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Would you shoot a gobbler if you didn't call him in?

Maybe you're walking silently to your mid-day spot and bump one, but still have time for a shot. Or you just sat down on a ridgeline and look up to see one walking towards you, knowing you don't have to do anything and it'll soon be in range. Would you do it?

Back in my younger days, I would have. Nowadays, I would not. It may not make sense to some, but I feel like I have to do something to "earn it," so to speak. And showing up doesn't count.

Yes - in a minute.  Some of these posts are a hoot. To each his own.

Due to work schedule and family obligations, I typically only get 7 or 8 days to hunt each Spring.

For me the answer is "yes".  I might not get another opportunity.

Now, if I could hunt for 60 days, travel to 6 or 8 different states and have the chance to harvest 8 or 10 birds each Spring, my answer might be different.  Or, it might not be different.

I feel like i need to earn it(call it in)& if i dont then i might as well just go to the store and buy one already dressed out...
Its never been all about killing something everytime i go out for me...
Ive had Big Jakes that ive called in last day and last minutes ticking down and just let them wander off..
I love the challenge...Its whats kept me coming back to it every spring&fall....Each to their own tho..I hunt how i want to hunt and worry about myself....

Takes more skill to sneak one than to call one. A call is just a tool. If I can use woodsmanship to put him at 30 yards and I don't need a call I won't waste time. 

Bumping  bird maybe maybe not?   If a bird just shows up or I cut him off in his travels he's getting shot every time.

The easiest bird to kill is the hot one coming to the call, so maybe we should not shoot those...lol

Younger years when I just wanted to kill a turkey ... yes ,,
Now , nope . The days of just killin to be killin are thankfully long behind me .

Heard one gobble mid morning in a open hardwood flat, I wasn't sure where he was so I just walk 15 yards of the road and maybe 5 steps off wheeler trail. I had just got my gloves and mask on and my gun was in my lap. I was just going to wait until he gobbled again and move on him, I thought get your gun up on my knee, just when I did I saw something black out of the corner of my eye, big gobbler in full strut less than 8 steps right beside me, he had walked right past my truck and up the trail I had walked in on. I was thinking fast on what to do, thinking no way I can get my gun to my shoulder with him that close, well he walks on down the trail and at 5 yards I get gun up at 10 I put it on his head, I did feel bad walking up to him but I did alot right to take him, really good bird, thick beard and 1 1/4 inch spurs.

Im with most here on the opinion of having to earn that turkey. For me its calling one in and fooling him that there is another turkey around.   Its a big reason why I enjoy Turkey hunting much as i do. I will eat tag soup in a heartbeat if it came to ambushing one.


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No...

My reasoning is not out of personal ethics, but out of what constitutes enjoyment for me...  I shoot a bird I did not call in, I feel I would be robbing myself out of the fun of doing so...

Shooting a turkey on the ground is certainly no great feat of marksmanship.  Past couple seasons, I have turned a corner to see an easy bird...  Instinctively raise my gun, and (have so far) let them all walk.  Now, If I can (stealthly) back out, and call that bird in, I will gladly take him.

Granted, If I am sitting some place calling periodically, and a bird comes in quiet after some time, I make the "assumption" that he is where he is, due to my calling, and I will take that bird.

There are many personal ethics that come to play in hunting...  But there are also "non-ethical" practices and preferences based on where the enjoyment level comes from for each of us...

Fortunately, I haven't found myself in a situation where I would be tested with a bird I just stumbled into while hunting that I wasn't in a conversation with.  Honestly, if I was having a tough season, had hunted long and hard, and for whatever reason had not been able to "get it done", I am sure I would be tempted.  I also suspect that temptation would be magnified if I was nearing the end of a tough, bird-less, out-of-state hunt.  Could I honestly say I wouldn't pull the trigger in that situation?  I'm just not certain...and I am hoping I don't have to find out.

I also have no problem with folks that shoot non-called gobblers when the opportunity arises. The exception to that is people who shoot turkeys by road-hunting, shooting over feeders or baited sites, or roost-shooting birds off of the limb.  Although, I have had a number of occasions where I could have done all of those, that is definitely not something that I personally find acceptable.

Yes. In my opinion, there's more ways to earn one than ONLY calling one in. Hunting almost exclusively public land, a lot of times miles and super early mornings usually come into play. One example was last year hunting public land rios and not hearing a gobble all day. I hit multiple high points in the morning and heard zero. I then called in a couple aggressive hens and then was able to spot two longbeards. I tried 3 different times to circle around and call one of them in. They seemingly didn't care about my calling or were "shy" of it. Again, never gobbled once. I finally chose to sneak into range and killed one. It was a lot of fun and I felt I earned it due to how much "try" was involved in the hunt.

AGAIN - to each his own.  Follow the limits, follow the rules.  Go get 'um. 
What's next - Would you shoot a bird after watching a YouTube video from THP?  As usual this forum can get very elitist at times.  It may be it's charm.  Lol

Nope.

I, personally, fail to see the point in it.

  But, additionally, in my home state it's not LEGAL to shoot a spring bird you did not call to your location.

It's the age old, it depends.

I have shot them and I have let them walk. I'm sure both scenarios will play out again in the coming years....

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 03, 2024, 01:30:13 PM
Nope.

I, personally, fail to see the point in it.

  But, additionally, in my home state it's not LEGAL to shoot a spring bird you did not call to your location.

Every state should follow suit

Not legal to shoot a bird you didn't call in?  I find that difficult to believe and waaay more difficult to enforce, basically impossible.

Stumbling onto a gobbler is unimaginable to me.  I have stepped to the edge of the woods and had birds running waaay across a clear cut.  How do you stumble on to a turkey?  On the other hand I have snuck along a two track and encountered a flock crossing in front of me.  Nice mature boss in that mix too.  If I had a shot I would have gladly and PROUDLY invited him home.  No call necessary.     :OGani:

Quote from: Zobo on March 03, 2024, 01:40:14 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 03, 2024, 01:30:13 PM
Nope.

I, personally, fail to see the point in it.

  But, additionally, in my home state it's not LEGAL to shoot a spring bird you did not call to your location.

Horse pucky. Totally not enforceable and makes things a joke.  What State?

Every state should follow suit

Hunters and Killers

Quote from: Bedge7767 on March 03, 2024, 01:54:08 PM
Hunters and Killers
[/quoyte]

The 1980s have passed you by.  Live with it. 

No doubt I'm shooting. I have had that happen a couple of times. One time I wasn't sure of the shot distance so I let him walk to move in front and call him in. After the fact he was in range. Another time I worked a bird all morning but he was across a big creek. I eased up to the creek to see about crossing it and he was down in the creek drinking water when I popped over the crest. I did let him get up the side where he wouldn't get wet when I shot. He didn't have a clue anyone was around.

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 01:53:45 PM

Quote from: Zobo on March 03, 2024, 01:40:14 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 03, 2024, 01:30:13 PM
Nope.

I, personally, fail to see the point in it.

  But, additionally, in my home state it's not LEGAL to shoot a spring bird you did not call to your location.

Horse pucky. Totally not enforceable and makes things a joke.  What State?

Every state should follow suit

.   Soooo , elitist means having a different opinion than you ,?
Stereo type much ?

Yes - if you don't see the elitist in many of these threads you are being a blind elitist.  Surprised many of the recent threads regarding "decoys" have survived unscathed.  Let's do some more on OnX or THP.  They're always good for a laugh. 

If I am elitist so be it. By the way I am against blinds, decoys, reaping, food plots, trail cameras, battery powered bikes,and baiting. Might as well upgrade me to platinum status. . I really don't give a flip how everyone else is doing it. I hold my standards for me and me alone. Taking the easy route leads to mediocrity. That's not my aspiration in life.

This reminds me of fishing with my uncle.  He was an avid fly fisherman who tied his own and made some of his own rods.  He would not dream of tying a spinner onto the end of some 4 pound mono and casting that anywhere.  I don't think he owned a spinning rod. If you ever wanted to go fishing with a great fisherman, he was one.  I loved that guy and admired his skill and dedication.  I just wanted to catch some fish.  Wish he was still around.   

Finally,,, I'm considered "elite " at something... thank u

Bang bang - dinner!!

Quote from: Happy on March 03, 2024, 02:30:59 PM
If I am elitist so be it. By the way I am against blinds, decoys, reaping, food plots, trail cameras, battery powered bikes,and baiting. Might as well upgrade me to platinum status. . I really don't give a flip how everyone else is doing it. I hold my standards for me and me alone. Taking the easy route leads to mediocrity. That's not my aspiration in life.

We hope you aren't against wearing pants.  As for this mystery state if I walk in in the dark to a spot I guessed they were roosting and one flew down would I have to give him a courtesy yelp to be legal.?I'm assuming this is the same state where they did the orange hat shuffle?  I may visit there mid May. Don't want to commit a paux pas if one comes in silent .

I look at this in the same scenario, would i shoot a gobbler off the roost and the answer is no. The excitement and adrenaline can cause you to do things you may dread later. SO do we always make the right decisions, that a question you have to ask yourself and learn from your mistakes. How you want to hunt is entirely up to you and your conscience. I really don't know of any turkey hunting rule books and I've never seen turkeys follow any kind of rules.  Following the game laws are different.

  Everyone can learn from each other and you can ask yourself is my way the correct way maybe, maybe not in chasing gobblers.  I chase them the way i want and if I do something wrong in the process the only one i have to blame is myself ...

Safe, legal and fair chase...  That's your decision...

Regardless enjoy yourself in the chase ..

I would shoot one I didn't call in, because I rarely use a call. I spot and stalk or set up an ambush. I have as much fun doing it that way as I have when calling. Each has its own challenges and rewards.

Quote from: Dougas on March 03, 2024, 03:36:48 PM
I would shoot one I didn't call in, because I rarely use a call. I spot and stalk or set up an ambush. I have as much fun doing it that way as I have when calling. Each has its own challenges and rewards.

Nothing wrong with that tactic, for myself i just enjoy my calls / calling and the interaction with the gobblers...  I like to convince him to look for me...

I'm definitely killing him!  I love hunting more than anything else I do. But if I wasn't doing it to kill, I'd carry a camera instead of a gun!!  Most on here wouldn't think twice about killing a buck that they happened onto on the way to their stand. Or a coyote that came strolling past. To say that one that isn't called in isn't earned is just silly. When do you consider it "earned"?  How about a love sick 2 year old that runs straight into the first set of yelps?  Didn't do much to "earn" that one. How about when one flys down and lands 30 yards away after you only made one call? Didn't do much to "earn" him either. Hunting is different for everyone and everyone has his or her own preferences and standards. I personally don't understand the concept of "earned" when it comes to hunting. If I get an easy opportunity, I'm taking it!  Passing on a lucky chance is like passing on a lottery ticket you just won on!  I mean heck, you should. You really didn't "earn" it!!

One morning in a rush to get out the door, I left my vest at home.  Too late to go home by the time I realized it, so I hunted that day without any calls.  About 11am I came to the realization just how handicapped I was without calls.  I didn't kill a bird that day, but I vividly remember thinking that if I could have pulled it off, it would have been a very memorable hunt and hard earned. 

Quote from: Old Swamper on March 03, 2024, 04:07:45 PM
Never have and never will. Proud to be a turkey hunter, and not just a killer. If that offends you, I could care less.

But not enough to try and slam others.  Love these threads and time of year.  Things never change here but rapidly change in the real world.  YouTube - here to stay.  OnX - here to stay. Social media - here to stay.  Remember it's "Fore" not "Four" when you are on the links.

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 01:53:45 PM

Quote from: Zobo on March 03, 2024, 01:40:14 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 03, 2024, 01:30:13 PM
Nope.

I, personally, fail to see the point in it.

  But, additionally, in my home state it's not LEGAL to shoot a spring bird you did not call to your location.

Horse pucky. Totally not enforceable and makes things a joke.  What State?

Every state should follow suit

Did you say "horse pucky" ???  :TooFunny:

Quote from: Greg Massey on March 03, 2024, 03:45:15 PM

Quote from: Dougas on March 03, 2024, 03:36:48 PM
I would shoot one I didn't call in, because I rarely use a call. I spot and stalk or set up an ambush. I have as much fun doing it that way as I have when calling. Each has its own challenges and rewards.

Nothing wrong with that tactic, for myself i just enjoy my calls / calling and the interaction with the gobblers...  I like to convince him to look for me...

There iIS something wrong with that tactic, it's called safety

Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 03, 2024, 01:43:27 PM
Not legal to shoot a bird you didn't call in?  I find that difficult to believe and waaay more difficult to enforce, basically impossible.

Enforceability is irrelevant

This was a picture of the smell of sweet success, picture was taking at 640 AM.

Night prior the wind picked up to 40 MPH, as I lay in my motel room I mentally went through my hunting area for tomorrow.

If you notice the road behind me, that's what I walked in on. In front of me is a 50 year old high wall, the high wall makes a big U. A man made wind break.

I was standing a few feet from where this picture was taken when I could start to see turkeys on the roost 35 yards in front of me in the darkness. I slowly managed to lay down and crawl a copy feet to the base of a tree.

A Tom started gobbling what sounded like two hundred yards away, could have been less but the wind was ripping!

After forever those hens flew down, the Tom stopped gobbling and the hens scratched there way onto the side of the highway working right around it to me. Soon, there is the Tom strutting behind them. When he was at 30 yards I shot him.

I had, in the 40 or so minutes, slide a call in my mouth but never once did it break silence. Why would it? The only thing I could have done was screw it up, there could not have been an improvement to that hunt.

In this hunt, my ego did not tell me I had to call em up!

The hens on the roost were swaying at what I figured was at least 12' from side to side. I would have been a sick turkey from setting there all night!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240303/8603ab9ab81a64dca3fe29582ee43d39.jpg)

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Quote from: Farmboy27 on March 03, 2024, 04:04:40 PM
I'm definitely killing him!  I love hunting more than anything else I do. But if I wasn't doing it to kill, I'd carry a camera instead of a gun!!  Most on here wouldn't think twice about killing a buck that they happened onto on the way to their stand. Or a coyote that came strolling past. To say that one that isn't called in isn't earned is just silly. When do you consider it "earned"?  How about a love sick 2 year old that runs straight into the first set of yelps?  Didn't do much to "earn" that one. How about when one flys down and lands 30 yards away after you only made one call? Didn't do much to "earn" him either. Hunting is different for everyone and everyone has his or her own preferences and standards. I personally don't understand the concept of "earned" when it comes to hunting. If I get an easy opportunity, I'm taking it!  Passing on a lucky chance is like passing on a lottery ticket you just won on!  I mean heck, you should. You really didn't "earn" it!!

Hey Farmboy, this isn't deer hunting

Quote from: WV Flopper on March 03, 2024, 05:04:42 PM
This was a picture of the smell of sweet success, picture was taking at 640 AM.

Night prior the wind picked up to 40 MPH, as I lay in my motel room I mentally went through my hunting area for tomorrow.

If you notice the road behind me, that's what I walked in on. In front of me is a 50 year old high wall, the high wall makes a big U. A man made wind break.

I was standing a few feet from where this picture was taken when I could start to see turkeys on the roost 35 yards in front of me in the darkness. I slowly managed to lay down and crawl a copy feet to the base of a tree.

A Tom started gobbling what sounded like two hundred yards away, could have been less but the wind was ripping!

After forever those hens flew down, the Tom stopped gobbling and the hens scratched there way onto the side of the highway working right around it to me. Soon, there is the Tom strutting behind them. When he was at 30 yards I shot him.

I had, in the 40 or so minutes, slide a call in my mouth but never once did it break silence. Why would it? The only thing I could have done was screw it up, there could not have been an improvement to that hunt.

In this hunt, my ego did not tell me I had to call em up!

The hens on the roost were swaying at what I figured was at least 12' from side to side. I would have been a sick turkey from setting there all night!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240303/8603ab9ab81a64dca3fe29582ee43d39.jpg)

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Perfectly fine , you set up. Has nothing to do with actual calling. It's about stalking and reaping

So where is it illegal to kill a turkey you don't call in?

Enforceability is relevant, they tend to not make too many non enforceable laws.

As above, " to each their own". I guess it would be a situational call. If I'm turkey hunting, 50/50. If someone else is calling it, I'm out of there. Z

I've slipped along a ridge and had gobblers walk up gobbling and looking.
So did they come as a late response to where you were set up and calling 15 minutes earlier and 200yds back, or did they think your noise walking in the leaves was a hen feeding along.

If it was the walking/leaf noise option,
and scratching in the leaves when set up to imitate a feeding hen is an acceptable calling technique. Then by that precedent, I submit that calling one in by walking in the leaves should also be acceptable.

But keep in mind I was pre-med not pre-law.

Quote from: Dougas on March 03, 2024, 03:36:48 PM
I would shoot one I didn't call in, because I rarely use a call. I spot and stalk or set up an ambush. I have as much fun doing it that way as I have when calling. Each has its own challenges and rewards.

It's not about YOUR challenge and reward. It's about the safety of OTHERS. Stalking is nothing to be proud of, and yes it's illegal in some states.

You earn every one of them....


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Quote from: Zobo on March 03, 2024, 05:05:42 PM

Quote from: Farmboy27 on March 03, 2024, 04:04:40 PM
I'm definitely killing him!  I love hunting more than anything else I do. But if I wasn't doing it to kill, I'd carry a camera instead of a gun!!  Most on here wouldn't think twice about killing a buck that they happened onto on the way to their stand. Or a coyote that came strolling past. To say that one that isn't called in isn't earned is just silly. When do you consider it "earned"?  How about a love sick 2 year old that runs straight into the first set of yelps?  Didn't do much to "earn" that one. How about when one flys down and lands 30 yards away after you only made one call? Didn't do much to "earn" him either. Hunting is different for everyone and everyone has his or her own preferences and standards. I personally don't understand the concept of "earned" when it comes to hunting. If I get an easy opportunity, I'm taking it!  Passing on a lucky chance is like passing on a lottery ticket you just won on!  I mean heck, you should. You really didn't "earn" it!!

Hey Farmboy, this isn't deer hunting

Hey zobo, why the heck do you feel turkeys should be different? 

Another joke thread.  Yes said "Horse Pucky" since this forum wouldn't allow Horse Shxx.  Maybe a few of you could start an "Elitist Section".   Maybe one state could be designated for cool guys only. No gps, no OnX, no decoys, no cell phones, no cameras, no crops of any kind, no social media allowed, if caught watching THP it's a permanent ban to hunt only Alaska for longbeards. Stalking game has been done since the cavemen.  It will continue as long as hunting is permitted. Get over it

.SAFETY - lol, sounds like the 2nd amendment attacker's - if it only saved one life.  Please stay home if the woods gives you the vapors.

Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 03, 2024, 01:43:27 PM
Not legal to shoot a bird you didn't call in?  I find that difficult to believe and waaay more difficult to enforce, basically impossible.

Yessir.

Believe what you like.  Been this way since I started in 1979-80.

I reckon a whole lotta laws.......game or otherwise......are difficult to enforce.  That's where the nature of honesty and morality either shines in an individual......or it does not.

How is it they say ??  Some thing like "Character is what you do when no one is looking" ??

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53566419485_563bbebc81_c.jpg)

We all frequent old gobbler to share our love of the wild turkey and hunting them.

That being said, I think we all could use more time in the woods and less time on the keyboards.

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 06:34:27 PM
Another joke thread.  Yes said "Horse Pucky" since this forum wouldn't allow Horse Shxx.  Maybe a few of you could start an "Elitist Section".   Maybe one state could be designated for cool guys only. No gps, no OnX, no decoys, no cell phones, no cameras, no crops of any kind, no social media allowed, if caught watching THP it's a permanent ban to hunt only Alaska for longbeards. Stalking game has been done since the cavemen.  It will continue as long as hunting is permitted. Get over it

.SAFETY - lol, sounds like the 2nd amendment attacker's - if it only saved one life.  Please stay home if the woods gives you the vapors.

Ok first, it's not a joke, sorta.
And second, you have an unusual infatuation it seems with THP. Especially for a gentleman of your age, although I will admit I have no idea how old you are, but it ain't young.
I will admit you are kinda cool because you have a unique take. However, your logic is subjective. You believe in what's right for you. I'm thinking more broadly.

Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 03, 2024, 05:17:37 PM
So where is it illegal to kill a turkey you don't call in?

Pennsylvania

Not really since this forum has more than it's share of elitist and hypocrites. If I didn't offend someone I'll try harder. I do know the "no stalking" state.  Please someone post anyone convicted of stalking a turkey ????.   Good time to have one of the famous silent dog whistles in your pocket.  Gee "wasn't stalking, called to him several times".  Joke regulation and everyone knows it.  Not as bad as the orange hat swap however.  Some old YouTubes during that period were a hoot

BTW - as usual many of the most vocal show NO AGE, NO STATE, no contact info.  A gang of anonymous nitwits.  Forum's typical here and most everywhere.

I hunted a bird a few years ago on some hard hunted public land late in the season.  Over the course of a week I heard him fly down twice. Was beat to the spot twice. One of the days I heard him fly down I slowly worked my way through the creek bottom he was hanging in and found extremely fresh scratchings headed towards a private field. That afternoon I went back and heard him gobble one time on the roost.  The next morning I got there early enough to walk a big circle around him and set up where those scratchings were headed to that field. He played the part just as I expected gobbled his head off until fly down then silent, but straight to my gun barrel. I guess I should have called right before I pulled the trigger?

I don't see how he was any less " earned " than any hot bird I have yelped to three times and had pitch down into gun range. 

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 06:54:15 PM
Not really since this forum has more than it's share of elitist and hypocrites. If I didn't offend someone I'll try harder. I do know the "no stalking" state.  Please someone post anyone convicted of stalking a turkey ????.   Good time to have one of the famous silent dog whistles in your pocket.  Gee "wasn't stalking, called to him several times".  Joke regulation and everyone knows it.  Not as bad as the orange hat swap however.  Some old YouTubes during that period were a hoot

BTW - as usual many of the most vocal show NO AGE, NO STATE, no contact info.  A gang of anonymous nitwits.  Forum's typical here and most everywhere.

You're a little nuts. We are not elitists, we just believe in calling a gobbler to the gun. That's NOT elitism, it's sportsmanship and fair chase and it comes from a forum that's all about turkey calls and call makers. The guy who runs this site and created it is one of them.
Of course, there are exceptions and instances where no one in their right mind would ever make a noise or ever call. We know the that! You don't need to post those anecdotes, we've all been there.
It's about putting into hunters heads the right ethic, whether or not it's enforceable.

Joey,
Just a friendly suggestion but I see no reason to get wound up by how other people regulate their lives. We all have opinions and I for one, am grateful for that. My suggestion is to make turkey hunting about you and what you enjoy. Getting offended by people that have different standards than you is no way to live. I never walk into the woods worrying about what other people think of me. My game is with myself and the turkeys.   

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 06:54:15 PM
I do know the "no stalking" state.  Please someone post anyone convicted of stalking a turkey ????.   

Yeah.  I don't make the rules here.  I just hunt within them.

As far as knowing anyone ever convicted of stalking a turkey ??   Nope.  Don't know any, personally.

I, however, DO know of more than one person who's been SHOT by someone stalking a "turkey".  And several others who had VERY close calls (me included).  So, as dumb as some of Pennsylvania's game laws may be......... I'm, pretty well, behind this one.

Is cabin fever season is over?  , lol

Very glad I hit a nerve with so many.   Every year the elitist on this forum rear their heads   Happened sooner than a typical season.  AGAIN - no age, no state, no contact info - your comments ignored and worthless. 

Quote from: Old Gobbler on March 03, 2024, 07:19:41 PM
Is cabin fever season is over?  , lol

You'd think it SHOULD be........... right ??    :goofball:

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 07:20:49 PM
Very glad I hit a nerve with so many.   Every year the elitist on this forum rear their heads   Happened sooner than a typical season.  AGAIN - no age, no state, no contact info - your comments ignored and worthless.

Thank you for calling me an elitist, no one's ever done that before!

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 07:20:49 PM
  AGAIN - no age, no state, no contact info - your comments ignored and worthless.

You have my cell #    So , I trust your referring to someone else.    :icon_thumright:

Good luck this spring !!!   Hunt safely !!!

Thanks - I'll be stalking a few this Friday   lol

Yes, there's more to turkey hunting than just calling


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   I often have heard cant kill them sitting on the couch . That one I believe . but cant kill them if you don't call them , cant buy that one . To many scenarios to hunt by one method. Learned woodman ship before learned to call , more proud of that . Sorry but no stalking is a head scratcher , does that mean you cant close , maybe purr and close . I love to hunt , not be chained down , and I am not about the  kill , just about what I have learned in what is starting to be a long life.

Yes, I would shoot. I guess I'm a total reject because I shot one once that my buddy called in.
Another morning; I slipped in really early because I had heard one fly up the evening before. When he gobbled on the roost; I near abouts had a stroke because he was so close. I was scared to even try to call..he was THAT close. When he pitched down; he was about 20 steps away and the rest is history.

 It's your tag, burn it how you wish. Don't ask for validation, if it's legal, if it is within your moral compass, your principals, don't worry about others opinions.

We all know what opinions smell like.

Pennsylvania, still can't hunt on Sunday their either I believe


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No! And not for some righteous, elitist reason. I had one within shooting range last year that came in silent, surprising the crap out of me. He slipped right in all silent like, heck, most of the gobblers here have learned sign language and are hard to find... but I just didn't feel it. I don't think it was moral high ground or any of that junk, it just didn't get my nerves going like working one in. So... maybe I'm just a broken turkey hunter... who knows.

As long as someone is following the laws of their state they can shoot turkeys however they want and I don't see why anyone else should or would care. In my opinion it's hunting and the purpose is to harvest the game while some methods are certainly more rewarding than others, again in my opinion. I think if you get the opportunity to kill a turkey, duck, deer or any other animal in ethical range while walking through the woods or sitting still you have demonstrated woodman skills. Every animal I have ever hunted is pretty dang good at avoiding humans and being killed, after all 365 days a year that is their main job.

Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 03, 2024, 07:54:40 PM
Pennsylvania, still can't hunt on Sunday their either I believe


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And in my state thank God!
Im not from Pennsylvania but they are the role model for all other states as far as I'm concerned.

Very well said CW. I have always thought that as long as his feet were on the ground we good!

I read where Alabama banned trail cameras on public land in turkey season. And included -#actuallyhunttheturkey in their social media posts. Bet that really triggers some people.

 Why would that trigger anyone?

Doesn't trigger me, I congratulate Alabama for it.

Makes me want to say certain words into my diaphragm call

Shoot one that I stumbled upon? Nope. I did that once a long time ago. Hadn't heard anything for a while and was heading back to the truck. Stumbled into a Gobbler strutting for a hen on the other side of an overgrown fence line. The hen spooked. I shot him when he came out of strut and put his head up to see what was up.

It did absolutely nothing for me. All the anticipation of the hunt, the excitement of calling to him and him gobbling back, the spit, the drum, the trying to look out my ear hole to see him because he silently flanked me, the moment where I knew if he takes one more step he's mine, the knee jumping and trying desperately to hold it back that insues, there was none of it. There was just a black heap laying on the ground. I felt no different than if I had walked into a grocery store.

That was some 30 years ago. Back then whenever talk of turkey hunting safety came around, it was always; don't wear red, white, or blue and don't pearl harbor a gobbling turkey with the thought being the turkey maybe gobbling at another hunter.

I don't bushwhack or reap because of my safety concerns, besides it's not what I'm there for.

If I'm set up and he comes in silent, I'm dropping the hammer.

I did it once.  Walked around a bend and a strutter was 35 yards in front of me.  No calls, nothing but a shot.  It did not satisfy my hunting itch.  So given that situation, I probably won't. 

Yes I will take the opportunity

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 06:34:27 PM
Another joke thread.  Yes said "Horse Pucky" since this forum wouldn't allow Horse Shxx.  Maybe a few of you could start an "Elitist Section".   Maybe one state could be designated for cool guys only. No gps, no OnX, no decoys, no cell phones, no cameras, no crops of any kind, no social media allowed, if caught watching THP it's a permanent ban to hunt only Alaska for longbeards. Stalking game has been done since the cavemen.  It will continue as long as hunting is permitted. Get over it

.SAFETY - lol, sounds like the 2nd amendment attacker's - if it only saved one life.  Please stay home if the woods gives you the vapors.

Well, Joey, if this is such a "joke thread", why did you respond in less than 10 minutes after I started it? And then proceed to contribute another 10 posts over the next 8 hours?

Shannon – Hey man, I truly didn't mean to get anyone's nickers in a twist. Like everybody else I'm just jonesing for the season to start and like to pick people's brain on what they do and their reasoning behind it.

Quote from: crow on March 03, 2024, 09:08:55 PM
Makes me want to say certain words into my diaphragm call

:TooFunny:

I wouldn't. I had this happen last year when sneaking to the edge of a field to look out in it. Heard drumming and could see his fan over a little rise at 30 yards. Took some video and let him walk. Not because I think it's bad to kill them that way. I just have plenty of time to hunt with my schedule and didn't want to be tagged out at home on a hunt like that. I ended up killing probably that same bird in that same spot a week or so later. But he came in gobbling before hanging up and making me pull some tricks to kill him. And it was a super fun hunt


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Quote from: mcw3734 on March 03, 2024, 10:46:39 PM

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 06:34:27 PM
Another joke thread.  Yes said "Horse Pucky" since this forum wouldn't allow Horse Shxx.  Maybe a few of you could start an "Elitist Section".   Maybe one state could be designated for cool guys only. No gps, no OnX, no decoys, no cell phones, no cameras, no crops of any kind, no social media allowed, if caught watching THP it's a permanent ban to hunt only Alaska for longbeards. Stalking game has been done since the cavemen.  It will continue as long as hunting is permitted. Get over it

.SAFETY - lol, sounds like the 2nd amendment attacker's - if it only saved one life.  Please stay home if the woods gives you the vapors.

Well, Joey, if this is such a "joke thread", why did you respond in less than 10 minutes after I started it? And then proceed to contribute another 10 posts over the next 8 hours?

Shannon – Hey man, I truly didn't mean to get anyone's nickers in a twist. Like everybody else I'm just jonesing for the season to start and like to pick people's brain on what they do and their reasoning behind it.

When I saw the original post I guessed how it would turn out.   Many on this forum are so predictably elitist it was like an "elitist call to arms".   None of the responses were a big surprise.  Be assured if I'm walking out on a trail this Friday and an unalerted hen crosses within range I'll kneel down and wait to see if she's being tailed by a big boy.  If so then shame on him.  Over the near 50 years I've turkey hunted I'm now remembering more than a few times this has occurred.  I don't recall ever being ashamed as I carted him out.  Good luck to ALL this season. 

Mr Joey , with all do respect, I think your confused on this "elite " stuff .
IMO it's called a hunters evolution journey.
I grew up hunting gobblers with some great mentors and sportsman . But even though I had some great mentors to learn from ,, as a young hunter I fell into the trap of the numbers game . I've admittedly killed gobblers about every way possible. You name it ? I did it , with the exception of hunting over bait .
But with age I grew out the numbers game . Nowadays, I want to yelp them to close range . That being said , I still use woody skills to get in the right spot to get the drop . I don't think hunting them the way I choose has anything to do with being elite . 

My wife started hunting with me about 6 years ago, her first bird was a jake double with me on her first hunt ever. Spoiled right off the bat,lol. She shot another jake the following year, her call. year 3 she passes up a 22 yard shot so our daughter could shoot the tom. Later in the morning we doubled again but she shot the wrong bird, a jake and I shot the Tom. Best day of my hunting life, triple woth my girls. So I decided to get her a tom, she earned it. Late in the season we were roosting birds and saw a lone tom fly up. It was like you read in the books. We saw exactly where he  flew up and were there at zero dark thirty the next morning. We got set up tight to him, jake decoy in the field.  We were there so early I actually took a nap before he gobbled, lol. When he gobbled he was 35ish yards behind us on the limb. I told her that when she heard him flap to get her gun up. I never loaded my gun. He gobbled his brains out for 20 minutes then we heard him fly down. He came down right where he went up as usual. He hit the ground and tucked his wings, turned to the decoy and gobbled at it. She shot him at 25 yards, hunt over. No calling here, is this considered "a real hunt"? I was as proud of her as I ever was about any bird I have ever taken. Don't get me wrong, I love to talk to my birds, but no more preparation and planning and execution ever happened if this wasn't a successful hunt. Just looking for opinions. Z

Some of you guys are corny as hell

Quote from: joey46 on March 04, 2024, 05:59:40 AM

Quote from: mcw3734 on March 03, 2024, 10:46:39 PM

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 06:34:27 PM
Another joke thread.  Yes said "Horse Pucky" since this forum wouldn't allow Horse Shxx.  Maybe a few of you could start an "Elitist Section".   Maybe one state could be designated for cool guys only. No gps, no OnX, no decoys, no cell phones, no cameras, no crops of any kind, no social media allowed, if caught watching THP it's a permanent ban to hunt only Alaska for longbeards. Stalking game has been done since the cavemen.  It will continue as long as hunting is permitted. Get over it

.SAFETY - lol, sounds like the 2nd amendment attacker's - if it only saved one life.  Please stay home if the woods gives you the vapors.

Well, Joey, if this is such a "joke thread", why did you respond in less than 10 minutes after I started it? And then proceed to contribute another 10 posts over the next 8 hours?

Shannon – Hey man, I truly didn't mean to get anyone's nickers in a twist. Like everybody else I'm just jonesing for the season to start and like to pick people's brain on what they do and their reasoning behind it.

When I saw the original post I guessed how it would turn out.   Many on this forum are so predictably elitist it was like an "elitist call to arms".   None of the responses were a big surprise.  Be assured if I'm walking out on a trail this Friday and an unalerted hen crosses within range I'll kneel down and wait to see if she's being tailed by a big boy.  If so then shame on him.  Over the near 50 years I've turkey hunted I'm now remembering more than a few times this has occurred.  I don't recall ever being ashamed as I carted him out.  Good luck to ALL this season.

You guessed how it would turn out? Your 1st post in this thread was a passive aggressive attack on the original poster.

You followed that post up by calling people elitest for voicing personal standards. Of course you knew where this thread was headed, you've been dragging it there since your 1st post.

The guy going to the woods without calls would definitely be at the biggest disadvantage in my opinion. So does this make him the better hunter or a slob for stalking? I bet not many have left home without calls on purpose.

I agree this isn't deer hunting but I find it laughable that generally a guy that can stalk up within bow range of a deer is considered a good hunter with great woods skills. If the same guy stalks up within range of a turkey, that has eyes like an eagle, then he is lessoning the hunt and not respecting the game.

I see bowhunting and turkey hunting closely related. Its about getting close to your game. That is the rush to me. Wether you call it in or stalk it. How close can you get without being detected. Both tactics accomplish this and both are legal most places. Enjoy the hunt however you choose.

Quote from: jb1069 on March 04, 2024, 08:56:30 AM
The guy going to the woods without calls would definitely be at the biggest disadvantage in my opinion. So does this make him the better hunter or a slob for stalking? I bet not many have left home without calls on purpose.

I agree this isn't deer hunting but I find it laughable that generally a guy that can stalk up within bow range of a deer is considered a good hunter with great woods skills. If the same guy stalks up within range of a turkey, that has eyes like an eagle, then he is lessoning the hunt and not respecting the game.

I see bowhunting and turkey hunting closely related. Its about getting close to your game. That is the rush to me. Wether you call it in or stalk it. How close can you get without being detected. Both tactics accomplish this and both are legal most places. Enjoy the hunt however you choose.

I can see where your coming from, personally I've never tried it on turkeys. I'd buy the deer comparison a little more if the deer was growling every few minutes letting me know exactly where he was.

Quote from: Paulmyr on March 04, 2024, 09:14:35 AM

Quote from: jb1069 on March 04, 2024, 08:56:30 AM
The guy going to the woods without calls would definitely be at the biggest disadvantage in my opinion. So does this make him the better hunter or a slob for stalking? I bet not many have left home without calls on purpose.

I agree this isn't deer hunting but I find it laughable that generally a guy that can stalk up within bow range of a deer is considered a good hunter with great woods skills. If the same guy stalks up within range of a turkey, that has eyes like an eagle, then he is lessoning the hunt and not respecting the game.

I see bowhunting and turkey hunting closely related. Its about getting close to your game. That is the rush to me. Wether you call it in or stalk it. How close can you get without being detected. Both tactics accomplish this and both are legal most places. Enjoy the hunt however you choose.

I can see where your coming from, personally I've never tried it. I'd buy the deer comparison a little more if the deer was growling every few minutes letting me know exactly where he was.

Right. The distinction is that stalking deer is much safer because people generally don't sit on the ground pretending they are a doe, with buck and doe decoys right in front of them. However, almost all turkey hunters are on the ground mimicking hens and gobblers, many with decoys. So all it takes is one trigger happy stalker ....it happens every season that's why it's illegal in some states. BIG difference between bow hunting deer and turkey hunting.

Quote from: Paulmyr on March 04, 2024, 09:14:35 AM

Quote from: jb1069 on March 04, 2024, 08:56:30 AM
The guy going to the woods without calls would definitely be at the biggest disadvantage in my opinion. So does this make him the better hunter or a slob for stalking? I bet not many have left home without calls on purpose.

I agree this isn't deer hunting but I find it laughable that generally a guy that can stalk up within bow range of a deer is considered a good hunter with great woods skills. If the same guy stalks up within range of a turkey, that has eyes like an eagle, then he is lessoning the hunt and not respecting the game.

I see bowhunting and turkey hunting closely related. Its about getting close to your game. That is the rush to me. Wether you call it in or stalk it. How close can you get without being detected. Both tactics accomplish this and both are legal most places. Enjoy the hunt however you choose.

I can see where your coming from, personally I've never tried it on turkeys. I'd buy the deer comparison a little more if the deer was growling every few minutes letting me know exactly where he was.

I agree with you on that. A gobbling turkey does give away his location for the stalker if he is gobbling.
A deer also has his nose to help him making the stalk harder for the hunter. But I have had more accidental or stalking encounters with deer than I ever have had with turkeys. A deer's curiosity will get him killed many times. Where as with the turkeys one wrong eye blink can end the game in
a hurry. I just think its funny we hold each activity in different regards. I like both methods on turkeys and feel rewarded however it plays out.

Quote from: Zobo on March 04, 2024, 09:27:20 AM

Quote from: Paulmyr on March 04, 2024, 09:14:35 AM

Quote from: jb1069 on March 04, 2024, 08:56:30 AM
The guy going to the woods without calls would definitely be at the biggest disadvantage in my opinion. So does this make him the better hunter or a slob for stalking? I bet not many have left home without calls on purpose.

I agree this isn't deer hunting but I find it laughable that generally a guy that can stalk up within bow range of a deer is considered a good hunter with great woods skills. If the same guy stalks up within range of a turkey, that has eyes like an eagle, then he is lessoning the hunt and not respecting the game.

I see bowhunting and turkey hunting closely related. Its about getting close to your game. That is the rush to me. Wether you call it in or stalk it. How close can you get without being detected. Both tactics accomplish this and both are legal most places. Enjoy the hunt however you choose.

I can see where your coming from, personally I've never tried it. I'd buy the deer comparison a little more if the deer was growling every few minutes letting me know exactly where he was.

Right. The distinction is that stalking deer is much safer because people generally don't sit on the ground pretending they are a doe, with buck and doe decoys right in front of them. However, almost all turkey hunters are on the ground mimicking hens and gobblers, many with decoys. So all it takes is one trigger happy stalker ....it happens every season that's why it's illegal in some states. BIG difference between bow hunting deer and turkey hunting.

Trying to make laws for people not identifying their target is a totally different conversation. Is it always the trigger happy stalker making the mistake or is it sometimes the guys in the blind shooting at movement? Either way that is just bad hunting and no law will ever prevent all accidents.

Quote from: jb1069 on March 04, 2024, 08:56:30 AM
I agree this isn't deer hunting but I find it laughable that generally a guy that can stalk up within bow range of a deer is considered a good hunter with great woods skills. If the same guy stalks up within range of a turkey, that has eyes like an eagle, then he is lessoning the hunt and not respecting the game.

Not me!  I think everybody (else) ought to hunt turkeys by trying to stalk them and try shooting them with a bow.  That way, there would be a LOT more gobblers out there for me to call up!  Go for it!   ;D :D :toothy12:

I shoot if I'm excited...

Last season I watched a bird for over an hour at 70 yards...he had no intention of getting any closer but he gobbled more times that I could count and stayed puffed up. Once he was done he moved to the north and I knew where he was headed. I could have got in front of him but I told myself since I couldn't call him in I would let him walk and try another day. I never did get that bird but it was one of the more enjoyable hunts I'd ever been on.

I shot a bird a few years ago that showed up about an hour after I last called( I fell asleep). I woke up to the bird walking towards me at 60 yards. He wasn't really looking for a hen...I just happened to be in his path of travel and I flopped him at 20 yards. He got my adrenaline going and he never made a sound.

Maybe I'm just weird....

Absolutely I would. I don't get much time to hunt and here in Ky it's a one bird limit per day

Yes.  I love to call turkeys, but I also love to hunt turkeys.  Calling is an effective method and my preference but its not the only way to get into range and sometimes you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

If you're walking through the leaves your feet may have called him in. I'm usually calling as I walk around anyway. Honestly seeing how I usually hunt my butt off and may have not killed a bird all season I would have considered myself as earning the freebie.


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It's situational for me! Most of the time i probably would shoot him!  I do enjoy beating one and calling him to gun more than ANYTHING but if my woodsmanship puts me in position to kill one i'll take that some times also!

Okay. The only nitwit that's replied to this post is the one calling everyone a nitwit. 

for me the chase is the most exciting part of the hunt.  But I probably wouldn't let the opportunity pass without pulling the trigger (pending circumstances).

I don't turkey hunt because I'm hungry.  I don't turkey hunt because I crave wild turkey in my diet.

I turkey hunt because the gobble has captivated me since I was 12 years old and consistently engineering close encounters with turkeys seemed impossible in those days.

While I don't find engineering close encounters with turkeys to be a difficult thing anymore I am still very much captivated by the gobble and close range encounters that I have engineered under terms I deem fair.

For me, the skill required by a hunter to facilitate a "fair chase" encounter is a critical factor relating to whether or not a gobbler should be killed.  I am aware that some folks hunt because they want to eat turkey.  I am aware that many folks struggle to kill turkeys and will capitalize on any opportunity to kill one that presents itself.  That's their prerogative. 

For me, if the turkey was called to the gun or a skillful, strategic move was accomplished to put the bird in gun range, I will kill the turkey (but there are still times where I've made moves on field turkeys and had them in gun range that I just didn't want to punch a tag that way and didn't).

I do not consider inadvertently walking up on a gobbler skillful and I find the idea of killing a gobbler under such circumstances disgusting.
I do not consider flushing a turkey off a roost and shooting him mid-flight skillful and I find it disgusting.
I do not consider sticking a fan in front of one's face and reaping a turkey skillful in any way and I find that irreprehensible. 
(If I took another minute or two to think of and illustrate other scenarios I find offensive, I could but I think you get the gist of where I'm going with my interpretation of fair chase.)

As a turkey hunter, my goal each season is to call more turkeys inside gun range.  Very simply, I want to be more versatile, adaptable and better at critical thinking that I was the season before.  Killing turkeys when inadvertent, opportunistic situations materialize doesn't make me a better hunter and I find zero fulfillment in the proposition of doing so.
So I don't and I don't affiliate with anyone who does.

Absolutely. I'm not going to shoot a bird I flushed, but if one walks past me and I'm just in the right place at the right time I'm going to shoot him.

Stalking is definitely not an option. Cutting em off in the direction you think they want to go is different. Flushing one, no. But.. If this constitutes shooting a non gobbling Tom.. I've worked tough birds in the past where they clammed up. Then I  decided to do what they did. Sit and wait patiently for a couple of hours to have a lip locked long beard to creep in. Boom time.

I would give him 2 rounds just for spite..lol

Ashamed to admit it, but the younger me was guilty of taken/ambushing a tom if I could. At this point in life, it's not the dead bird at the end of the hunt but the thrill of getting him to come in.

I hunt how I like, when I like and where I like (always legal and my idea of ethical) and don't much care what anyone thinks about me. 

HOWEVER, that is not what the OP asked and it has spurred a good discussion and helps people think about their actions and what they consider ethical, which I believe is likely what was intended.  Most of the folks on here are just answering the question from their own perspective.  I have not taken offense by anyone saying what their ethics are, because that was the question.  I can't think of a single person that has said their ethics should be everyone's ethics.  Maybe I missed one. 

I see it like water whacking or ground swatting ducks, to me that is for kids and people that can't shoot good.  Why hunt them if there is no challenge?   The thrill and skill is to decoy and call them into the decoys, not pass shoot them like a noob.  But I don't judge others that  hunt that way, just not for me.

Seems silly to take offense because someone's ethics are different than yours if they are not judging your ethics, only explaining their own.

Hey Cuz, grab the wheel, they on MY SIDE!!!!


PUT THE ROPE AWAY, I's JUST FUNNING WITH YA!!!

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Quote from: g8rvet on March 04, 2024, 08:55:40 PM
I hunt how I like, when I like and where I like (always legal and my idea of ethical) and don't much care what anyone thinks about me. 

HOWEVER, that is not what the OP asked and it has spurred a good discussion and helps people think about their actions and what they consider ethical, which I believe is likely what was intended.  Most of the folks on here are just answering the question from their own perspective.  I have not taken offense by anyone saying what their ethics are, because that was the question.  I can't think of a single person that has said their ethics should be everyone's ethics.  Maybe I missed one. 

I see it like water whacking or ground swatting ducks, to me that is for kids and people that can't shoot good.  Why hunt them if there is no challenge?   The thrill and skill is to decoy and call them into the decoys, not pass shoot them like a noob.  But I don't judge others that  hunt that way, just not for me.

Seems silly to take offense because someone's ethics are different than yours if they are not judging your ethics, only explaining their own.

Thats all ive read also! I thought everyone in a round about way just said pretty much i like to hunt them this way,but hunt em however you feel like...I must of missed the elitist!! ;D

For years I would have given you a firm no. But, during that period, I only hunted 2 states and had 0 issues calling my limit to the gun. Now I regularly hunt 6 states or more with limited time and want to poke in my limit and move on. So nowadays I will on occasion crawl a gobbler only after I have lost the battle. Judge me if you must. Just realize, everyone has different goals.

Yes I will. Calling "Isn't" Everything

Yep, no questions ask. Would I like to have called him in? Yes. But turkey hunting is not all about calling. Would you shoot a deer if you didn't grunt or rattle him in? There you have it!

Yes if I get an opportunity

I ambushed a lot of gobblers when I was younger and would shoot one that I didn't call up or stumbled up on.  I have done all of the above.  Anymore, especially at home, where I get to hunt a lot, I find myself wanting to make it as difficult as possible which means calling them to the gun at the very least.  They do not have to be gobbling ;D

Have roosted the birds the night before and got in early  where I thought they were going to fly down  at. Some of those mornings its just nice to relax and listen and watch the turkeys do their thing. On occasion I have killed some of those gobblers and never touched a call. Never felt like it took anything away from the hunt to me. Could I have called yep, would it have hurt anything  nope, would it have added anything to that hunt nope.

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 03, 2024, 01:30:13 PM


  But, additionally, in my home state it's not LEGAL to shoot a spring bird you did not call to your location.

I'm in Pennsylvania as well and this rule gets taken out of context, but our game laws are all written very poorly....I'll give you that.
It says "Hunting my calling only. No stalking." to emphasize that is is not legal to creep within shooting range of a bird and kill it.
You do not have to make a call to legally harvest a gobbler in Pa.

I've been accused of "stalking" before by other hunters who saw me belly crawling to get to a location. I crawled down a low spot and set up in a brush pile while birds were visible in a field. He was henned up and had zero interest in gobbling at anything. They were coming my way anyway so it would have been either neutral or a negative to make a call. Killed the strutter about 20 minutes later.
While they were busy for 2 hours yapping on their box calls with zero interest from the birds, I out maneuvered them and went home wit a set of 1.5" hooks. I did not cut them off either. This was on public and I was set up before their headlights even hit the parking lot that morning.
That hunt was completely legal in the State of Pa.

Another example of a poorly written game law in Pa is that blinds must hide 100% of your movement from an outside on looker 360 degrees and from above. So the minute you open a blind window it immediately becomes illegal according to the definition of a legal blind.

Last few posts are right on.  There are few things on these forums more enjoyable to me than watching "Elitist"  alibing that they aren't. The original poster that started this mess knew exactly what he was looking for.  He got it - in spades.  To add - States such as AL, MS, etc that are on the ban wagon plus screwing the non-res are shortsighted and foolish.  Reduce the limits, shorten the seasons and add quotas if necessary.  That will help maintain the turkey status quo.  AGAIN the private land hunters are laughing their butts off. 

Quote from: Number17 on March 05, 2024, 10:20:27 AM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 03, 2024, 01:30:13 PM


  But, additionally, in my home state it's not LEGAL to shoot a spring bird you did not call to your location.

I'm in Pennsylvania as well and this rule gets taken out of context, but our game laws are all written very poorly....I'll give you that.
It says "Hunting my calling only. No stalking." to emphasize that is is not legal to creep within shooting range of a bird and kill it.
You do not have to make a call to legally harvest a gobbler in Pa.

Well........... One may interpret any law however he likes.   On occasion, I've been known to interpret a 65 mph speed limit sign as 70 mph.  It depends on the officer, I guess, whether or not my interpretation stands when I drive through his radar that day.  But, to the best of my knowledge...... "65 mph" means 65 mph.

So, this discussion has been somewhat informative.........to see what part of the turkey hunter pie graph I fall in, as opposed to others.  And it's been somewhat entertaining.   Just go back and read it.

But, just to be factual and to set the record STRAIGHT on Pennsylvania law (whether Pennsylvanians agree with it or interpret it another way).......here it is STRAIGHT from Pennsylvania Code as legislated by the PA General Assembly.  This is not the remedial version from the PA Hunting & Trapping digest they give you when you purchase your license, like I posted previously.

Anyways........ Not tying to be a smart alec.  Just being factual. 

Title 58 - Part III - Chapter 141.45.(b).(2).(iii)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569403646_59c30a11e5_c.jpg)

Just sayin'

So, would you shoot a turkey that hasn't responded to your calling then? What's the line for you?

As for me...

YES - I have shot turkeys (yes multiple and would do it again) that have never made a peep that I suspected were in an area I had been calling off and on, but did not know for sure that they were until they appeared, by chance or, by skill gobblers have walked into more than acceptable shotgun range and I've killed them. Is it my most favorite way? No, but I would do it again, and again, and again, and again, and I'm good with it.

YES - I have shot turkeys that never gobbled I have roosted that night before. Turkeys that I spent countless hours scouting and put myself into position on that flew down into gun range without me ever making a sound because they were highly a pressured public land birds and I know I didn't call them in. I clucked once or couple times to make them stick their heads up before I shot them, but I did NOT call them in. I'm good with it!

YES - I have played cat and mouse with multiple longbeards in the past that have given me the run around, consistently skirting my setups out of range and have in response maneuvered myself in such a way as to put them into gun range and end the game. Again, I'm good with it and will continue to do it again, and again, and again, and again.

I have hunted mostly public land for a long, long time. I travel to hunt, I don't use decoys very often, but have in the past, I love every minute of it and love them, each and everyone one of them. If I'm turkey hunting I'm there to kill a turkey, otherwise I would take up turkey photography. That would be fun too, but I really like to pet them, take them for rides and eat them for dinner.

Not sure what others think of me or would call me, regardless I'm just really happy that I've gotten to do it for the past 35+ years of my life and hope I get to do it for many more. Each one is special and each season is special, I've learned not to take any of them for granted.

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 05, 2024, 11:04:06 AM


But, just to be factual and to set the record STRAIGHT on Pennsylvania law (whether Pennsylvanians agree with it or interpret it another way).......here it is STRAIGHT from Pennsylvania Code as legislated by the PA General Assembly.  This is not the remedial version from the PA Hunting & Trapping digest they give you when you purchase your license, like I posted previously.

Anyways........ Not tying to be a smart alec.  Just being factual. 

Title 58 - Part III - Chapter 141.45.(b).(2).(iii)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569403646_59c30a11e5_c.jpg)

Just sayin'

I know what it says and have discussed this many times with Pa hunter and the Warden who lives 2 minutes from me.

Is hand calling defined somewhere? What about mouth calling? Do they mean friction calls and air operated calls, or do you have to use your natural voice? Seem open to interpretation. If we are taking these words literally we are pretty limited.
What about scratching in the leaves with your hand? What about scratching in the leaves with your foot?
If you can hunt with mouth calls and hand calls ONLY, it sounds like decoys are illegal, right?
Can I make a single cluck when I get out of the truck and be good for the day, or do I have to make turkey noises every so often?
Am I allowed to shut up when one is coming, and for how long?

I killed one two years ago that heard my footsteps coming through the leaves. Hadn't heard a bird all morning until he screamed over the hill 80 yards away. Before I could blink he screamed again at 40 yards and in another second he was dead. I never made a call except for walking in the dry leaves. Was that illegal?

Have you ever seen the PAGC definition of "Hunt":
"Hunt" or "hunting."  Any act or furtherance of the taking or killing of any game or wildlife, or any part or product thereof, and includes, but is not limited to, chasing, tracking, CALLING, pursuing, lying in wait, trapping, shooting at, including shooting at a game or wildlife facsimile, or wounding with any weapon or implement, or using any personal property, including dogs, or the property of others, of any nature, in furtherance of any of these purposes, or aiding, abetting or conspiring with another person in that purpose.

So of that entire definition of "Hunting" you believe you're only legally allowed to use the CALLING part to hunt spring gobblers in Pa?Any other method is strictly prohibited because of their poorly thought out wording? Heck, you can't even "shoot at" because you have to "hunt" them by CALLING only!
You can't even legally discuss turkey hunting with a buddy or you're guilty of Conspiring to Hunt!
The law you cited says you can't TRACK turkeys either. If you see a line of fresh scratchings headed to the North out across an open flat, are you heading North or South? I guess even if you loop around to get in front of them that would be considered "pursuing" them.
No wonder this turkey hunting is so hard. They make it about impossible if you do exactly as they say.

You can take it literally if you like, but I'll continue to follow the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law.

just saying.....

I can't wait for someone to bring up shooting turkeys with rifles like some folks do in Texas!!!! HEY!!! IT'S LEGAL!!!

NOT FOR ME!!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Quote from: runngun on March 05, 2024, 01:14:05 PM
I can't wait for someone to bring up shooting turkeys with rifles like some folks do in Texas!!!! HEY!!! IT'S LEGAL!!!

NOT FOR ME!!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Virginia too :-[

Shoot him every time. If you get within 40 yrds of a turkey, you earned it even if you didn't call.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: runngun on March 05, 2024, 01:14:05 PM
I can't wait for someone to bring up shooting turkeys with rifles like some folks do in Texas!!!! HEY!!! IT'S LEGAL!!!

NOT FOR ME!!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Legal in Florida on private land.  A coworker was telling me his Dad shoots them with a 22Mag at their place.  I said that did not seem sporting to me and I don't do it. He then said his dad has Parkinson's and can only shoot from a rest out of a stand and only killed them on their home place.  I said, yeah sorry, that is legit. 

Quote from: Number17 on March 05, 2024, 12:51:29 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 05, 2024, 11:04:06 AM


But, just to be factual and to set the record STRAIGHT on Pennsylvania law (whether Pennsylvanians agree with it or interpret it another way).......here it is STRAIGHT from Pennsylvania Code as legislated by the PA General Assembly.  This is not the remedial version from the PA Hunting & Trapping digest they give you when you purchase your license, like I posted previously.

Anyways........ Not tying to be a smart alec.  Just being factual. 

Title 58 - Part III - Chapter 141.45.(b).(2).(iii)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569403646_59c30a11e5_c.jpg)

Just sayin'

I know what it says and have discussed this many times with Pa hunter and the Warden who lives 2 minutes from me.

Is hand calling defined somewhere? What about mouth calling? Do they mean friction calls and air operated calls, or do you have to use your natural voice? Seem open to interpretation. If we are taking these words literally we are pretty limited.
What about scratching in the leaves with your hand? What about scratching in the leaves with your foot?
If you can hunt with mouth calls and hand calls ONLY, it sounds like decoys are illegal, right?
Can I make a single cluck when I get out of the truck and be good for the day, or do I have to make turkey noises every so often?
Am I allowed to shut up when one is coming, and for how long?

I killed one two years ago that heard my footsteps coming through the leaves. Hadn't heard a bird all morning until he screamed over the hill 80 yards away. Before I could blink he screamed again at 40 yards and in another second he was dead. I never made a call except for walking in the dry leaves. Was that illegal?

Have you ever seen the PAGC definition of "Hunt":
"Hunt" or "hunting."  Any act or furtherance of the taking or killing of any game or wildlife, or any part or product thereof, and includes, but is not limited to, chasing, tracking, CALLING, pursuing, lying in wait, trapping, shooting at, including shooting at a game or wildlife facsimile, or wounding with any weapon or implement, or using any personal property, including dogs, or the property of others, of any nature, in furtherance of any of these purposes, or aiding, abetting or conspiring with another person in that purpose.

So of that entire definition of "Hunting" you believe you're only legally allowed to use the CALLING part to hunt spring gobblers in Pa?Any other method is strictly prohibited because of their poorly thought out wording? Heck, you can't even "shoot at" because you have to "hunt" them by CALLING only!
You can't even legally discuss turkey hunting with a buddy or you're guilty of Conspiring to Hunt!
The law you cited says you can't TRACK turkeys either. If you see a line of fresh scratchings headed to the North out across an open flat, are you heading North or South? I guess even if you loop around to get in front of them that would be considered "pursuing" them.
No wonder this turkey hunting is so hard. They make it about impossible if you do exactly as they say.

You can take it literally if you like, but I'll continue to follow the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law.

just saying.....

You do it your way.   I'll do it to the letter.

No sleep lost for either of us, I reckon.

Quote from: Kyle_Ott on March 04, 2024, 07:59:59 PM

I don't turkey hunt because I'm hungry.  I don't turkey hunt because I crave wild turkey in my diet.

I turkey hunt because the gobble has captivated me since I was 12 years old and consistently engineering close encounters with turkeys seemed impossible in those days.

While I don't find engineering close encounters with turkeys to be a difficult thing anymore I am still very much captivated by the gobble and close range encounters that I have engineered under terms I deem fair.

For me, the skill required by a hunter to facilitate a "fair chase" encounter is a critical factor relating to whether or not a gobbler should be killed.  I am aware that some folks hunt because they want to eat turkey.  I am aware that many folks struggle to kill turkeys and will capitalize on any opportunity to kill one that presents itself.  That's their prerogative. 

For me, if the turkey was called to the gun or a skillful, strategic move was accomplished to put the bird in gun range, I will kill the turkey (but there are still times where I've made moves on field turkeys and had them in gun range that I just didn't want to punch a tag that way and didn't).

I do not consider inadvertently walking up on a gobbler skillful and I find the idea of killing a gobbler under such circumstances disgusting.
I do not consider flushing a turkey off a roost and shooting him mid-flight skillful and I find it disgusting.
I do not consider sticking a fan in front of one's face and reaping a turkey skillful in any way and I find that irreprehensible. 
(If I took another minute or two to think of and illustrate other scenarios I find offensive, I could but I think you get the gist of where I'm going with my interpretation of fair chase.)

As a turkey hunter, my goal each season is to call more turkeys inside gun range.  Very simply, I want to be more versatile, adaptable and better at critical thinking that I was the season before.  Killing turkeys when inadvertent, opportunistic situations materialize doesn't make me a better hunter and I find zero fulfillment in the proposition of doing so.
So I don't and I don't affiliate with anyone who does.

I wish I could put thoughts to words the way you do. You just summed up what turkey hunting is to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Number17 on March 05, 2024, 12:51:29 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 05, 2024, 11:04:06 AM


But, just to be factual and to set the record STRAIGHT on Pennsylvania law (whether Pennsylvanians agree with it or interpret it another way).......here it is STRAIGHT from Pennsylvania Code as legislated by the PA General Assembly.  This is not the remedial version from the PA Hunting & Trapping digest they give you when you purchase your license, like I posted previously.

Anyways........ Not tying to be a smart alec.  Just being factual. 

Title 58 - Part III - Chapter 141.45.(b).(2).(iii)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569403646_59c30a11e5_c.jpg)

Just sayin'

I know what it says and have discussed this many times with Pa hunter and the Warden who lives 2 minutes from me.

Is hand calling defined somewhere? What about mouth calling? Do they mean friction calls and air operated calls, or do you have to use your natural voice? Seem open to interpretation. If we are taking these words literally we are pretty limited.
What about scratching in the leaves with your hand? What about scratching in the leaves with your foot?
If you can hunt with mouth calls and hand calls ONLY, it sounds like decoys are illegal, right?
Can I make a single cluck when I get out of the truck and be good for the day, or do I have to make turkey noises every so often?
Am I allowed to shut up when one is coming, and for how long?

I killed one two years ago that heard my footsteps coming through the leaves. Hadn't heard a bird all morning until he screamed over the hill 80 yards away. Before I could blink he screamed again at 40 yards and in another second he was dead. I never made a call except for walking in the dry leaves. Was that illegal?

Have you ever seen the PAGC definition of "Hunt":
"Hunt" or "hunting."  Any act or furtherance of the taking or killing of any game or wildlife, or any part or product thereof, and includes, but is not limited to, chasing, tracking, CALLING, pursuing, lying in wait, trapping, shooting at, including shooting at a game or wildlife facsimile, or wounding with any weapon or implement, or using any personal property, including dogs, or the property of others, of any nature, in furtherance of any of these purposes, or aiding, abetting or conspiring with another person in that purpose.

So of that entire definition of "Hunting" you believe you're only legally allowed to use the CALLING part to hunt spring gobblers in Pa?Any other method is strictly prohibited because of their poorly thought out wording? Heck, you can't even "shoot at" because you have to "hunt" them by CALLING only!
You can't even legally discuss turkey hunting with a buddy or you're guilty of Conspiring to Hunt!
The law you cited says you can't TRACK turkeys either. If you see a line of fresh scratchings headed to the North out across an open flat, are you heading North or South? I guess even if you loop around to get in front of them that would be considered "pursuing" them.
No wonder this turkey hunting is so hard. They make it about impossible if you do exactly as they say.

You can take it literally if you like, but I'll continue to follow the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law.

just saying.....

Well good luck convincing a judge of that, your interpretation of the spirit of the law, lol! I'm sure the judge will be very understanding and accepting of your concepts. I really wish I knew what the heck you're talking about, but I think I'd need a QP of Maui Wowie just to follow your train of thought.

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 01:17:43 PM
AGAIN - to each his own.  Follow the limits, follow the rules.  Go get 'um. 
What's next - Would you shoot a bird after watching a YouTube video from THP?  As usual this forum can get very elitist at times.  It may be it's charm.  Lol

We ARE very charming, even you! Thank you for your very kind words.  :TooFunny:

Quote from: Zobo on March 05, 2024, 07:16:29 PM

Quote from: Number17 on March 05, 2024, 12:51:29 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 05, 2024, 11:04:06 AM


But, just to be factual and to set the record STRAIGHT on Pennsylvania law (whether Pennsylvanians agree with it or interpret it another way).......here it is STRAIGHT from Pennsylvania Code as legislated by the PA General Assembly.  This is not the remedial version from the PA Hunting & Trapping digest they give you when you purchase your license, like I posted previously.

Anyways........ Not tying to be a smart alec.  Just being factual. 

Title 58 - Part III - Chapter 141.45.(b).(2).(iii)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53569403646_59c30a11e5_c.jpg)

Just sayin'

I know what it says and have discussed this many times with Pa hunter and the Warden who lives 2 minutes from me.

Is hand calling defined somewhere? What about mouth calling? Do they mean friction calls and air operated calls, or do you have to use your natural voice? Seem open to interpretation. If we are taking these words literally we are pretty limited.
What about scratching in the leaves with your hand? What about scratching in the leaves with your foot?
If you can hunt with mouth calls and hand calls ONLY, it sounds like decoys are illegal, right?
Can I make a single cluck when I get out of the truck and be good for the day, or do I have to make turkey noises every so often?
Am I allowed to shut up when one is coming, and for how long?

I killed one two years ago that heard my footsteps coming through the leaves. Hadn't heard a bird all morning until he screamed over the hill 80 yards away. Before I could blink he screamed again at 40 yards and in another second he was dead. I never made a call except for walking in the dry leaves. Was that illegal?

Have you ever seen the PAGC definition of "Hunt":
"Hunt" or "hunting."  Any act or furtherance of the taking or killing of any game or wildlife, or any part or product thereof, and includes, but is not limited to, chasing, tracking, CALLING, pursuing, lying in wait, trapping, shooting at, including shooting at a game or wildlife facsimile, or wounding with any weapon or implement, or using any personal property, including dogs, or the property of others, of any nature, in furtherance of any of these purposes, or aiding, abetting or conspiring with another person in that purpose.

So of that entire definition of "Hunting" you believe you're only legally allowed to use the CALLING part to hunt spring gobblers in Pa?Any other method is strictly prohibited because of their poorly thought out wording? Heck, you can't even "shoot at" because you have to "hunt" them by CALLING only!
You can't even legally discuss turkey hunting with a buddy or you're guilty of Conspiring to Hunt!
The law you cited says you can't TRACK turkeys either. If you see a line of fresh scratchings headed to the North out across an open flat, are you heading North or South? I guess even if you loop around to get in front of them that would be considered "pursuing" them.
No wonder this turkey hunting is so hard. They make it about impossible if you do exactly as they say.

You can take it literally if you like, but I'll continue to follow the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law.

just saying.....

Well good luck convincing a judge of that, your interpretation of the spirit of the law, lol! I'm sure the judge will be very understanding and accepting of your concepts. I really wish I knew what the heck you're talking about, but I think I'd need a QP of Maui Wowie just to follow your train of thought.

:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:

I may be the odd man out on here, but, I only hunt for meat. I do not care about the size of antlers, beards, spurs, tusks, claws, pelts or anything else. It is all about meat. The trophy thing or even the hunting experience takes second seat to the meat.
Passing on jakes though, hypocritical and counter to what I just said is something I will do from time to time. I can enjoy everything about "hunting" with the exception of the kill and caring for the meat and eating it, without hunting. Just carry a camera instead of a gun or bow.
I don't hunt elk or bears anymore, because I don't care for bear meat and I have no room for and am probably the only person in the world that doesn't really care for the taste of elk meat. I would not hunt turkeys if I didn't like the meat, same for deer, antelope and mt. lions. I enjoyed hunting all of those and at times I have been guilty of trophy hunting, however, I can enjoy the outdoors and all that hunting has to offer, without hunting, except for the kill and the care after the kill. This is why, I believe that the method I use to hunt, often times dictates how I deal with a situation and I don't limit myself to any one train of thought when it comes to executing strategies. I have no problem employing spot and stalk, ambush, using various calls and calling techniques, fanning, etc. If the situation is right and calls for that particular strategy. I will not, however, shoot one on a limb before flydown, though it is legal to do so in Oregon.

Quote from: Zobo on March 05, 2024, 07:16:29 PM

Quote from: Number17 on March 05, 2024, 12:51:29 PM



Have you ever seen the PAGC definition of "Hunt":
"Hunt" or "hunting."  Any act or furtherance of the taking or killing of any game or wildlife, or any part or product thereof, and includes, but is not limited to, chasing, tracking, CALLING, pursuing, lying in wait, trapping, shooting at, including shooting at a game or wildlife facsimile, or wounding with any weapon or implement, or using any personal property, including dogs, or the property of others, of any nature, in furtherance of any of these purposes, or aiding, abetting or conspiring with another person in that purpose.

Well good luck convincing a judge of that, your interpretation of the spirit of the law, lol! I'm sure the judge will be very understanding and accepting of your concepts. I really wish I knew what the heck you're talking about, but I think I'd need a QP of Maui Wowie just to follow your train of thought.

It's very simple really. The Pa Game Commission defines what constitutes "Hunting" by their paragraph above. Any of those words or phrases means that you are hunting.

Now, for Spring Gobbler they tell you that you can hunt them by "CALLING only. No Stalking."
Therefor, for the letter of the law followers, you shall not commence any action listed other than CALLING or you are in violation of the law.

You cannot: Chase, Track, Pursue, Lay in wait, Ambush, Shoot at, Wound, Place Bait, Decoy, Help another person, or talk to another person about turkey hunting (conspiring to hunt).
These things are all considered "Hunting" in Pennsylvania and specifically excluded from the legal means of hunting Spring Gobblers......if you follow the letter of the law.

Now ask yourself: Do you really think they mean by CALLING only, or did they put that in there to fortify STALKING is prohibited?

If you're a stickler for the rules you had better close that truck door and find the first available tree to sit against so as no to PURSUE turkeys to far, get out your boxcall and start yapping. You do anything else in Pa and I hope you're calling the warden to turn yourself in.

Hunting by "Calling only. No Stalking" is poorly thought out considering their all encompassing definition of what can be considered hunting. I respect no authority of ignorance. I won't tolerate it.

Yoder, I bought one of your holsters years ago and gifted it to a friend of mine. Built like a tank. He loves it.

Quote from: Dougas on March 05, 2024, 10:55:45 PM
I will not, however, shoot one on a limb before flydown, though it is legal to do so in Oregon.

Believe it or not that is legal in Pennsylvania as well. If you set up under a roosted bird and the hand on the clock hits 30 minutes prior to sunrise (or use the table in the digest for the sticklers) that bird sitting on the limb is fair game.
I wouldn't shoot one of the limb either, but I killed one once as his landing gear was being deployed! He gobbled his brains out on the roost and I had my barrel pointed to the woods opening I figured he might land. I guessed right. I never made a call. Pure deadly silence. LOL

Quote from: Kyle_Ott on March 04, 2024, 07:59:59 PM


I do not consider sticking a fan in front of one's face and reaping a turkey skillful in any way and I find that irreprehensible. 

A few years ago (before they provided wording to specifically outlaw using a fan to hide behind in Pa) I made a jig to attach a fan to the stabilizers on my bow. I caught a hen and a gobbler crest the rise in a tall grass green field one morning and made a move to get myself into position to coax them. I got to where I wanted to be, attached the fan and placed the bow in front of me while using my binos to see if I could locate the birds. The hen was off to the left and about 100 yards out. Just then I heard a "whooomphhhhh" to my right and here comes a gobbler strutting and crab walking right at me. Shot him at about 10 steps.
Skillful? no not really compared to some of my other hunts. But it was as exciting as any bird I've ever called up and killed.
I did not REAP that bird by crawling at him. I showed him a decoy no different than if you staked one out in the field away from your position.

Whether you find that reprehensible or irreprehensible is up to you.

Quote from: Number17 on March 06, 2024, 08:37:46 AM

Yoder, I bought one of your holsters years ago and gifted it to a friend of mine. Built like a tank. He loves it.

:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

So glad you/he are happy with it.  That seems to be the universal consensus.   Yep !!

THANK YOU for your support !!!!   

,that is the difference between turkey hunters and turkey shooters.

I would because it's hunting no matter how you close the distance.

Quote from: surehuntsalot on March 06, 2024, 06:32:45 PM
,that is the difference between turkey hunters and turkey shooters.
[/quotue]

My goal before reaching my 80s and 55 plus years of chasing these big birds is to be considered a forum ELITE.   LOL.

I'm sure I'm a lost cause.

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2024, 09:37:02 AM

Quote from: Number17 on March 06, 2024, 08:37:46 AM

Yoder, I bought one of your holsters years ago and gifted it to a friend of mine. Built like a tank. He loves it.

:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

So glad you/he are happy with it.  That seems to be the universal consensus.   Yep !!

THANK YOU for your support !!!!

Yeah, he was so happy with it, he gave it away :TooFunny:

Quote from: Zobo on March 06, 2024, 08:25:28 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2024, 09:37:02 AM

Quote from: Number17 on March 06, 2024, 08:37:46 AM

Yoder, I bought one of your holsters years ago and gifted it to a friend of mine. Built like a tank. He loves it.

:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

So glad you/he are happy with it.  That seems to be the universal consensus.   Yep !!

THANK YOU for your support !!!!

Yeah, he was so happy with it, he gave it away :TooFunny:

YOU.........should be so fortunate to have such generous, selfless, giving friends.   :you_rock:


:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:

Quote from: Kyle_Ott on March 04, 2024, 07:59:59 PM








(If I took another minute or two to think of and illustrate other scenarios I find offensive, I could but I think you get the gist of where I'm going with my interpretation of fair chase.)

The one situation I can think of is sitting in a blind at the edge of a field in front of decoys. I've seen it done a lot and have done it once. I don't consider it very sporting or particularly skillful and lacking much in woodsmanship, but I would still associate with those that do.

Quote from: Zobo on March 06, 2024, 08:25:28 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2024, 09:37:02 AM

Quote from: Number17 on March 06, 2024, 08:37:46 AM

Yoder, I bought one of your holsters years ago and gifted it to a friend of mine. Built like a tank. He loves it.

:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

So glad you/he are happy with it.  That seems to be the universal consensus.   Yep !!

THANK YOU for your support !!!!

Yeah, he was so happy with it, he gave it away :TooFunny:

The operative word here is GIFT, not given away as an afterthought. It was a gift to repay the generosity of a callmaker who made me something of even greater value and wouldn't take money for it.
I researched what I was looking for and found Yoder's holsters to be the top of the craft. I don't hunt with a box call, so I never had any reason to own such a piece of work anyway.
Hopefully that was written clearly enough for you. I know you have a hard time following along.

Quote from: Number17 on March 06, 2024, 09:58:06 PM
I researched what I was looking for and found Yoder's holsters to be the top of the craft. I don't hunt with a box call, so I never had any reason to own such a piece of work anyway.
Hopefully that was written clearly enough for you. I know you have a hard time following along.

I have been told that before  :TooFunny:
You could possibly fit in well on our new hunting team, if you're interested pm me.

Quote from: runngun on March 05, 2024, 01:14:05 PM
I can't wait for someone to bring up shooting turkeys with rifles like some folks do in Texas!!!! HEY!!! IT'S LEGAL!!!

NOT FOR ME!!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

A spring turkey hunter with a rifle is a rare sight in those parts of Texas that allow it.  But many a turkey is sniped by a deer rifle during the fall season.

yes

No sir officer I dint not stalk that bird.   I called from my front porch and left the house. He was searching for ma all morning.
I cant believe he found me this far away.  :funnyturkey:

I think a lot of guys, on this topic and many others, don't take into consideration that not everyone comes from the same circumstances, or has the same opportunities that others do. When I was a young man and new to turkey hunting, I worked my tail off and had very few days to hunt. When I did get to hunt, it was on heavily pressured public lands, and I had very few turkeys to my credit. I didn't have lots of money or time, or a nice turkey lease with chufa plots and little pressure. When I did get out to turkey hunt, I would harvest any gobbler I could within legal methods. If I couldn't call 'em up, I had no problem crawling them up. It takes a lot of skill, and a little bit of luck to ambush a turkey, or even harder a group of turkeys. I've done it and it was super exciting!!
Therefore I am not judgmental of other hunters. I am of the thought process that if it is legal, and it makes you happy, I wish you the best of luck. Now that I'm older and retired, I have more time and opportunities, mainly hunt private land, and have many turkeys under my belt. I don't even recall the last time I shot a gobbler that I didn't call in, but it's been a while. To each their own, as long as it's legal.
Legal is black and white, ethical is a matter of opinion. You may think a style of hunting is unethical, myself and others may or may not agree.
Good luck to all of you this spring, whether you call them up, or crawl them up. :icon_thumright: :fud: :turkey:

Look you are definitely entitled to your opinion in this matter, but I disagree.
Turkey hunting is all about calling the bird to the hunter. That's it, period.
It's exactly the same issue as shooting (sluicing) sitting duck or geese. Or pot shooting a grouse or pheasant that's not on the wing.
There is an important fair chase issue and a safety issue at hand. The latter has tragic irreversible consequences.
This not elitism, it's common sense.

Okay I have a question? I have heard "ducks" brought up in this conversation a few times. If you are set-up and calling ducks into your spead, and 4 or 5 ducks "sneak in" and land in your decoys, are you going to shoot them or not? You didn't see them until they were already on the water. What about one or 2 that swim into the decoys?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Quote from: Zobo on March 09, 2024, 10:11:25 PM
Look you are definitely entitled to your opinion in this matter, but I disagree.
Turkey hunting is all about calling the bird to the hunter. That's it, period.
It's exactly the same issue as shooting (sluicing) sitting duck or geese. Or pot shooting a grouse or pheasant that's not on the wing.
There is an important fair chase issue and a safety issue at hand. The latter has tragic irreversible consequences.
This not elitism, it's common sense.

Likewise, you are entitled to your opinion. However, when the DNR for the state in question says it is legal, and therefore in the DNR's eyes obviously also ethical, but YOU say differently, then it most certainly IS elitism.

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I wouldn't let whether it's illegal or legal set your moral compass.   Drugs, prostitution, martial affairs, gambling, abortion etc etc etc all legal by law in some places.

Sneaking up on a weary longbeard and pot shooting upland birds is not, in my opinion, comparable.

Calling a tom in is far more fun, the back and forth that takes place can be quite the adrenaline rush. To imply that using careful woodsmanship and sneak tactics is somehow unethical is not a fair assessment.

Quote from: runngun on March 09, 2024, 10:37:44 PM
Okay I have a question? I have heard "ducks" brought up in this conversation a few times. If you are set-up and calling ducks into your spead, and 4 or 5 ducks "sneak in" and land in your decoys, are you going to shoot them or not? You didn't see them until they were already on the water. What about one or 2 that swim into the decoys?

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They land, they safe.  They swim they safe.  I will jump shoot them though, just not a ground swat or water whack.  But I do not judge anyone that wants to  Like Rut said, early in my life I have, but not lately.   He also watched me kill a duck with a muzzleloader shotgun, so I definitely like the challenge. 

Quote from: g8rvet on March 10, 2024, 06:03:08 PM

But I do not judge anyone that wants to  Like Rut said, early in my life I have, but not lately.   He also watched me kill a duck with a muzzleloader shotgun, so I definitely like the challenge.

I remember it to this day. That was a great hunt!!

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If the Good Lord(or fate, karma etc) puts you in the path of an advancing long beard then, yes, I most certainly will. If conditions are favorable, I have been known to actively do so myself- I consider it a viable tactic. As I have said,"Do not mess up a good thing with calling.". If it makes you feel better, call to make him raise his head- there, you called him????

Quote from: Prospector on March 11, 2024, 06:15:11 AM
If the Good Lord(or fate, karma etc) puts you in the path of an advancing long beard then, yes, I most certainly will. If conditions are favorable, I have been known to actively do so myself- I consider it a viable tactic. As I have said,"Do not mess up a good thing with calling.". If it makes you feel better, call to make him raise his head- there, you called him????

11 pages and now the perfect reply.  Thanks Prospector! Just because I can't seem to help myself IMO some of the PA stuff that has been posted is truly goofy.  I do have wife's cousins in the Poconos and as I've mentioned we may visit there in mid May.  Their area is surrounded by state game lands.  I hope to maybe give it a try.  I was glad they dropped the orange hat shuffle but may need guidance on what the meaning of "conspiring" is in what has been printed in this thread.  If I ask my wife's cousins where they have seen birds are we both destined for prison if they didn't possess a call at the time?  Will a pre-dawn response from an owl hooter count?  A post dawn crow call?

Quote from: runngun on March 09, 2024, 10:37:44 PM
Okay I have a question? I have heard "ducks" brought up in this conversation a few times. If you are set-up and calling ducks into your spead, and 4 or 5 ducks "sneak in" and land in your decoys, are you going to shoot them or not? You didn't see them until they were already on the water. What about one or 2 that swim into the decoys?

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Instead of bang bang dinner, I'd add a third, bang bang bang dinner (3 shells).

Wood ducks are notorious for landing short/long and swimming to decoys.

I hope no one says we shouldn't use decoys for ducks and only rely on calling????

Quote from: Prospector on March 11, 2024, 06:15:11 AM
If the Good Lord(or fate, karma etc) puts you in the path of an advancing long beard then, yes, I most certainly will. If conditions are favorable, I have been known to actively do so myself- I consider it a viable tactic. As I have said,"Do not mess up a good thing with calling.". If it makes you feel better, call to make him raise his head- there, you called him????

Well stated, good advice.


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Quote from: joey46 on March 11, 2024, 06:39:28 AM

Quote from: Prospector on March 11, 2024, 06:15:11 AM
If the Good Lord(or fate, karma etc) puts you in the path of an advancing long beard then, yes, I most certainly will. If conditions are favorable, I have been known to actively do so myself- I consider it a viable tactic. As I have said,"Do not mess up a good thing with calling.". If it makes you feel better, call to make him raise his head- there, you called him????

11 pages and now the perfect reply.  Thanks Prospector! Just because I can't seem to help myself IMO some of the PA stuff that has been posted is truly goofy.  I do have wife's cousins in the Poconos and as I've mentioned we may visit there in mid May.  Their area is surrounded by state game lands.  I hope to maybe give it a try.  I was glad they dropped the orange hat shuffle but may need guidance on what the meaning of "conspiring" is in what has been printed in this thread.  If I ask my wife's cousins where they have seen birds are we both destined for prison if they didn't possess a call at the time?  Will a pre-dawn response from an owl hooter count?  A post dawn crow call?

The # 1 tactic for a successful turkey hunt is to be where turkeys are. The #2 tactic is to hunt said turkeys where they want to be. So if you know a particular gobbler is going to fly down and head to a particular place, do you mean to tell me that you won't try to beat him there/get in front of him? That you will sit and call from where he ain't trying to convince him to come there? When you know where he's going? Guys, we are splitting hairs here.  When you finally do get tired of calling from where you are, then you reposition to where he wants to be or the path to there, and he be-bops along right into your gun- was it your calling or was it your strategy that made you successful? Uh- huh, that's what I thought.....

Quote from: Prospector on March 11, 2024, 06:15:11 AM
If the Good Lord(or fate, karma etc) puts you in the path of an advancing long beard then, yes, I most certainly will. If conditions are favorable, I have been known to actively do so myself- I consider it a viable tactic. As I have said,"Do not mess up a good thing with calling.". If it makes you feel better, call to make him raise his head- there, you called him????

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My 2nd turkey was a Jake in 2005. I was on a family friend's ranch around Tishomingo Oklahoma, and had roosted what I thought was at least a two year old Tom the night before in a patch of trees at the edge of a small clearing, and snuck in early the next morning to set up.

I stuck an old foam Feather Flex hen and half strut Budda Jake decoy pair at the edge of that clearing and waited for them to fly down, as I was pretty sure they would land right in the clearing. It turned out that what was roosted was two Jakes and a lone hen, and sure enough the came right down where I had thought, but to the right of me a little ways at the edge of the wood line. The hen pecked up around the decoys, but the two Jakes just stood in one spot and half strutted to the right of me for about 15 min.

Eventually, the hen went left out of the clearing, and the two jakes went to the right, walking on an old sand road that led to the clearing. Now behind me was an additional road that looped into this clearing, and connected to the one the jakes were traveling. When everyone was gone, I gathered the decoys and very quickly took off on a light jog on the road, with the plan to get in front of those Jakes, and head them off where the two roads connected.

Luckily these roads were really sandy, and I was able to move very silently and quickly to the intersection where the jakes were going. Once I got there, I set up on a big red oak tree that was right where those two roads met. I gave three soft yelps and those Jakes answered right back and were close. Very close. Like, we'll be there in a minute or less close. Moments later they came right down the road they were on, and walked straight into my shotgun barrel. That was the hunt were I learned what hevi-shot was capable of, even though that was the only year I had tried it. It just about decimated one of those jakes heads at 25 yards.

That hunt and that Jake I was quite proud of, as I had learned to use woodsmanship and strategic planning to put myself were those birds wanted to go and I was a young teenager at the time. Did I call those Jakes in, I think they were coming regardless.. But it really felt good when I pulled the trigger on that bird.

Late in the season.

Common scenario. A hunter is hunting pressured (quiet) birds, and so they're calling very softly and very rarely. As little as once an hour. A gobbler sneaks in, feeding along as he goes. Nearly an hour since you last called. Maybe you had even dozed off. Did you call him in or not? Are you going to ask him to be sure before you pull the trigger? ????

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 03, 2024, 06:45:05 PM

Quote from: Dtrkyman on March 03, 2024, 05:17:37 PM
So where is it illegal to kill a turkey you don't call in?

Pennsylvania

Read the language of the law again. Hunting by calling only. Since there is no way to know for sure what a gobbler was thinking, we can't honestly say it's illegal to kill a bird that you didn't "call in." More turkeys die from good scouting, patience, and woodsmanship, than calling by a long shot. As a challenge, please insist on always setting up at least a half mile straight downhill and across a river from any gobbling turkey. Just to be "sure" he is actually coming to your call and not possibly coming to a terrain feature or on his way to intercept some live hens over beyond you in the holler.

I'm a lifelong PA resident, and let me just say that PA hunters crack me up. Lots of fun at parties, these guys.

*Ease in tight for a good set up-  YOU'RE STALKING!

* Reposition for a better tactical advantage - YOU'RE STALKING!

* Use a decoy- SHOULD BE ILLEGAL! CALLING ONLY!

* Anything short of a hand crafted wing bone- YOU'RE NOT A REAL CALLER!

Yawn.....

Quote from: joey46 on March 11, 2024, 06:39:28 AM

Quote from: Prospector on March 11, 2024, 06:15:11 AM
If the Good Lord(or fate, karma etc) puts you in the path of an advancing long beard then, yes, I most certainly will. If conditions are favorable, I have been known to actively do so myself- I consider it a viable tactic. As I have said,"Do not mess up a good thing with calling.". If it makes you feel better, call to make him raise his head- there, you called him????

11 pages and now the perfect reply.  Thanks Prospector! Just because I can't seem to help myself IMO some of the PA stuff that has been posted is truly goofy.  I do have wife's cousins in the Poconos and as I've mentioned we may visit there in mid May.  Their area is surrounded by state game lands.  I hope to maybe give it a try.  I was glad they dropped the orange hat shuffle but may need guidance on what the meaning of "conspiring" is in what has been printed in this thread.  If I ask my wife's cousins where they have seen birds are we both destined for prison if they didn't possess a call at the time?  Will a pre-dawn response from an owl hooter count?  A post dawn crow call?

Best of luck. Ignore the elitist trolls. We're not all snobby a holes. Most of what PA elitists lean on as "tradition" is mostly close mindedness and ignorance. Some guys just can't wrap their head around the fact that there's other ways to do something outside their own little bubble. Which of course means that all other ways must be wrong.

Quote from: runngun on March 09, 2024, 10:37:44 PM
Okay I have a question? I have heard "ducks" brought up in this conversation a few times. If you are set-up and calling ducks into your spead, and 4 or 5 ducks "sneak in" and land in your decoys, are you going to shoot them or not? You didn't see them until they were already on the water. What about one or 2 that swim into the decoys?

We all have our personal ethics for duck hunting, which I think probably vary regionally to some degree.

Some say that the idea is to call them in, and water-swatting is the ultimate/ethical deception of the birds.

Personally, I tremendously enjoy the wing-shooting aspect of duck hunting, and am robbing myself of that pleasure when I shoot one on the water.  I was raised NOT to shoot them on the water.  If they land before I can see or shoot them, they are often safe.  On a tough day, I might jump them off the water and shoot...  I vastly prefer to shoot incoming birds on the wing, rather than jumping them off the water.

Quote from: jakebird on March 25, 2024, 10:48:05 AM
Common scenario. A hunter is hunting pressured (quiet) birds, and so they're calling very softly and very rarely. As little as once an hour. A gobbler sneaks in, feeding along as he goes. Nearly an hour since you last called. Maybe you had even dozed off. Did you call him in or not? Are you going to ask him to be sure before you pull the trigger? ????

I don't know...  Probably???  Maybe???

Was watching a podcast in which they studied birds on a transmitter in a given area, and then put (seasoned) hunters in the same area.  High percentage of the brids being tracked, went into the area the hunters had been calling hours later...

I do a series of calling before eating lunch, and see a bird coming in cautiously with is head up an hour later, I assume he is looking for that hen that (he thought) was there...  And I will shoot him.

I have often picked a nice comfortable spot where I can hear birds, to relax on a quiet day, and do a series of calling before settling in.  Many times I have been jump-startled by a bird that sneaks in quitely and suddely gobbles very close to me...  I assume trying to locate the hen he thought was there...  That is a shooter for sure. 

And quite honestly, if a bird wanders into gun range where I have been calling on & off, I will likely "feel" like he came to the call.

There is certainly a skill set for ambushing, and stalking birds...  ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG with harvesting a bird ethically like this...  The enjoyment for me is calling them in (which often involves repositioning)...

Hunting is not something I need to do...  Nor is killing.  I hunt and take game in the manner that makes it fun and/or exciting to me.  The thread did not ask if other methods were ethical or OK, it simply asked for a preference.  I enjoy calling them in, and with such a limited number to take, I will generally, only shoot a bird I "feel like" I called in...

Marc, you are absolutely correct. I feel the same way.
I heard Phil Robertson say that the purpose of calling ducks is to get them to land in the decoys. Once they land, you have fooled them.  Like you once they have landed, I absolutely enjoy jumping them up.

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Quote from: jakebird on March 25, 2024, 11:25:48 AM

Quote from: joey46 on March 11, 2024, 06:39:28 AM

Quote from: Prospector on March 11, 2024, 06:15:11 AM
If the Good Lord(or fate, karma etc) puts you in the path of an advancing long beard then, yes, I most certainly will. If conditions are favorable, I have been known to actively do so myself- I consider it a viable tactic. As I have said,"Do not mess up a good thing with calling.". If it makes you feel better, call to make him raise his head- there, you called him????

11 pages and now the perfect reply.  Thanks Prospector! Just because I can't seem to help myself IMO some of the PA stuff that has been posted is truly goofy.  I do have wife's cousins in the Poconos and as I've mentioned we may visit there in mid May.  Their area is surrounded by state game lands.  I hope to maybe give it a try.  I was glad they dropped the orange hat shuffle but may need guidance on what the meaning of "conspiring" is in what has been printed in this thread.  If I ask my wife's cousins where they have seen birds are we both destined for prison if they didn't possess a call at the time?  Will a pre-dawn response from an owl hooter count?  A post dawn crow call?

Best of luck. Ignore the elitist trolls. We're not all snobby a holes. Most of what PA elitists lean on as "tradition" is mostly close mindedness and ignorance. Some guys just can't wrap their head around the fact that there's other ways to do something outside their own little bubble. Which of course means that all other ways must be wrong.

Oh lawdy! More elitist giving their opinions? Ma git the gun!

Good-looking and Platinum level member of the Elitist club

Had one sneak in today on a very windy day, had not called in a while.  I did not shoot. 



Oh wait, it was a hen.  Never mind.   :toothy9: :turkey2:

Quote from: joey46 on March 03, 2024, 10:45:35 AM
Yes - in a minute.  Some of these posts are a hoot. To each his own.

lol. Doesn't surprise me.

Nothing to do with being an elitist , I will not shoot one that does not play the game with me. Heck , I'm at a point where sometimes I don't shoot ones I fool. I enjoy the hunt and I do limit out with my 3 birds every year. I believe to shoot or not is a personal decision. If I sit and call one up that gobbles or not , it is  in my criteria to kill him. If not , he gets a pass and we will go one on one another day. If that opportunity does not happen again , I'm absolutely fine with it. When I was younger , I would kill a bird anyway I could as long as it was done legally . I was the same way with deer. Full of bloodlust.

lol ,, proud dad of a up coming elitist...
My 10 year old son and I rode up on two long beards on our golf cart while going home after a morn hunt last week .   My dad asked him why he didn't shot one ,, my ten year old said " what fun would that be ?"
Proud "elite " dad moment .

Quote from: g8rvet on March 25, 2024, 04:53:18 PM
Oh wait, it was a hen.  Never mind.   :toothy9: :turkey2:

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Yes I would and yes I have and it's still more sporting than those of you who set over your "flock" of dekes!

Quote from: Howie g on March 25, 2024, 06:15:50 PM
lol ,, proud dad of a up coming elitist...
My 10 year old son and I rode up on two long beards on our golf cart while going home after a morn hunt last week .   My dad asked him why he didn't shot one ,, my ten year old said " what fun would that be ?"
Proud "elite " dad moment .

Congrats on not raising a road hunter.
My boy won't shoot jakes or hens. I never told him he could or couldn't, but somewhere along the line he decided longbeards or nothing.
He's 9 this year and killed gobblers the past two years helping me call with wingbones and cane yelpers from Mr. Ezolt.

Quote from: Spitten and drummen on March 25, 2024, 06:11:25 PM
Nothing to do with being an elitist , I will not shoot one that does not play the game with me. Heck , I'm at a point where sometimes I don't shoot ones I fool. I enjoy the hunt.........

We could spend time over a cup of coffee, sir ...........you and me.

:icon_thumright:

Quote from: Howie g on March 25, 2024, 06:15:50 PM
lol ,, proud dad of a up coming elitist...
My 10 year old son and I rode up on two long beards on our golf cart while going home after a morn hunt last week .   My dad asked him why he didn't shot one ,, my ten year old said " what fun would that be ?"
Proud "elite " dad moment .

Exactly right! The kid gets it, I'd be proud too :z-winnersmiley:

I'm not at all for the road hunting crap or hunting over bait or anything like it. As far as shooting a turkey that doesn't gobble, well that's a choice that shouldn't be looked down on.  In the a lot of the southern states in certain areas the bird don't gobble much so if you only shoot if he comes in gobbling you are probably SOL. I'll also say more than likely if your setting somewhere and have called and a turkey shows up, he heard you. I'm probably gonna ruffle a few feathers but tree hugging is only half the game. I'm not being arrogant but I'm just as good at calling one up as anyone else if not better and I'm sure any seasoned turkey hunter feels the same way but being a good caller only goes so far. If he ant coming, well he ant coming. I'm going to play his game until I feel he ant playing far then I'm going to him if I can. Sometimes the terrain won't let you. Also it's way harder to kill one coming in silent because most are gonna pick you off before you even know they are there. Unless you're perched up in a ground blind or something like that. Being able to move on one and get in front of or in the right spot can be a challenge in itself also. Heck I know people that call them in and they sound like a dying calf in a hail storm. I'm not against sitting waiting, you just have to read the moment and do what you think is right. That's the beauty of turkey hunting as long as it is within the rules and regulations for the area your hunting get after it. I have killed them rascals both ways but that doesn't make me a less of a hunter. I have used the terrain to move on them and I have literally watched a bird fly off the roost and never move a tree, let him go clean out of hearing and wait on him to come back and kill him at noon and that's sitting by a tree not in a blind. With all that said if I just walk up on one out of the blue will I shoot? No, but I'm not going to look down my nose at someone that will. I hope I didn't get anyone bent over anything I said but just because your way is your way and my way is my way doesn't mean either is the right way. If it tickles your fancy do it.

Quote from: dublelung on March 26, 2024, 07:53:33 AM
Yes I would and yes I have and it's still more sporting than those of you who set over your "flock" of dekes!

lol! Easy now. You gonna be disliked like me.... lot of truth rt there!

I worked a bird near the end of the season last year, and he was way across a field with some hens. I could tell he was a big, heavy bird. Was with some hens that morning and finally they left him about 11 o'clock. I had been sitting back in the edge of the woods since light, calling to him all morning....soft clucks and purrs. Well, when the hens left him he went under a fence and starting coming to that hen he had been hearing all morning. As he got closer, he would stop and gobble every few minutes....this went on for a long time as he made his way across this field toward me...like 30-45 minutes. At least 150 yards he came. Slow but sure....stopping every so often sticking he head up looking for me....one of the hunts you will never forget. Had ranged a big pine tree on the wood line at 52 yards, and knew if he got that close I could kill him with a load of TSS #9 in my 20 ga. Well, he was almost there but all of a sudden started walking in a circle, and I knew he won't coming any closer. Big head, full fan, deep gobble, and one of the biggest birds I had seen in a long. Did I shoot him? Well, after close to 6 hours of playing this game and heart pumping...I let a load fly. Dropped him right there. Don't like to shoot one that far, but did I call him in...I think I did and to me was one of the most exciting hunts I have ever had. That is what matters when all is said and done.....how it makes you feel in the end....close to 21 lbs and 1 1/2 hooks.

If I roost birds the night before and they head my way in the morning, yes I'm shooting. I still hunted the bird, didn't have to call him in.

If I've thrown out some soft calling here and there and a tom walks in an hour later, yes I'm shooting. I very well could have called him in.

If I hit up a new spot mid day and flush one walking in, no. There's not much sport in that.

I have ambushed a few gobblers,but it isn't ethical.

Man, there are some strange debates on here, but I'll bite.

You are dang right I will shoot one if he falls in my lap, because I work hard for them every time my boots hit the ground and have walked away empty handed on 15 mile days.  Those are the ones that I call "Make Up Toms".  Now, it isn't nearly as exciting, but I feel like if I am in the woods, I am hunting.  My goal for the day is to walk out with a Tom over my shoulder.

As far as the guys who call in a turkey and just let it walk away, you must be from somewhere different or have some amazing property.  So far this year, I have yet to hear a turkey on areas I can hunt openly without a permit or something of that nature and our season opens in a couple of weeks.  Now, I have some last minute places that are almost a guarantee to hold birds, but use that plural "BIRDS" loosely.  I would say that I may have 2-3 spots on the opener where there was a bird...but I will have company on those spots.

If I am out there, I am hunting.

If my buddy called him in and he didn't have a shot no. Anywhere that im hunting with anybody im not shooting unless there's two birds. I feel like some of my buddies might and I'd be fighting mad so I know I would never do that to them.

Quote from: Joneshunter on March 28, 2024, 04:33:16 PM
If my buddy called him in and he didn't have a shot no. Anywhere that im hunting with anybody im not shooting unless there's two birds. I feel like some of my buddies might and I'd be fighting mad so I know I would never do that to them.

If I am allowed to carry a gun, we will have that conversation prior to going out.  I have a pretty small hunting friend group, so I pretty much know if I am allowed (if on their camp or something) or if I am allowed, they will let me know if they cannot make the shot. 

It would kinda be situational to me, but for the most part, the guys I hunt with are happy either way.  I just about enjoy watching someone else shooting a bird more than myself pulling the trigger.  But I get kinda upset watching one walk away, as opportunities in my area are pretty scarce.

Quote from: Spurs on March 28, 2024, 03:23:44 PM
As far as the guys who call in a turkey and just let it walk away, you must be from somewhere different or have some amazing property. 

Some truth to that statement...

To some degree our preferences are dictated by our access and availability of birds...

But, the thread did not ask if you should shoot a bird you did not call in, it asked if you would.  I really enjoy calling them in, or tricking them...  I will shoot a bird over a hen I called in...  In other words, I called in a hen, and a tom followed...  Still exciting stuff for me...

I have let birds walk as well...  One season, I had a tom in particular I wanted...  Filled my other tags with one left, and ended the season with an unfilled tag...  Had fun and frustration hunting him, and he outsmarted me.  Probably more birds that season than I have seen since...

Last season I saw and heard fewer birds than normal, and took every long-beard that came into range when he came into range.  In some ways, I took more pleasure on filling those tags under more difficult circumstances.

Yes...  Often how particular we are and our preferences are to some degree dictated by the options and opportunity afforded us.  If you are turkey hunting in Alaska, I imagine you will be a lot less particular than you would on a good ranch in Texas...

You have arrived as a turkey hunter when you have 2 big Toms heading your way....have both of them in your sights....you take the smaller bird and hunt the bigger one another day.

So when you hunt with a partner and he calls but you don't, will you still shoot the gobbler? For those that hunt with decoys: you place them and go sit. You have to get arranged, snip a briar, condition a slate etc and a gobbler appears running to the "flock" without you making a call- does he get shot?

The only time I killed a gobbler I did not call in was years ago when a friend and I were tag teaming them and it was my turn to sit and shoot.

I have to honestly say that a few years back, I heard a gobble about 150 yards away from me. I quick ran up about 30 yards, cleared the leaves under a tree (as I was doing that, he triple gobbled) and sat down. I put my gun up on my knee, a minute later here he comes fast. He stopped 35 yards away, looked around, Boom! Big Old Gobbler, heard the leaf clearing and came in quick.  Never touched a call. Yes, I was proud as I walked out toting him over my shoulder. Sometimes the best call tactic is "stay quiet".

Quote from: Spurs on March 28, 2024, 03:23:44 PM

As far as the guys who call in a turkey and just let it walk away, you must be from somewhere different or have some amazing property. 

Getting WAY off the OP, but.............

I've done it MANY times.  As recently as the first morning of season last spring.  Had been watching two birds that roosted together.  Both 10-ish inch beards, but one WAY thicker than the other.  Heard two heavy birds fly down.  First bird comes to my calling.  Thin bearded one.  I know the other one has to be close behind so I let thin beard walk.  Thick beard never showed.  Still filled both tags by the end of the week.

I pass ALL mature toms called in during the fall season........except for a case of mistaken identity a few years back.  Still upsets me.

There are a bunch of other stories.  But, you are likely right.  I may be "from "somewhere different" in the journey of my progression as a turkey hunter.

No questions asked . Boom. Hate to be that way , but encounters are fewer and far between as time goes on. If I'm in the woods , and a swinging beard walks into shotgun range . He's had it.

Still the funniest and most "elitist" thread ever on Old Gobbler.  That's really saying something.  Some season's endings some just starting.  Good luck to all that hunt legally and don't give a rat's rear end if other's approve of the way you hunt.

Quote from: Tom007 on April 10, 2024, 10:28:01 AM
I have to honestly say that a few years back, I heard a gobble about 150 yards away from me. I quick ran up about 30 yards, cleared the leaves under a tree (as I was doing that, he triple gobbled) and sat down. I put my gun up on my knee, a minute later here he comes fast. He stopped 35 yards away, looked around, Boom! Big Old Gobbler, heard the leaf clearing and came in quick.  Never touched a call. Yes, I was proud as I walked out toting him over my shoulder. Sometimes the best call tactic is "stay quiet".

And you should have been proud of him walking out....shooting a bird that you didn't call too doesn't make anyone less of a hunter. Patience has killed way more turkeys than calls have. At least in the south that is.

Quote from: joey46 on April 10, 2024, 01:48:18 PM
Still the funniest and most "elitist" thread ever on Old Gobbler.  That's really saying something.  Some season's endings some just starting.  Good luck to all that hunt legally and don't give a rat's rear end if other's approve of the way you hunt.

That's what I'm saying. I've spent weeks in the field not seeing anything im sure not passing up a gifted bird. I love chasing these birds, I respect them.... But I love being able to fill a tag early and spend the day with my family as well. When I go out it's typically from 0500-1600. I've never gone home before 0930. I've called all of mine in but I'm not passing up on one if we just happen to cross paths. They are far and few between in the south east to do that.

Quote from: Bottomland OG on April 10, 2024, 05:30:37 PM

Quote from: Tom007 on April 10, 2024, 10:28:01 AM
I have to honestly say that a few years back, I heard a gobble about 150 yards away from me. I quick ran up about 30 yards, cleared the leaves under a tree (as I was doing that, he triple gobbled) and sat down. I put my gun up on my knee, a minute later here he comes fast. He stopped 35 yards away, looked around, Boom! Big Old Gobbler, heard the leaf clearing and came in quick.  Never touched a call. Yes, I was proud as I walked out toting him over my shoulder. Sometimes the best call tactic is "stay quiet".

And you should have been proud of him walking out....shooting a bird that you didn't call too doesn't make anyone less of a hunter. Patience has killed way more turkeys than calls have. At least in the south that is.

Thank you.......

Quote from: Spurs on March 28, 2024, 03:23:44 PM
As far as the guys who call in a turkey and just let it walk away, you must be from somewhere different or have some amazing property. 

That pretty much sums it up.  Over the years, I have hunted places where I have passed up shooting gobblers I called in just because I was confident there would be more opportunities down the road, and the circumstances of those hunts (one-bird limit, limited hunting pressure, several more hunting days, and the gobbler not quite being what I was looking for) let me choose to pass.  Doing that had nothing to do with some mythical noble attitude I could claim I possess.

It's all about where each of us hunts.  Quite honestly, that option to choose not to shoot a gobbler used to be the case here even on public land...but things have changed.  A mature gobbler that comes to my calling nowadays on our public stuff is going to get shot if he gives me the chance.  However, before this season is over, I will also be hunting a place or two where, if I choose to be picky, I could let a gobbler pass with a good deal of confidence there are going to be others.

Quote from: Tom007 on April 10, 2024, 10:28:01 AM
I have to honestly say that a few years back, I heard a gobble about 150 yards away from me. I quick ran up about 30 yards, cleared the leaves under a tree (as I was doing that, he triple gobbled) and sat down. I put my gun up on my knee, a minute later here he comes fast. He stopped 35 yards away, looked around, Boom! Big Old Gobbler, heard the leaf clearing and came in quick.  Never touched a call. Yes, I was proud as I walked out toting him over my shoulder. Sometimes the best call tactic is "stay quiet".

I consider leaf scratching as bone fide calling

Quote from: Spurs on March 28, 2024, 03:23:44 PM
Man, there are some strange debates on here, but I'll bite.

You are dang right I will shoot one if he falls in my lap, because I work hard for them every time my boots hit the ground and have walked away empty handed on 15 mile days.  Those are the ones that I call "Make Up Toms".  Now, it isn't nearly as exciting, but I feel like if I am in the woods, I am hunting.  My goal for the day is to walk out with a Tom over my shoulder.

As far as the guys who call in a turkey and just let it walk away, you must be from somewhere different or have some amazing property.  So far this year, I have yet to hear a turkey on areas I can hunt openly without a permit or something of that nature and our season opens in a couple of weeks.  Now, I have some last minute places that are almost a guarantee to hold birds, but use that plural "BIRDS" loosely.  I would say that I may have 2-3 spots on the opener where there was a bird...but I will have company on those spots.

If I am out there, I am hunting.

I let mature toms walk every year and some of them on public dirt. By mid season Im typically tag less in every state within a couple hours drive and late season everyone else has lost interest in going. But, I still want to go so I sure do. I just dont take a gun.

Quote from: appalachianassassin on April 11, 2024, 10:01:53 AM

Quote from: Tom007 on April 10, 2024, 10:28:01 AM
I have to honestly say that a few years back, I heard a gobble about 150 yards away from me. I quick ran up about 30 yards, cleared the leaves under a tree (as I was doing that, he triple gobbled) and sat down. I put my gun up on my knee, a minute later here he comes fast. He stopped 35 yards away, looked around, Boom! Big Old Gobbler, heard the leaf clearing and came in quick.  Never touched a call. Yes, I was proud as I walked out toting him over my shoulder. Sometimes the best call tactic is "stay quiet".

I consider leaf scratching as bone fide calling

I agree when your sitting and calling. I didn't think at the time that clearing debris under an Oak with my feet would bring the old guy in running. I do use my wing and scratch a lot when I sit and call. This was just unintentional and it caught his ear.........

Quote from: GobbleNut on April 11, 2024, 09:39:14 AM

Quote from: Spurs on March 28, 2024, 03:23:44 PM
As far as the guys who call in a turkey and just let it walk away, you must be from somewhere different or have some amazing property. 

That pretty much sums it up.  Over the years, I have hunted places where I have passed up shooting gobblers I called in just because I was confident there would be more opportunities down the road, and the circumstances of those hunts (one-bird limit, limited hunting pressure, several more hunting days, and the gobbler not quite being what I was looking for) let me choose to pass.  Doing that had nothing to do with some mythical noble attitude I could claim I possess.

It's all about where each of us hunts.  Quite honestly, that option to choose not to shoot a gobbler used to be the case here even on public land...but things have changed.  A mature gobbler that comes to my calling nowadays on our public stuff is going to get shot if he gives me the chance.  However, before this season is over, I will also be hunting a place or two where, if I choose to be picky, I could let a gobbler pass with a good deal of confidence there are going to be others.

Well said........With me it just depends on each situation. This sounds far fetched but it is the honest truth.  I was in Texas on a 4 day hunt back in the 90's, there was so many birds out there back then it was crazy. Me and another fellow was hunting together the second morning and called up 22 longbeards by 10:30 that morning. 1 group had 5 in it and the rest were 2's and 3's. We didn't want our hunt to be over so we would ride around striking one up go call them up and go do it again. It was a blast. Not sure if a place like that even exists anymore. I go both ways on this topic. Good day.

Quote from: Bottomland OG on April 11, 2024, 01:17:18 PM

Quote from: GobbleNut on April 11, 2024, 09:39:14 AM

Quote from: Spurs on March 28, 2024, 03:23:44 PM
As far as the guys who call in a turkey and just let it walk away, you must be from somewhere different or have some amazing property. 

That pretty much sums it up.  Over the years, I have hunted places where I have passed up shooting gobblers I called in just because I was confident there would be more opportunities down the road, and the circumstances of those hunts (one-bird limit, limited hunting pressure, several more hunting days, and the gobbler not quite being what I was looking for) let me choose to pass.  Doing that had nothing to do with some mythical noble attitude I could claim I possess.

It's all about where each of us hunts.  Quite honestly, that option to choose not to shoot a gobbler used to be the case here even on public land...but things have changed.  A mature gobbler that comes to my calling nowadays on our public stuff is going to get shot if he gives me the chance.  However, before this season is over, I will also be hunting a place or two where, if I choose to be picky, I could let a gobbler pass with a good deal of confidence there are going to be others.

Well said........With me it just depends on each situation. This sounds far fetched but it is the honest truth.  I was in Texas on a 4 day hunt back in the 90's, there was so many birds out there back then it was crazy. Me and another fellow was hunting together the second morning and called up 22 longbeards by 10:30 that morning. 1 group had 5 in it and the rest were 2's and 3's. We didn't want our hunt to be over so we would ride around striking one up go call them up and go do it again. It was a blast. Not sure if a place like that even exists anymore. I go both ways on this topic. Good day.

I hunted with my brother on the King Ranch in Texas years ago.  It was too easy. So many Gobblers, you didn't know where to start. We were done by 7:15 am first day. Kind of hard to believe this when you see what's going on now. This was in the late 90's..........

Quote from: Tom007 on April 11, 2024, 02:47:07 PM

Quote from: Bottomland OG on April 11, 2024, 01:17:18 PM

Quote from: GobbleNut on April 11, 2024, 09:39:14 AM

Quote from: Spurs on March 28, 2024, 03:23:44 PM
As far as the guys who call in a turkey and just let it walk away, you must be from somewhere different or have some amazing property. 

That pretty much sums it up.  Over the years, I have hunted places where I have passed up shooting gobblers I called in just because I was confident there would be more opportunities down the road, and the circumstances of those hunts (one-bird limit, limited hunting pressure, several more hunting days, and the gobbler not quite being what I was looking for) let me choose to pass.  Doing that had nothing to do with some mythical noble attitude I could claim I possess.

It's all about where each of us hunts.  Quite honestly, that option to choose not to shoot a gobbler used to be the case here even on public land...but things have changed.  A mature gobbler that comes to my calling nowadays on our public stuff is going to get shot if he gives me the chance.  However, before this season is over, I will also be hunting a place or two where, if I choose to be picky, I could let a gobbler pass with a good deal of confidence there are going to be others.

Well said........With me it just depends on each situation. This sounds far fetched but it is the honest truth.  I was in Texas on a 4 day hunt back in the 90's, there was so many birds out there back then it was crazy. Me and another fellow was hunting together the second morning and called up 22 longbeards by 10:30 that morning. 1 group had 5 in it and the rest were 2's and 3's. We didn't want our hunt to be over so we would ride around striking one up go call them up and go do it again. It was a blast. Not sure if a place like that even exists anymore. I go both ways on this topic. Good day.

I hunted with my brother on the King Ranch in Texas years ago.  It was too easy. So many Gobblers, you didn't know where to start. We were done by 7:15 am first day. Kind of hard to believe this when you see what's going on now. This was in the late 90's..........

Yes sir it was,  it was very easy. We could kill 3 each on that particular ranch we were at, but we could have been done the first morning also. I always said anyone that turkey hunted needed to witness that at least once in their life. Which there was several states that had big numbers back in the late 90's and even into the early 2000's. I don't know myself but they blamed the decline out there on that ranch in Texas on fire ants.

Quote from: joey46 on April 10, 2024, 01:48:18 PM
Still the funniest and most "elitist" thread ever on Old Gobbler.  That's really saying something.  Some season's endings some just starting.  Good luck to all that hunt legally and don't give a rat's rear end if other's approve of the way you hunt.

Sorry, we don't all agree with you. It's an idea sharing forum. Not everyone thinks the way you do.

Quote from: High plains drifter on March 28, 2024, 02:31:33 PM
I have ambushed a few gobblers,but it isn't ethical.

Two thumbs down for the ambush, two thumbs up for
the honesty :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

I will give the forum "elite" credit.  It must be tough hunting with that halo over your heads? Do the big birds spot it often?  How do they react to the glow?  Are they totally mesmerized at the sight?  If so is a halo considered "fair chase"?  Inquiring minds want to know. :TrainWreck1: :TooFunny: :angel2:

Clearly, some of you turkey hippies need to trade in your shotguns for a nice camera.

Quote from: Tom007 on April 11, 2024, 10:20:26 AM

Quote from: appalachianassassin on April 11, 2024, 10:01:53 AM

Quote from: Tom007 on April 10, 2024, 10:28:01 AM
I have to honestly say that a few years back, I heard a gobble about 150 yards away from me. I quick ran up about 30 yards, cleared the leaves under a tree (as I was doing that, he triple gobbled) and sat down. I put my gun up on my knee, a minute later here he comes fast. He stopped 35 yards away, looked around, Boom! Big Old Gobbler, heard the leaf clearing and came in quick.  Never touched a call. Yes, I was proud as I walked out toting him over my shoulder. Sometimes the best call tactic is "stay quiet".

I consider leaf scratching as bone fide calling

I agree when your sitting and calling. I didn't think at the time that clearing debris under an Oak with my feet would bring the old guy in running. I do use my wing and scratch a lot when I sit and call. This was just unintentional and it caught his ear.........

Tuesday Morning I walked into a creek bottom about 150 yards from a road. It was really dry and noisy walking in, I got set up and didn't have my mask or gloves on yet. Had not called yet, about 6 or 7 minutes later a hen flew from her roost tree and almost landed on my BOOTS! Of course she saw me 10 seconds later and flew off. I didn't even know that she was around. She had to have heard me walking in.
Y'all have a good one and May God bless y'all.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

If you don't kill a bird with honor, you are a chump.

Quote from: High plains drifter on April 11, 2024, 11:15:11 PM
If you don't kill a bird with honor, you are a chump.

Don't want to take unwarranted issue with this blanket statement other than to echo ( kinda) what somebody already said. I'll happily take a Longbeard that has been put on the same path as me whether thru calling or woodsmanship/stealth. I will also say it is imo more "honorable" than hunting in,around, or with a bunch of the "tech" considered legal these days....

Quote from: High plains drifter link=topic=116873.msg1186062#msg1186062 date=  1712891711
If you don't kill a bird with honor, you are a chump.

I find myself :angel9: quoting High Plain Drifter a lot lately for some reason, but yes to "Kill with Honor" is the goal. That way you don't have to lie too much when telling everyone the story of your hunt. :camohat:

I think it was Sophocles that once said "when turkey hunting, what is honorable to some is not honorable to all."  So, here in lies the gravamen of this dispute. So eloquently put to light by the great HPD, a man who clearly hunts on a very high plain.

If I'm hunting and cross paths with a bird, absolutely. If he walks into my backyard or I'm out but not specifically hunting, then no.

yes I would