Re: Pennsylvania bans rifles for fall turkey season

[knifeshark]

 It is now official , no more rifle hunting for fall birds. State says that there is an unfair advantage, and that there is a serious decline in the turkey population here in Pa. Predators have taken a huge toll on deer and turkeys. Not to mention the release of the Fisher several years ago, to combat the porcupine problem, totally backfired! Shotguns , bows and muzzleloader is still legal. All WMU's have had there seasons cut . I find this announcement disturbing, given the fact that the PGC still offers a second gobbler tag for 25.00 for the spring season. The Fall rifle season has always been a favorite of mine , because you use what you like, and choice is what works for the hunter. You can shoot a predator, or a turkey if the situation presents itself. Just another bad example of the state making bad choices for a profit once again. Pennsylvania has deep roots in the fall rifle season, not to mention all the money tied up in specialized fall turkey hunting guns. If this kind of government over reach bothers you , I urge you to let the PGC hear about it! The biologist that made this determination should be fired for mismanagement, and the Commissioners that voted this in should be voted OUT! If there is truly a turkey shortage, get rid of the second gobbler tag.

[falltoms]

I'm glad they passed it. Don't like the concept of using rifles for turkey. You can legally use rifles for spring hunting in both Virginia's, which I think is ridiculous.

[FL-Boss]

 Rifles should be banned in every state for turkey - spring or fall.

[Yoder409]

PA is and has been the most schizophrenic and random in their game laws.

I'm not a rifle proponent or hater.  Have carried my 5mm Rem Rimfire a time or two just because.  But I could never figure out why they outlawed #2 shot in my shotgun for turkeys but 140 grain AccuBonds at over 3600 fps in my 7-STW wit a 20X scope............

[dwcim]

I have been a member on OG for many years and don't post often. I look at a lot of conversational post and shake my head in disbelief often on comments, but this is another post that I am not going to let slide by without a comment.  I am glad you have an opinion that rifle hunting should be banned in every state, but my opinion differs than yours. You should have a choice of hunting with what you want! You pay for the hunting privilege when you buy a license plus buy extra tags and all the other crap. What is the difference between hunting with a 410, 20 or 12 gauge with optics, a tight choke and TSS vs a muzzleloader vs a rifle.  What is the difference between a recurve bow vs a compound bow vs a crossbow with a scope.  What is the difference between hunting with your back against a tree vs a blind with decoys with movable body parts vs fanning a bird. What is the difference between hunting Public land vs paying a guide service to escort you and buy yourself a bird or two or three. I  don't use a rifle, a shotgun with TSS or a bow. I don't use a blind with decoys or guide or guide service, but if you choose to use any of the the previous methods you should have the right to do so.

[BigSlam51]

I have been a member on OG for many years and don't post often. I look at a lot of conversational post and shake my head in disbelief often on comments, but this is another post that I am not going to let slide by without a comment.  I am glad you have an opinion that rifle hunting should be banned in every state, but my opinion differs than yours. You should have a choice of hunting with what you want! You pay for the hunting privilege when you buy a license plus buy extra tags and all the other crap. What is the difference between hunting with a 410, 20 or 12 gauge with optics, a tight choke and TSS vs a muzzleloader vs a rifle.  What is the difference between a recurve bow vs a compound bow vs a crossbow with a scope.  What is the difference between hunting with your back against a tree vs a blind with decoys with movable body parts vs fanning a bird. What is the difference between hunting Public land vs paying a guide service to escort you and buy yourself a bird or two or three. I  don't use a rifle, a shotgun with TSS or a bow. I don't use a blind with decoys or guide or guide service, but if you choose to use any of the the previous methods you should have the right to do so.

Idk, maybe 10 times the range with a rifle, that kinda makes a huge difference

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[wvmntnhick]

It is now official , no more rifle hunting for fall birds. State says that there is an unfair advantage, and that there is a serious decline in the turkey population here in Pa. Predators have taken a huge toll on deer and turkeys. Not to mention the release of the Fisher several years ago, to combat the porcupine problem, totally backfired! Shotguns , bows and muzzleloader is still legal. All WMU's have had there seasons cut . I find this announcement disturbing, given the fact that the PGC still offers a second gobbler tag for 25.00 for the spring season. The Fall rifle season has always been a favorite of mine , because you use what you like, and choice is what works for the hunter. You can shoot a predator, or a turkey if the situation presents itself. Just another bad example of the state making bad choices for a profit once again. Pennsylvania has deep roots in the fall rifle season, not to mention all the money tied up in specialized fall turkey hunting guns. If this kind of government over reach bothers you , I urge you to let the PGC hear about it! The biologist that made this determination should be fired for mismanagement, and the Commissioners that voted this in should be voted OUT! If there is truly a turkey shortage, get rid of the second gobbler tag.

Get the popcorn ready. The anti rifle fellas are going to eat this up. Personally, I'm with you. Didn't own a shotgun for 18 years of my life and did it all with a rimfire. Well, generally. Would take the 223 at times. Far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter. The complaint about distance is drastically getting negated with the introduction of tss. I'll bet solid money that many of the guys (certainly not all) that get in here and say they set the limit at 40 yards have stretched it well beyond that when they stoked the barrel with tss. I've seen several mention that it was shot at "this distance" here and then the truth comes out that it was much darker on another forum. Again, I could care less. And, if WV went to straight shotgun, I'll play by their rules. But, if you can honestly sit here and tell me that shooting a bird in the face with 300+ pellets requires less skill than taking his head off with a single projectile, well...

I've started using shotguns more in recent years. And will continue to do so when I feel the desire. But, if I get up in the morning and feel like taking a rifle, I'll not rethink it one bit.

In short, I'm with those that have stated that one should get to use what they wish. You're paying for the privilege (stated above but it should be your RIGHT vs being a privilege) to hunt so go about it as you please. Just don't waste the resources in the process.


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[DirtNap647]

I wish they would have maybe came up with a bounty for predators. Maybe offer some $ to each turned in. Feel like nest wreckers are the biggest problem

[FL-Boss]

I have been a member on OG for many years and don't post often. I look at a lot of conversational post and shake my head in disbelief often on comments, but this is another post that I am not going to let slide by without a comment.  I am glad you have an opinion that rifle hunting should be banned in every state, but my opinion differs than yours. You should have a choice of hunting with what you want! You pay for the hunting privilege when you buy a license plus buy extra tags and all the other crap. What is the difference between hunting with a 410, 20 or 12 gauge with optics, a tight choke and TSS vs a muzzleloader vs a rifle.  What is the difference between a recurve bow vs a compound bow vs a crossbow with a scope.  What is the difference between hunting with your back against a tree vs a blind with decoys with movable body parts vs fanning a bird. What is the difference between hunting Public land vs paying a guide service to escort you and buy yourself a bird or two or three. I  don't use a rifle, a shotgun with TSS or a bow. I don't use a blind with decoys or guide or guide service, but if you choose to use any of the the previous methods you should have the right to do so.

Idk, maybe 10 times the range with a rifle, that kinda makes a huge difference

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Exactly..

[the Ward]

I'm ok with it, but it doesn't make sense to offer 2 spring tags if they are concerned with the population. Pa. has always had  a lot of senseless regulations.

[Crghss]

Was a time when someone every year was shot with a rifle in fall turkey season. Maybe things have gotten better but fall turkey was way to dangerous for me.

Also never understood the harvesting of hens in the fall. Tom's sure but hens?

[fallhnt]

Doesn't PA require the use of orange when moving in spring? If so ,I could see why rifles were stopped in the fall. A guy can grab a shotgun and call in birds in the fall and be successful and probably enjoy fall hunting.

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[Happy]

I will keep my personal opinion to myself and just say this. People need to understand game management better. Its a business, but it is also about not overkilling our resource. Hunter success percentages weigh heavily into this equation. This isn't about ethics or fair chase. This is about selling lots of tags to pay for the management while still keeping a healthy population. Therefore you have two options. Restrict legal means of harvest or go to limited tags available.

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[knifeshark]

Doesn't PA require the use of orange when moving in spring? If so ,I could see why rifles were stopped in the fall. A guy can grab a shotgun and call in birds in the fall and be successful and probably enjoy fall hunting.

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There is no  orange law for spring hunting, but there is for fall hunting, because it overlaps the archery season. Some great responses and opinions here, keep them coming!

[rifleman]

wvmntnhick,  You can bet the WV will soon follow PA.  Our guys at DNR and the legislature seldom have an idea of their own to start with.  One of the rich landowner delegates will have an epiphany for sure now.
Just like WVQDMA trying to legislate deer harvests.  It is as someone said, "all about the money."