Seem to me there are way to many Turkeys being killed in my neck of the woods sence we started being allowed to internet check......would be nice if they would cut us back for a few years to just 2 birds in spring and 1 in the fall imo.But I'm sure the insurance company's would complain about that and get it changed back.What do you guys and gals think?
How has internet check-in caused more turkeys to be killed. I, for one, like it a lot. It was often brutal trying to check a turkey late in the season years ago. I once went to five different checking stations. Four were out of tags, and one was closed.
Guys that shoot more birds than they have tags for are going to do it regardless of tag reporting method I can't imagine anyone going from law abiding to heck its the internet i'll just shoot 30 of em
Agree, i don't see how the internet check-in , has done anything to cause more turkey's killed...It's great to have this internet-check-in...remember gas was almost 4 dollars a gallon at one time and running around trying to fix a check - in place open was almost impossible and if you found one most of the store people didn't know how to use the TWRA system...I have no problem cutting back to a 3 bird limit...4 this day and time is to many...and do away with the fall birds and being able to kill birds during bow season...
Quote from: Bill Cooksey on May 04, 2017, 12:04:17 PM
How has internet check-in caused more turkeys to be killed. I, for one, like it a lot. It was often brutal trying to check a turkey late in the season years ago. I once went to five different checking stations. Four were out of tags, and one was closed.
This. It's made life easier for me as well. Check them in on your smart phone or home computer, or depending on the state, via phone - one (our several as in the case noted above) less stop(s) to make on the way home. And in TN, no more dealing with incompetent gas station clerks that know nothing about the process. Had a buddy who thought the store clerk didn't properly check his bird one time, so he went to another checking station to get the bird properly checked in. Turns out the first one went through the system and he got a visit from Mr. Green Jeans a couple of days later to explain why it appeared he'd taken two birds in the same day, which is illegal in TN. He was just trying to do the right thing.
People who want to game the system are going to do it regardless of internet check-in or not. No sense punishing those of us who do it the right way.
How much oversight have you seen sence, asfar as checking licenses and hunters/birds and so on?Very seldom even see a wardin here in east to sence the internet check started!!
And imo would be nice to see more of mr green jeans again sence the tss and HTl is the big thing now!!
Quote from: S.C.C on May 04, 2017, 12:39:59 PM
How much oversight have you seen sence, asfar as checking licenses and hunters/birds and so on?Very seldom even see a wardin here in east to sence the internet check started!!
If your hunting within the game law's and checking game and not poaching , why do you need to see a game officer...i don't see were people think they need to see game warden running all over the country or turkey woods....if you see someone baiting report it ...then let the officers take care of it...i think people worry way to much...
Quote from: S.C.C on May 04, 2017, 12:45:32 PM
And imo would be nice to see more of mr green jeans again sence the tss and HTl is the big thing now!!
Can you elaborate on why more GW involvement is necessary due to HTL shot and TSS?
Quote from: J-Shaped on May 04, 2017, 12:51:10 PM
Quote from: S.C.C on May 04, 2017, 12:45:32 PM
And imo would be nice to see more of mr green jeans again sence the tss and HTl is the big thing now!!
Can you elaborate on why more GW involvement is necessary due to HTL shot and TSS?
x2
I see about the same level of warden activity I always have. I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually been checked while in the field turkey hunting. Now, the last few years we had to physically check birds, I would often call the local warden to see if he was in the area and could meet to check mine.
Unless you've been reported, turkey hunting isn't a sport where the odds of running into a warden are high. They get enough calls about baiting and trespassing to keep them going most days. Also, most of them would rather not disturb a turkey or deer hunt unless they know there's a problem. You're actually probably more likely to run into a warden in the woods in the days leading up to the season. Those I'm close to spend a lot of time walking around looking for bait and other potential problems.
Quote from: Bill Cooksey on May 04, 2017, 01:05:54 PM
I see about the same level of warden activity I always have. I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually been checked while in the field turkey hunting. Now, the last few years we had to physically check birds, I would often call the local warden to see if he was in the area and could meet to check mine.
Unless you've been reported, turkey hunting isn't a sport where the odds of running into a warden are high. They get enough calls about baiting and trespassing to keep them going most days. Also, most of them would rather not disturb a turkey or deer hunt unless they know there's a problem. You're actually probably more likely to run into a warden in the woods in the days leading up to the season. Those I'm close to spend a lot of time walking around looking for bait and other potential problems.
agree
No manned check syation saves the state money but every state that has on line check in ,has the same concerns. I've always said "If your not going to report your kill on line you wouldn't drive to the check station eather". X3 on tss
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TN didn't man the check stations. You checked birds at retail locations where licenses were sold. You could also check them at certain government offices. For instance, I checked a few at the fire station in Bolivar.
Can't speak for TN...
But "Tele-check" phone / internet systems have had no impact on the amount of illegally harvested game animals in states like Maryland or Pennsylvania.
It's been said - outlaws didn't drive to the mom & pop / brick and mortar check stations and then try to lie. They just went home. In fact, the computer database(s) has lead to more outlaws being caught trying to use a relative's license, checking game killed in zones they were not licensed for, exceeding bag limits, etc. than the shoe box full of check tags at the gas station.
It's a convenience for the legal sportsman. And a very much appreciated one.
As far as general compliance checks of hunters in the field - wardens don't like to stroll into your set up at 7:30 a.m. just to see a license. Most of them hunt too.
Quote from: J-Shaped on May 04, 2017, 12:51:10 PM
Quote from: S.C.C on May 04, 2017, 12:45:32 PM
And imo would be nice to see more of mr green jeans again sence the tss and HTl is the big thing now!!
Can you elaborate on why more GW involvement is necessary due to HTL shot and TSS?
Jelousy amoung hunters go hand to hand with every animal. The people that don't have means to HTL or TSS or afford it don't like others to have the upper hand on them with that longer distance. That's the only explanation why someone would complain about it. IMO they're alot more other things to worry about than what ammo someone's shooting. Birds plentyful here and online check-in is great for us. Don't fix nothing that ain't broken.
On the other hand, you have the turkey hunters who CALL birds into range and don't need TSS or HTL or longer distance or an upper hand whatever that means. You know, the ones who hunt turkeys and don't try to make the sport into some kind of long range sniping fest. These are the guys that realize there are more important things to worry about than counting holes in circles. They know how to CALL turkeys into shotgun range.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on May 04, 2017, 09:16:11 PM
On the other hand, you have the turkey hunters who CALL birds into range and don't need TSS or HTL or longer distance or an upper hand whatever that means. You know, the ones who hunt turkeys and don't try to make the sport into some kind of long range sniping fest. These are the guys that realize there are more important things to worry about than counting holes in circles. They know how to CALL turkeys into shotgun range.
amen...
Telecheck has zero to do with more birds being killed. Poachers are gonna poach no matter what. The same dudes that don't use the telecheck didn't drive to a check station.
Hevi and TSS have nothing to do with it either. All the guys I know that use Hevishot like to call them close and kill them, they just like using the best stuff they can get. I've never killed a bird that lead wouldn't kill but I've only used Hevishot since the Rem hevishot days for the simple fact it out patterned and out punched lead.
I do wish they would cut the limit back to 2 birds in TN.
I dont think online check-in has hurt anything.
I also dont think the 4 bird limit is too much.
There are a lot of birds around. And most people really only hunt the first couple weeks of the season before burning out.
Relatively few guys are tagging out.
Outlaws will be outlaws period!
Telecheck makes it easy for the legal hunters to report their game, the only flip side I see is that it also makes it easier for internet scouters (me) to focus on a state and then focus on particular counties/wma's with the highest densities of reported kills. That alone will lead to more hunters on the most productive ground which will overall lead to more turkeys being killed there.
I say all that coming from a state that's behind the times in reporting kills and a tagging system. Mississippi is 100% on the honor system and it leaves the conservation officers with nothing to go on when they see a dead turkey in the back of someone's truck. It could be their first or fifth turkey of the season and nobody would know.
I doubt it has affected the hunter success.
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Your on the honor system either way. I for one like that VA now has an app and I can sit in my SUV and have mine checked in instantly. I would have to drive way out of my way now to go to a check station, there getting to be few and far between.
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:thanks:
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on May 04, 2017, 09:16:11 PM
On the other hand, you have the turkey hunters who CALL birds into range and don't need TSS or HTL or longer distance or an upper hand whatever that means. You know, the ones who hunt turkeys and don't try to make the sport into some kind of long range sniping fest. These are the guys that realize there are more important things to worry about than counting holes in circles. They know how to CALL turkeys into shotgun range.
Can you give me one reason why it would matter to you if John Smith shot HTL or TSS at birds you have no chance of shooting? When or if you deer hunt do you go out and buy a bullet that performs poorly out of your gun? No we all try and find the best performance to make certain of a swift kill.
I like it for deer and turkeys. When i am in an area where I must pass back through WV, I can call the bird in and be legal within my home state. Once this year i did call and the system kept saying that my phone was a "rotary style." I had to be very careful until I could get back to a phone that the system would recognize. What do you think a WV Conservation Officer would have said if he had stopped me?
internet check is awesome. its a pain in the butt to drive 20 miles out of the way to check in game. you can trust dishonest people to be dishonest either way. as for the tss, I shot a couple this year with tss and both were within 15 yds. also missed 2 with it and they were also within 15 yds. again, back to the honor system. its easy to abuse anything if your that kind of person.
Poleaxe I don't care what type shot you shoot. I merely stated that if you know how to CALL turkeys into range as many hunters do, you don't have a need for TSS or HTL. The sport was intended to be about calling the turkeys into good shotgun range, not about a long range sniping fest. This is my opinion and may differ from yours. However, make no mistake about this, many, many turkey hunters myself included see no need for TSS or HTL because we can CALL, (theres that word again must be important) turkeys into range. So, if you think people killing birds with lead shot are somehow jealous of others who use TSS/HTL then you are sadly mistaken. Most hunters that kill birds with lead do so because it works and has for many many years worked so effectively when you CALL (theres that word again) your birds into shotgun range.
As far as your deer hunting comment again you are way off base with an apples to oranges comparison. Would I use a bullet for deer hunting that performs poorly? No, I don't use bullets for deer, I shoot a patched round ball, works perfectly. But, no if I did use a modern rifle, I would not choose a bullet that performs poorly. That is why I use lead shot for turkeys, it works so perfectly.
Phone check in vs check station has no impact on the game killed. If your not gonna check it in, your not gonna check it in. I would venture to say that MORE game is checked in now vs the check station. You dont have to drive 20-30 miles out of your way.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on May 06, 2017, 01:05:06 PM
Poleaxe I don't care what type shot you shoot. I merely stated that if you know how to CALL turkeys into range as many hunters do, you don't have a need for TSS or HTL. The sport was intended to be about calling the turkeys into good shotgun range, not about a long range sniping fest. This is my opinion and may differ from yours. However, make no mistake about this, many, many turkey hunters myself included see no need for TSS or HTL because we can CALL, (theres that word again must be important) turkeys into range. So, if you think people killing birds with lead shot are somehow jealous of others who use TSS/HTL then you are sadly mistaken. Most hunters that kill birds with lead do so because it works and has for many many years worked so effectively when you CALL (theres that word again) your birds into shotgun range.
As far as your deer hunting comment again you are way off base with an apples to oranges comparison. Would I use a bullet for deer hunting that performs poorly? No, I don't use bullets for deer, I shoot a patched round ball, works perfectly. But, no if I did use a modern rifle, I would not choose a bullet that performs poorly. That is why I use lead shot for turkeys, it works so perfectly.
Well want vs need can be discussed until the cows come home - on subjects including and not limited to, turkey hunting. My truck would probably run fine on conventional motor oil, but I like to run synthetic.
I've been at this sport nearly 30 years, consider myself an adept caller and I use TSS, and I shot hevi-shot for many, many years prior. If that makes me a "turkey sniper" in your eyes, then I can't help you. I killed 6 birds this spring with TSS in a 20ga, and all but two of them were inside 30 yards.
While I don't disagree that people are always going to look for a short cut, that's not me, nor any of the guys I hunt with that shoot HTL or TSS shot, so I think you're painting folks with a pretty broad brush.
And back to the thread title, HTL/TSS hasn't a thing to do with Internet check-in or game warden presence ;D I'm still awaiting that correlation..........carry on
Nope, I'm not painting you or anyone else with any kind of brush. You WANT to use TSS/HTL. It is NOT needed to kill turkeys. Lead shot works perfectly for killing turkeys in shotgun range. My point was that many hunters myself included use lead because it works and anything else is NOT needed. And that turkey hunters that use lead CHOOSE to use it, not that they are somehow jealous of others using TSS/HTL as one poster seems to suggest. And I have no idea what this has to do with the need for more game wardens. I also agree internet checking has very little if any impact on the quality of turkey hunting.