I am a resident of pennsylvania and started hunting turkey in my home state in the fall of 1976 when I was 12 years old and could legally hunt. I went along with my uncles to our cabin in perry County as a young kid to tag along in the woods before that. They only fall hunted with centerfire rifles. I learned to run calls at a young age and killed my share quickly. By age 20 I quit fall hunting due to several near death experiences with guys stalking my position whith centerfire rifles.
Our camp was near the homes of some of the homes of turkey hunting pioneers in pennsylvania. Dale Rohm and his boys Terry and Robby as well as Dick "curly" Smith and his boys Red and Chris hunted the same birds we did. Unfortunately for most of us being shot or in the line of fire happens way too often.
A close friend of mine caught a few pellets in his hand and arm this spring. A trespasser shot from the opposite treeline at a gobbler he was working. This was on family ground that was posted. He never knew the guy was there till he shot and ran off. Trespasser was never caught.
We have a lot of spring gobbler hunters in pennsylvania. Tons of public ground but the road system is pretty extensive. When a bird gobbles there is a good chance guys will be coming from 2 3 or 4 directions quickly. If I strike a bird I figure I only have a short amount of time to call him in. Like minutes....if that. For some reason our hunters are late to the party on ethics. Guys will park on you, come in on you, and even intentionally spook gobbling birds so you don't kill them. Just a normal hunt in pennsylvania.
