Knowing When NOT To Pull the Trigger

[GobbleNut]

Awaiting the upcoming spring season, I tend to watch a few videos to get the blood pumping. On occasion, I will watch one where the hunter shoots a gobbler...or at one...that I say to myself "you should never have pulled the trigger in that situation". Those times are almost always when the shot is taken when it appears, from the camera angle, that there were other turkeys that could have been hit by the shot.

Giving the hunter the benefit of the doubt, I assume that the camera angle and the shot angle were different and the potential for secondary wounded/killed turkeys is not really there. The point of this post, though, is to discourage folks from taking those questionable shots in situations where multiple birds are too close together. There is never a time when the desire to be successful in killing a gobbler overrides making sure the shot taken is an ethical one.

Now jumping off soapbox...    

[eggshell]

Again we feel the same way Gobblenut. We were just hit with a big winter storm and I spent the last few days inside for the bulk of the day. I also have been watching some videos and I just had the same thought this morning. I watched one video where two guys in a blind tried to double up on a pair of gobblers by passing off the gun. The second bird was definitely wounded and the shot probably should not have been taken at a fleeing bird. What bothered me most was there was no comment or video footage that they even acknowledged a hit bird or tried to follow up and recover it. I had to comment on that one. This used to be more of an issue in the older videos and I think many of the newer youtubers do a good job at shot picking. At least the better known guys, yes even THP. I think there are a lot of wounded birds every season. Most probably recover but many don't. I would guess harvest numbers are 10% higher with these losses.

[Tom007]

Another great (important) post Jim. There is a lot that can go wrong when shooting at a gobbler, we all experienced this. Brush, the birds alertness and movement, and distance calculation. I mention the later because I now carry a rangefinder in my vest. This is a game changer.Even though I am an avid golfer, judging close range shots can be challenging. I range spots when I first set-up. 35 yards on in is my wheelhouse. Knowing your proficiency regarding distance is critical in assuring clean-ethical kills. Range time, practice and finding the best choke/load combo eliminates a few of the things that can go wrong during the moment of truth. Be safe...

[eggshell]

I also will admit that Sh!t happens to all of us and sooner or later we all take a shot we probably should have passed on. There's a lot happening in a short period of time. I know several people who have killed two or more birds with one shot and some of them are very good turkey hunters. I have also watched these same guys hit secondary birds. The farther you take a shot the more likely this is to happen. There's a lot on our minds in a hunt. We do our best to be disciplined in our shot selection and choose well, but don't beat yourself up when you make a mistake. All we can ask of each other is to keep it in mind and use our best judgement. In my 54 years I had this happen to me once. It was a fall hunt and the birds came into a field with high weeds. The bird I shot presented a clear good shot and I took it because he was the bird completely separated from the group. I did not see any other bird within 20 yards of him. when I shot and I looked up a could see another bird 30 yards behind him flopping and jumping around. I had never seen this bird and how the heck any shot made it through 30 yards of high weeds to him I am amazed. Before we knew it the bird got air under his wings and sailed off. We looked for a long time and then went and got my buddy's bird dogs and looked, but never recovered the gobbler. He either survived or the coyotes eat well. The point being if it happens do the right thing. 

[GobbleNut]

I did exactly the same thing a few decades ago, Dana...shot a gobbler and also accidentally killed an unseen hen beyond him (related this story recently in another post...gladly turned myself in and paid the fine). Like you, I also know of a couple of other guys that have inadvertently killed hens in the spring.

It would be interesting to see how many others have had a similar experience. Honestly, I suspect it happens more than any of us would like. In today's declining turkey populations, it is probably a statistic that may be having an impact in places. As you say, mistakes can be made, but it would be nice if those making the mistakes would speak up and report their error and "pay the piper" so wildlife managers could assess that impact. Unfortunately, I am skeptical as to how many do.

[eggshell]

Actually people report themselves more then you might think. Back when I ran a check station we had several hunters come in with two birds and self report. Our local officer was very good about it. If they self reported he would confiscate the bird and write them a ticket for some minor infraction that only cost them $25.00 -40.00. If he caught them in the field or through a tip with an unreported bird it was $300.00. Today that ticket is a lot more. Our officer used it as a teaching learning experience. We had people ask us about what to do when it happened and I always told them to call the officer or the check station asap before they hit the road with it and it we would take their info and it was considered reported, but they still needed to surrender the bird. I doubt if any officers in our area would be so gracious today.