to the turkey population? A) an average guy going and reaping one or two birds an entire year or B) a select few who can travel the entire US and shoot 20-30+ birds a season year after year.
So I dont want more government involvement than there already is. But do you think there should be a cap on the amount of birds one could take during an entire year? Example being you can shoot the individual state limit of birds but no more than 10 birds in a calander year for the entire U.S.
It's not like anyone is going hungry b/c they didn't come home with a bird. Hell for what I spend chasing turkey and ducks every year I could eat wagu every night for dinner.
This is kind of a stir the pot post, kinda taking a jab back at some of the high and mighty social media stars that are trashing fellow hunters that reap birds.
With that said I am not a fan of reaping birds, I cant stand the disrespect I see on a daily basis that alot of hunters show towards the wild game we hunt. Saw one the other day with a guy driving through star bucks with a dead turkey in the front seat of his truck. I could go on for a while about some of this but I'll leave it at that and look forward to reading everyone comments/thoughts.
I was fortunate enough to shoot 3 last year.
2 in W Tn at 2 different farms in different counties and 1 in Nebraska.
I'm not wrapped up on the numbers as much as I am the hunt. Especially considering the decline in birds and explosion in hunter numbers.
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Quote from: 2flyfish4 on April 03, 2022, 11:03:30 PM
I normally take 1 or 2, sometimes 3 to 4. This is for the entire spring season and birds could be from multiple states.
I was thinking some of these social media stars kill 20-30+ birds a season as they travel the states obtaining film to put their videos together so they can make money doing what they do. It started to rub me wrong that these guys kill alot of birds, they killed alot of birds last year, and they are already putting plans together to kill alot of birds next year.
So I dont want more government involvement than there already is.
Example being you can shoot the individual state limit of birds but no more than 10 birds in a calander year for the entire U.S.
On the annual harvest, I'm like you. Usually 1 to 2, sometimes 3 to 4, and from more than one state.
Unfortunately you'll never change the greed of the social media turkey, or deer, or elk, or bass "stars". Greed and the pursuit of money and fame will never change.
Government is already involved, and always will be. They are already reducing bag limits and increasing license fees everywhere. That is the STATE governments, but to limit the bag limit on a multi-state level would require the FEDERAL government to get involved. Now I don't know about you, but with rare exception the Feds F up EVERYTHING they get involved in. Especially when the Democrats are in power. So the very last thing I want to see is the Feds getting their hands into hunting. Next thing you know, regulations will increase and be confusing, bag limits and seasons will be reduced nationwide, and the amount of licenses you are required to have will go through the roof, along with the costs of them.
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Usually somewhere around 5-7.
Jeez! Turkey's aren't migratory so there is no reason for any federal involvement. We can be our own worst enemies even discussing something this silly. I noticed the squirrel population seemed down where I just hunted in central Florida. Should I feel embarrassed to hunt squirrel this fall in Kentucky? Of course not. There really isn't a YouTuber decimating the turkey population behind every bush :TrainWreck1:
Don't Bring This Question Up In New Jersey-LOL! -- Ehh- Limit You Say.
Personally, I take 3 to 4 Spring Gobblers in New York + New Jersey.
:popcorn:
Quote from: Tom007 on April 04, 2022, 05:11:43 AM
:popcorn:
I hope not. To even suggest some type of maximum national turkey limit is goofy talk. You may want to spend some time researching why every state will show some type of regulation concerning the common crow. The big black egg/poult stealing common crow needs no protection but because of some type of international treaty has some.
The guy traveling shooting 20-30 has less impact than the guy that shoots 3+ locally. Not many guys in the country do the former than the latter. The increase in the number of hunters and the number of days one can hunt ( work from home, etc) has a much bigger impact than either one imo. The very rare guy that kills a bunch that are spread out over a 10+ states has very limit impact.
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2020 Rona=0 Spring,Fall 2
'21 Spring 1,Fall 1
2022 Spring not hunting ,Fall ?
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I have been averaging 8-10. Last year was down I think I killed 6.
Multiple states, mostly public now.
Killed 13 in my "best" season. Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and New Mexico that year.
I like hunting turkeys!
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Quote from: quavers59 on April 04, 2022, 05:08:45 AM
Don't Bring This Question Up In New Jersey-LOL! -- Ehh- Limit You Say.
Personally, I take 3 to 4 Spring Gobblers in New York + New Jersey.
3 state hunter, Nj is one of em. Some times Zero. Most times One. I haven taken a bird in Ny or Pa in a while. There were a few years when I had a good year 2 and 3. I have never taken more the 2 in Nj.
Strictly a novice turkey hunter :funnyturkey:
Quote from: 2flyfish4 on April 03, 2022, 11:03:30 PM
Just curious how many birds do you normally take a season/year?
I normally take 1 or 2, sometimes 3 to 4. This is for the entire spring season and birds could be from multiple states.
I was thinking about this recently. It started with some of the well known turkey social media stars calling people out who fan/reap to harvest birds. I personally have never done it. But I was thinking some of these social media stars kill 20-30+ birds a season as they travel the states obtaining film to put their videos together so they can make money doing what they do. It started to rub me wrong that these guys kill alot of birds, they killed alot of birds last year, and they are already putting plans together to kill alot of birds next year. I believe a dead bird is a dead bird. It doesn't matter if you hit it with the truck, reap it, call it in. At the end of the day its one less bird in the population and one less bird to breed a hen in the future. Its the reality of the sport we partake in, and by no means am I saying we need to turn into bird watchers. I guess what I am saying is what does more harm to the turkey population? A) an average guy going and reaping one or two birds an entire year or B) a select few who can travel the entire US and shoot 20-30+ birds a season year after year.
So I dont want more government involvement than there already is. But do you think there should be a cap on the amount of birds one could take during an entire year? Example being you can shoot the individual state limit of birds but no more than 10 birds in a calander year for the entire U.S.
It's not like anyone is going hungry b/c they didn't come home with a bird. Hell for what I spend chasing turkey and ducks every year I could eat wagu every night for dinner.
This is kind of a stir the pot post, kinda taking a jab back at some of the high and mighty social media stars that are trashing fellow hunters that reap birds.
With that said I am not a fan of reaping birds, I cant stand the disrespect I see on a daily basis that alot of hunters show towards the wild game we hunt. Saw one the other day with a guy driving through star bucks with a dead turkey in the front seat of his truck. I could go on for a while about some of this but I'll leave it at that and look forward to reading everyone comments/thoughts.
To answer your question, I historically have killed three or four gobblers a spring. Honestly, if I was a "body counter", I could probably have doubled that number on many occasions. The personal limitations I set on myself when hunting have saved many a gobbler's life over my own lifetime. Those limitations include not shooting more than one gobbler at a time (and/or a day), and not taking shots where I know I will kill multiple birds with one shot (where legal). I have had many opportunities over the decades to do both. ...Not passing judgement on anybody,...those are just my personal limitations.
Okay,...got that out of the way. Now, regarding your post above: With some modifications, I could very well have written the same, and have made similar comments on the various angles of the subject many times here on OG over the years. Simply put, there comes a time when every single one of us needs to take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves whether how we approach this thing we all love is a function of our own greed and/or some other less-than-noble attitude about it?
In my mind, there is a fine line where being a passionate turkey hunter and wanting to do as much of it as we can crosses over and becomes nothing more than greed, selfishness, and/or a need to be recognized by some perceived "fan club". As has been demonstrated by a number of previous threads here on OG, there is also a fine line where the fellows in that fan club start questioning the motives of those that they may have once looked up to and respected in the turkey hunting world and begin to criticize rather than applaud.
Again, that is just the view from here....
Good points gobblenut, only time I have ever doubled was with a bow, never shot or tried to shoot two at once and I'm pretty particular about the shots I take!
I have been very fortunate to spend a lot of time chasing these crazy birds, for myself and hundreds of others, can't wait for next week!
One spring several years ago I one on one guided client's for 21 straight days, what did I do the day after, went turkey hunting
Ive got issues!
"there is also a fine line where the fellows in that fan club start questioning the motives of those that they may have once looked up to and respected in the turkey hunting world and begin to criticize rather than applaud."
----Good point by GobbleNut
This is what 2flyfish4 has realized and it's commendable. You see the hypocrisy in the youtuber's game hogging. I always say to younger/newer hunters: Stop watching other people hunt! There is so much garbage out there it could ruin your spirit.
But to your original point, I see it as a contentment issue that usually looks like bell curve:
When you start hunting, shooting a few birds is satisfying. Then in the middle years you what numbers and size. Then in the later years it's about environment, method, and who you're with, not numbers.
And then, ultimately, you're just happy you can be out there, one of God's gifts, surrounded by nature's beauty, gun in hand, hopeful.
Over the last few years I average 1.5
OP has a lot of questions/topics within that thread.
Federal limit? Heck no. No way, no how. The genie that would let out of the bottle would be enormous and far reaching. It would by necessity involve a Federal turkey stamp to raise money for law enforcement like the waterfowl stamp does. It would require all states have a check in system and would make travel more difficult. Adding more laws to a state bird would be terrible. What works in Florida may not work in Wyoming and vice versa.
I tend to bounce around from public to private. Some of the private tracts I hunt are small and once I have (or someone with me) reached my self imposed limit, I move on. I don't travel to turkey hunt, so 2 per year is my max anyways.
It is up to each state to figure their harvest and for every Youtuber out there, there are plenty of non-youtubers that do the same. If the resource can handle it and the hunter wants to spend the $$ and the time, have at it. The state makes their limits based on hunter harvest and license sales, so it is what it is. The best thing for a state is if they don't have a unique subspecies-like a relatively small area Osceola which sees large pressure from out of staters. Florida is tasked with handling that and not the feds. It sucks for those from South Florida as they have lots of out of state competition for a limited amount of land.
Reaping is silly and I will never do it. Not for harvest or bird number reason, but because it is outside of my personal code of ethics. I am not much of one to judge what others do (as long as they are legal).
Depends on the year. I've never hunted more than 3 states in one year, yet. Work has a way of cramping a guy's turkey hunting schedule.
Generally, I shoot between 2 and 5 in a year.
On a good year two or three. Some years I got to four with travel and all. I'm thankful for every one of 'em.
I've never been one who needed, or wanted, to kill big numbers of anything. Deer, turkey, waterfowl, etc, one or two and I'm perfectly happy with that. 2 a year here in Wisconsin and every so often i do an out of state trip and kill one there. Most years, i could without much of a problem, kill double digit number of turkey's, around home.
I avg 4 or 5 usually for myself.. and call a few more in for others.. I usually hunt 3 to 4 states a year..
That said.. I don't wish to limit anyone.. if it's legal and you have the time and money to do it.. go kill all you can.. I leave it up to each state to set the limits.. I personally am not a good enough hunter to kill as many as 20 to 30 a year.. I know my limitations.. guys like Pinhoti kill that many for a reason.. they are flat out better than me.. if I hunted the same amount as him in as many states and on public land.. I wouldn't come close to his kill numbers.. that dude is a flat out turkey killer.. good for him.. I wish I was that good.. I think some guys are just jealous cause he is that good..
I don't know the man.. but have seen a lot of post on social media that he is a lot different than what he portrays in his videos.. he preaches public land courtesy, but in reality practices something else .. I have seen from more than one person on social media.. I have no idea.. and everyone can have there own opinion.. all I know is that guy can flat out hunt and kills more turkeys than I can ever dream of..
I don't think anyone here has a problem with anyone killing 10+ Gobblers in 3 or 4 States.
It is a problem when 10+ Gobblers are killed in 1 State by the same Guy.
I am way more concerned with being able to hunt the entire season than I am on tagging out. If I kill a couple, I am good. I have plenty of people to help out so I can pace myself on my personal tags and make a season out of it. And if I eat a tag or two then so be it. It ain't a numbers game to me. Just hunting them is enough. Besides I have to hold down a job while I do it and people start getting excited if I take too much time off.
Our limit in Mississippi is 3 and it's rare that I tag out. My dad and I average two a year. We just don't have huge numbers of birds where we hunt and we always try to leave 2 gobblers each season.
Each state should be left responsible for setting their limits using certain information- especially input from resident hunters.
Happy if I get 1.
Did you just propose a federal limit on turkeys while defending "reaping"?
Federal limit????? The feds have no jurisdiction over state owned wildlife. They pulled it off with waterfowl because they migrate north to south across the country.
Quote from: Hobbes on April 04, 2022, 08:00:40 PM
Did you just propose a federal limit on turkeys while defending "reaping"?
Federal limit????? The feds have no jurisdiction over state owned wildlife. They pulled it off with waterfowl because they migrate north to south across the country.
Ya I suppose I did. Not so much that I recommend a federal limit and not so much that I think reaping is ethical. My post was mostly about everyone's S stinks. Most probably think reaping as unethical, most probably think shooting 20-30 turkey a year is greed (or some other number, could 10, 12, 15).
Legal or not is sometimes irrelevant.
The number of folks killing 20 to 30 turkeys is not very high. Any YouTube heros that I've seen are videoing multiple folks shooting birds to produce 20 to 30 videos, not killing 30 birds on their own.
Quote from: wvboy on April 04, 2022, 04:53:11 PM
I avg 4 or 5 usually for myself.. and call a few more in for others.. I usually hunt 3 to 4 states a year..
That said.. I don't wish to limit anyone.. if it's legal and you have the time and money to do it.. go kill all you can.. I leave it up to each state to set the limits.. I personally am not a good enough hunter to kill as many as 20 to 30 a year.. I know my limitations.. guys like Pinhoti kill that many for a reason.. they are flat out better than me.. if I hunted the same amount as him in as many states and on public land.. I wouldn't come close to his kill numbers.. that dude is a flat out turkey killer.. good for him.. I wish I was that good.. I think some guys are just jealous cause he is that good..
I don't know the man.. but have seen a lot of post on social media that he is a lot different than what he portrays in his videos.. he preaches public land courtesy, but in reality practices something else .. I have seen from more than one person on social media.. I have no idea.. and everyone can have there own opinion.. all I know is that guy can flat out hunt and kills more turkeys than I can ever dream of..
The beauty of social media, you can create the world that best suits you. Again, everyone S stinks. And yes even mine does.
Quote from: g8rvet on April 04, 2022, 01:02:23 PM
OP has a lot of questions/topics within that thread.
Federal limit? Heck no. No way, no how. The genie that would let out of the bottle would be enormous and far reaching. It would by necessity involve a Federal turkey stamp to raise money for law enforcement like the waterfowl stamp does. It would require all states have a check in system and would make travel more difficult. Adding more laws to a state bird would be terrible. What works in Florida may not work in Wyoming and vice versa.
I tend to bounce around from public to private. Some of the private tracts I hunt are small and once I have (or someone with me) reached my self imposed limit, I move on. I don't travel to turkey hunt, so 2 per year is my max anyways.
It is up to each state to figure their harvest and for every Youtuber out there, there are plenty of non-youtubers that do the same. If the resource can handle it and the hunter wants to spend the $$ and the time, have at it. The state makes their limits based on hunter harvest and license sales, so it is what it is. The best thing for a state is if they don't have a unique subspecies-like a relatively small area Osceola which sees large pressure from out of staters. Florida is tasked with handling that and not the feds. It sucks for those from South Florida as they have lots of out of state competition for a limited amount of land.
Reaping is silly and I will never do it. Not for harvest or bird number reason, but because it is outside of my personal code of ethics. I am not much of one to judge what others do (as long as they are legal).
[/quote
I have concerns with alot of states not being able to adequately track bird harvest numbers. I know slot of great biologist that work for the states and WMA's that would like to see turkey populations managed better, but their hands are tied b/c of state funding or it taking an act of congress to get something changed.
"I have concerns with alot of states not being able to adequately track bird harvest numbers. I know slot of great biologist that work for the states and WMA's that would like to see turkey populations managed better, but their hands are tied b/c of state funding or it taking an act of congress to get something changed."
I promise you the Feds will do even worse!
More damage to the turkey population is done by those who only shoot one but put nothing back for the flock than those who shoot a limit, but improve habitat and trap nest predators.
Leave the flock better off than you found them. And you can kill several and still leave them better off.... but its a year round thing, takes a LOT of time and money, and most folks aren't willing to do it.
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Quote from: tazmaniac on April 05, 2022, 05:46:02 PM
More damage to the turkey population is done by those who only shoot one but put nothing back for the flock than those who shoot a limit, but improve habitat and trap nest predators.
Leave the flock better off than you found them. And you can kill several and still leave them better off.... but its a year round thing, takes a LOT of time and money, and most folks aren't willing to do it.
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[/quote
100 % Most take as many as they can , and put nothing back . But will be the lst to complain when numbers are down !]
6-10 depending on time and money
3-bird California limit, and most years I probably kill two looking back... Just the last 5 seasons I killed 1, 3, 3, 3, 2 (last season).
Last 2 seasons were tough due to covid, and last season, I lost my major turkey hunting property due to a sale.
This season, I have been taking my young daughter, and killed one the only day I did not take her (her choice). I have access to a small, but good property, and will not take a bird there, until my daughter kills her first.
I'll hunt all day if I have the opportunity... An eleven year-old girl... Not so much.
Wonder if former President-- Jimmy Carter got his Georgia Gobblers already?
2-4 is my average year- but sometimes they show me who is the boss!!!????
Too few, but at the same time plenty
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3-5 depends on if it's a shutdown year at my job. And depends on if I limit out in my home state which I do on most years. I am seriously considering no longer attempting to limit out in my home state. One .... I don't need to and I feel the state is probably gonna alter the bag limit soon anyway , and 2 I would like to finish out my southern slam by attending some other states close to their openers verses spending all my time at home .
Usually one or none. Never more than two. I only hunt in Kansas.
I'll buy the maximum three tags per year in Nebraska. I don't hunt any other states. I have been blessed to be able to fill all the tags the last several years. I don't take more than one turkey personally off the same property, but others with me such as my dad, or a buddy can. The populations on the properties I hunt remain strong, unlike a lot of other areas of the state, so I don't feel guilty taking three a year. If the state decides to lower tags from three to two for the spring, I'll be bummed, but I get it on a statewide level. It just means less time in the turkey woods is all.
Well, I've killed multiple birds a number of years...the most being 13 one spring...the spring whereas after I retired in February. I didn't particularly care for it. It seemed I was always in a hurry to get a bird in one state so I could head for the other. But then, I'm not an internet YouTuber with a channel to promote and make potential money with subscriptions or such. Anymore my personal goal is to just get a bird(s) in whatever spring state(s) I choose to hunt.
I'd have 2 answers, the number I kill and the number I call to a kill. More birds die in front of me than I ever squeeze a trigger on. I do Learn to Hunts, Youth Hunts, Charity Hunts and then with other friends. My best year ever would have been 25, ended at 21 because of some others with me missing birds... Always want them to use my turkey gun, but some don't. I killed 8 in 4 states that year and then 13 (should have been 17) more died in front of me, on an average year 12-15 total.
MK M GOBL
It has been my experience that those who feel the necessity to post numbers, are usually full of sh#t ;)
Generally 2 in spring, 1 or 2 in fall. 2 states.
Quote from: CowHunter71 on April 15, 2022, 10:11:59 PM
It has been my experience that those who feel the necessity to post numbers, are usually full of sh#t ;)exactly. That last post was bs.
One year I got 3 spring gobblers. I suppose I average 2 per year. The most I've ever gotten is 5 birds, in multiple states in a year.I hunted them in the fall.Im putting a thumbs down on these greasers who shoot more than 3 or 4 per season. That is greed, and a karma episode will get them.
I probably average 5 or 6 a year the last several. I can't remember the last time I killed less than 5 but the most I have ever killed in a year was 7. I travel a lot to hunt when I'm off work and that's usually spread over 4 states or so
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Quote from: High plains drifter on April 19, 2022, 01:45:38 PM
One year I got 3 spring gobblers. I suppose I average 2 per year. The most I've ever gotten is 5 birds, in multiple states in a year.I hunted them in the fall.Im putting a thumbs down on these greasers who shoot more than 3 or 4 per season. That is greed, and a karma episode will get them.
This brings up a question to ponder: How many gobblers is too many?
I'm not sure my max number for anybody would be four, but I also agree that there reaches a point where passion to turkey hunt can boil over into greed. I'm just not sure I can put a finger on exactly where that point is, personally. I do believe it is out there,...I'm just not sure how we identify it... ??? ::) :)
Gobblenut-- Don't bring this question up in New Jersey. I personally think the NJ Limit on Gobblers should be 3 to 5 Max. 5-- is alot of Gobblers for 1 State. Taking anymore in 1 State is just Greed. Yet some do it annually and the numbers grow each Spring.
Quote from: quavers59 on April 19, 2022, 03:32:17 PM
Gobblenut-- Don't bring this question up in New Jersey. I personally think the NJ Limit on Gobblers should be 3 to 5 Max. 5-- is alot of Gobblers for 1 State. Taking anymore in 1 State is just Greed. Yet some do it annually and the numbers grow each Spring.
I agree.No more than 4 per year total, no matter how many states..Montana, and wyoming do not have huge turkey numbers.
Several years ago I harvested 7 one spring. That was among 5 states. In a typical year 2-4, depending on how much I get to hunt. So far this year, 2. Should be at least one more, but I got schooled. Have one more four day hunt scheduled this year.
Ask me after I retire in a couple of years.....l plan to travel, hunting & fishing!
My fair share ...
I usually kill one or two in Illinois every year. Never on the same property or even same county. In my weekend hunting as a school teacher and coach, I just try to get out as much as possible. I consider my season a success if I can have a handful of good battles every year, even if that means Tom coming out on top!
More Mature Turkeys ,I am seeing in my areas this Spring. Less Jake Gangs.
I was fortunate enough to harvest 20 birds last season between 10 states, none were reaped and 2 were with decoys. I do not film hunts or anything like that so who tf are you to purpose more government regulations on those like me that simply get the opportunity to hunt more than you? Seems that these motives are entirely out of jealousy disguised as being worried for the population. I have as much influence on the bird population as any other hunter of that state taking 1-2 birds on average per state. So to even begin to think that the traveling hunters are a major factor in bird populations is ignorant at best. Not to mention the price for licenses for out of state hunters that should in theory go back to the resource is often 5-6x what a local hunters is when we pull the same amount of birds as they do.
Thumbs down on this person.
Okay, I will ask the obvious question that comes to my mind about those folks that kill outlandish numbers of turkeys. What do you do with all those birds?
Are you utilizing all of the meat of those birds yourself?
Are you just breasting out those birds rather than keeping all of the edible portions? (if not, that is what we around here call "wanton waste",...and is illegal).
If you are not consuming all those turkeys yourself, are you making sure that each and every one of them is taken care of and consumed,...and if so, how are you confirming that?
If you are jumping from state to state hunting, explain how you take care of the meat of each of those turkeys such that they do not end up being wasted? Do you constantly eat turkey?
Now, I'm not condemning anybody that loves to turkey hunt and travel to different places to do it. However, doing that also requires an ethical foundation of ensuring that every one of those turkeys killed is properly cared for and consumed. If you can't definitively state that that is happening, you need to take a close look in the mirror and contemplate what your real motives are for what you are doing. There reaches a point where the "I'm a great turkey hunter" attitude becomes nothing more than undisciplined bloodlust.
Again, that is the view from here....
Quote from: GobbleNut on April 27, 2022, 09:12:31 AM
Okay, I will ask the obvious question that comes to my mind about those folks that kill outlandish numbers of turkeys. What do you do with all those birds?
Are you utilizing all of the meat of those birds yourself?
Are you just breasting out those birds rather than keeping all of the edible portions? (if not, that is what we around here call "wanton waste",...and is illegal).
If you are not consuming all those turkeys yourself, are you making sure that each and every one of them is taken care of and consumed,...and if so, how are you confirming that?
If you are jumping from state to state hunting, explain how you take care of the meat of each of those turkeys such that they do not end up being wasted? Do you constantly eat turkey?
Now, I'm not condemning anybody that loves to turkey hunt and travel to different places to do it. However, doing that also requires an ethical foundation of ensuring that every one of those turkeys killed is properly cared for and consumed. If you can't definitively state that that is happening, you need to take a close look in the mirror and contemplate what your real motives are for what you are doing. There reaches a point where the "I'm a great turkey hunter" attitude becomes nothing more than undisciplined bloodlust.
Again, that is the view from here....
Hey GobbleNut,
In my case most of those birds are other people's tags that they fill when they're with me hunting.
Looked at my "Pre-Covid Year" and put 14 birds down, 6 of those were mine and 8 with others.
The first a Learn to Hunt / That was part of a Chairity Fundraiser Hunt for the Badger Camp #1 & #2
Then our Youth Season I had 3 girls out that weekend and are daughters of my friends. #3, #4, #5
Next was my friend Jen and her 1st Season Bow Bird. #6
I called a bird in for another friend Tad 1 15/16" Spurred Gobbler!! #7
Traveled to another friends farm and he and I doubled up. #8
Then there are the 6 I killed that year.
I "use" most every part of my turkeys!
Yes I do eat a lot of turkey, legs are either made into BBQ "pulled" turkey or I have a friend who makes up Turkey Sausage Sticks
My breasts are smoked, seasoned and bacon wrapped. Grilled and seasoned, or cut up batter dipped and deep fried. Always trying new recipes, this years will be Turkey Smash Burgers
Turkey Tenderloins are on the grill!!
I do also grind up some turkey, add some bacon and package for bbq's, taco, burgers, meat balls (mixed in with venison)
My neighbor loves the heart and gizzard, he gets all of those and I keep hunting his place.
Then of course there is my display/decoy work, I keep all the heads, fans, wings, beards and spurs. I also work out some deals with friends on their turkey parts in trade for display work I do with them.
I keep some feathers for a friend who trout/fly fishes that he wants hackle for.
I lady friend of mine is a traditional archery and she wants any primaries I don't use on displays or decoys and she gets all my secondaries
The I have 2 guys making wing bone calls that I save the Humerus, Ulna & Radius for.
(This year has been rough for me, was plagued with misses & mess ups... Getting better though I tagged my 1st tag have 3 down for the year, should/could have been 7 as of today but that's how some seasons go...)
MK M GOBL
Looks awesome!!! You got that bacon just right!
Quote from: GobbleNut on April 27, 2022, 09:12:31 AM
Okay, I will ask the obvious question that comes to my mind about those folks that kill outlandish numbers of turkeys. What do you do with all those birds?
Are you utilizing all of the meat of those birds yourself?
Are you just breasting out those birds rather than keeping all of the edible portions? (if not, that is what we around here call "wanton waste",...and is illegal).
If you are not consuming all those turkeys yourself, are you making sure that each and every one of them is taken care of and consumed,...and if so, how are you confirming that?
If you are jumping from state to state hunting, explain how you take care of the meat of each of those turkeys such that they do not end up being wasted? Do you constantly eat turkey?
Now, I'm not condemning anybody that loves to turkey hunt and travel to different places to do it. However, doing that also requires an ethical foundation of ensuring that every one of those turkeys killed is properly cared for and consumed. If you can't definitively state that that is happening, you need to take a close look in the mirror and contemplate what your real motives are for what you are doing. There reaches a point where the "I'm a great turkey hunter" attitude becomes nothing more than undisciplined bloodlust.
Again, that is the view from here....
Every bird harvested is fully utilized and consumed to its maximum extent. Whether that be eating myself/with the guys im with (eat turkey 3-4 times a week while on road) or when we can't keep up due to a string of good luck we will give it away to gas station workers, restaurant hostess, you name it. and the way they light up to get free multiple pounds of meat to feed their families I can assure you they do not waste it.
Jim, I use all of my bird. Breast, thighs, lower legs, wings (to the first joint) and those 2 pieces of meat on the back of a turkey (not the nuts, on the outside). Plucked a lot of birds whole and had them like the traditional stuffed turkey dinner.
I feed the heart, liver, and gizzard to my dogs. Not using that meat for human consumption is not considered wanton waste, in big game too.
Have used and given away bones and feathers but not from every bird.
If you want more details I can give them to you. There are a bunch of ways to prepare wild turkey so it is good to eat and to waste the meat is a fools errand IMO.
As for trips and keeping the bird in good condition...I do 5 day trips and have a good cooler. I can remember a trip or two where it was really hot and I got one bird early. Just ended the hunt a day early. Pretty rare occurrence tho.
If I kill a game animal then I am eating it. I may share with guests but I am not killing something I don't intend to use. I do not support killing something just to try and find someone to give it away to.. At that point in my opinion, you are killing something just to kill it and have issues. This rule doesn't apply to predators and nuisance species, although I do like to see them put to some use if possible.
If we can put down a whole elk, a couple deer and some roosters in a season, I don't think a turkey has to worry about being used. I don't always have the elk, so I could easily put down 20 turkeys in a year if I chose to (if I ever killed remotely close to that number).
I rarely give birds away, but if you're implying that me offering a breast half or two to coworkers or friends is somehow wrong because I can't watch them eat it....I know a few folks that have been the recipients that would argue you. There is nothing wrong with sharing meat.
I'm sure there are instances that aren't for the right reasons, but let's don't lump everyone together on meat sharing practices.
Maybe I didn't convey it correctly Hobbs. I have nothing against sharing with friends and family. Have done it myself and will continue to. What I am referring to is killing game animals knowing full well you are not likely to use it and trying to get rid of it and going and killing some more. Those people in my opinion are just in it for the killing.
Quote from: Happy on April 27, 2022, 03:37:20 PM
Maybe I didn't convey it correctly Hobbs. I have nothing against sharing with friends and family. Have done it myself and will continue to. What I am referring to is killing game animals knowing full well you are not likely to use it and trying to get rid of it and going and killing some more. Those people in my opinion are just in it for the killing.
No worries, I should have full well known that's what you meant. I'm letting work and aggravation that I'm not chasing turkeys right now spill into everything. :)
I am in the same boat as you. My boss just decided to take a vacation and dropped everything on me for the next 10 days.
I agree that not eating what you shoot doesn't set right with me and just leaves my whole experience feeling hollow. Nothing wrong with giving away some meat now and then, but if that is your main goal with the meat you obtain something is wrong.
Last fall I killed a deer and it tested positive for CWD, takes a few weeks to get the results. It was recommended to throw the meat in the garbage, which I did. Turned my stomach to do that.
I would definitely apply my comment above to this guy.
would a hunter have any liability if they gave someone game meat and that person cracked a tooth on a bb and needed dental surgery?
Quote from: bigriverbum on April 27, 2022, 08:35:46 PM
would a hunter have any liability if they gave someone game meat and that person cracked a tooth on a bb and needed dental surgery?
That's a good question, probably not if he gave the raw product to someone and had no part in its preparation. The taker assumes the risk knowing it was just shot and needs proper cleaning.
However, if the hunter prepared the meal and served it cooked with pellets, then maybe.
Most certainly a restaurant would be liable if they served food with foreign objects embedded. If you chipped your tooth on a bone, a pit or a pearl, someting naturally occurring , no, but a metal foriegn object in a restaurant setting, I'd say yes.
But even though I did go to law school, I'm no liar, I mean lawyer. :camohat:
Had a gathering at my house last spring . We boiled crawfish for the crowd . One friend that showed up wasn't eating any crawfish . I asked him why he wasn't eating ?.. he told me he wasn't a fan of crawfish . I felt bad for my guest . I had a fresh gobbler breast cut up to fry in the fridge, and fried him up a few stripes . On about his 2nd strip he bit into a tss bb . Broke his tooth in half !! I felt terrible !
Quote from: Zobo on April 27, 2022, 10:02:49 PM
.
But even though I did go to law school, I'm no liar, I mean lawyer. :camohat:
:TooFunny: Reminds me of that old question someone asked:
"What do you call three lawyers lying lifeless on the bottom of the ocean?"
..."A good start"... ;D :angel9:
Quote from: GobbleNut on April 27, 2022, 10:20:15 PM
Quote from: Zobo on April 27, 2022, 10:02:49 PM
.
But even though I did go to law school, I'm no liar, I mean lawyer. :camohat:
:camohat: :camohat:
:camohat:
:TooFunny: Reminds me of that old question someone asked:
"What do you call three lawyers lying lifeless on the bottom of the ocean?"
..."A good start"... ;D :angel9:
No, that's not fair Gobblenut. Not all lawyers are bad people, I know a place where you can always find a good one...the cemetery. :camohat:
Quote from: MK M GOBL on April 27, 2022, 11:39:52 AM
Quote from: GobbleNut on April 27, 2022, 09:12:31 AM
Okay, I will ask the obvious question that comes to my mind about those folks that kill outlandish numbers of turkeys. What do you do with all those birds?
Are you utilizing all of the meat of those birds yourself?
Are you just breasting out those birds rather than keeping all of the edible portions? (if not, that is what we around here call "wanton waste",...and is illegal).
If you are not consuming all those turkeys yourself, are you making sure that each and every one of them is taken care of and consumed,...and if so, how are you confirming that?
If you are jumping from state to state hunting, explain how you take care of the meat of each of those turkeys such that they do not end up being wasted? Do you constantly eat turkey?
Now, I'm not condemning anybody that loves to turkey hunt and travel to different places to do it. However, doing that also requires an ethical foundation of ensuring that every one of those turkeys killed is properly cared for and consumed. If you can't definitively state that that is happening, you need to take a close look in the mirror and contemplate what your real motives are for what you are doing. There reaches a point where the "I'm a great turkey hunter" attitude becomes nothing more than undisciplined bloodlust.
Again, that is the view from here....
Hey GobbleNut,
In my case most of those birds are other people's tags that they fill when they're with me hunting.
Looked at my "Pre-Covid Year" and put 14 birds down, 6 of those were mine and 8 with others.
The first a Learn to Hunt / That was part of a Chairity Fundraiser Hunt for the Badger Camp #1 & #2
Then our Youth Season I had 3 girls out that weekend and are daughters of my friends. #3, #4, #5
Next was my friend Jen and her 1st Season Bow Bird. #6
I called a bird in for another friend Tad 1 15/16" Spurred Gobbler!! #7
Traveled to another friends farm and he and I doubled up. #8
Then there are the 6 I killed that year.
I "use" most every part of my turkeys!
Yes I do eat a lot of turkey, legs are either made into BBQ "pulled" turkey or I have a friend who makes up Turkey Sausage Sticks
My breasts are smoked, seasoned and bacon wrapped. Grilled and seasoned, or cut up batter dipped and deep fried. Always trying new recipes, this years will be Turkey Smash Burgers
Turkey Tenderloins are on the grill!!
I do also grind up some turkey, add some bacon and package for bbq's, taco, burgers, meat balls (mixed in with venison)
My neighbor loves the heart and gizzard, he gets all of those and I keep hunting his place.
Then of course there is my display/decoy work, I keep all the heads, fans, wings, beards and spurs. I also work out some deals with friends on their turkey parts in trade for display work I do with them.
I keep some feathers for a friend who trout/fly fishes that he wants hackle for.
I lady friend of mine is a traditional archery and she wants any primaries I don't use on displays or decoys and she gets all my secondaries
The I have 2 guys making wing bone calls that I save the Humerus, Ulna & Radius for.
(This year has been rough for me, was plagued with misses & mess ups... Getting better though I tagged my 1st tag have 3 down for the year, should/could have been 7 as of today but that's how some seasons go...)
I agree. There us no good reason to shoot more than 5 per year. Those people will get a karma injection.
MK M GOBL