Turkey hunting/ ethic question

[seth30]

   I have never tangled with a turkey and always assumed they would be a easy animal to handle.  Thanks again for the help!!!

[turkeyfeather]

  I have never tangled with a turkey and always assumed they would be a easy animal to handle.  Thanks again for the help!!!

You've seen the spurs on them right?

[seth30]

nope the closets I have been to a turkey is a stuffed one at BH45's, and I didnt pay much attention to it when there was another mount that had my eye.

[CedarPants]

I would imagine trying to snap the neck of an injured tom with some fight left in him would result in a trip to the doc for puncture wounds and stitches 

[h20hunter]

Okay...now I can throw a suggestion out there...


A) Hunt 'em from a stand, a tree....no problem by me....

B) Yes please...shoot 'em, chase 'em down, break its neck.....and by all means film it.

That would be a sight to behold. They look like they would be mean as hell and if you can come away unscathed I'm gonna get a big ol button that says "you da man". I would not want to grab a wounded one.....probably get my butt kicked and laughed out of camp.

[seth30]

Okay...now I can throw a suggestion out there...


A) Hunt 'em from a stand, a tree....no problem by me....

B) Yes please...shoot 'em, chase 'em down, break its neck.....and by all means film it.

That would be a sight to behold. They look like they would be mean as hell and if you can come away unscathed I'm gonna get a big ol button that says "you da man". I would not want to grab a wounded one.....probably get my butt kicked and laughed out of camp.

Hey if I can borrow your go pro I will film it

[turkeyfeather]

I would imagine trying to snap the neck of an injured tom with some fight left in him would result in a trip to the doc for puncture wounds and stitches 

They can be an inch or longer and very sharp.

[h20hunter]

Seth...that would be a heck of a thing....first person vid of you wrastl'n a tom......I'd pay to see it. Now...my GoPro agains a tom....gonna have to get your own buddy...there is one in the classifieds now.

[CedarPants]

I taught myself to hunt turkeys about 15 years or so ago.  Picked up some hunting videos, a few calls, etc.  Watched the videos (Primos), kept seeing the guys run out and jump/lay down on their birds after the shot (birds flapping around everywhere).

I was lucky enough to kill a bird that first year.  Jumped on it just like I saw old Will Primos do.  Bad idea 

I think I was bleeding more than the turkey by the time it was over.

Thankfully I've come a long way since then and have many turkeys under my belt, and I only get beat up by a turkey every couple years instead of every year

[turkeyfeather]

I taught myself to hunt turkeys about 15 years or so ago.  Picked up some hunting videos, a few calls, etc.  Watched the videos (Primos), kept seeing the guys run out and jump/lay down on their birds after the shot (birds flapping around everywhere).

I was lucky enough to kill a bird that first year.  Jumped on it just like I saw old Will Primos do.  Bad idea 

I think I was bleeding more than the turkey by the time it was over.

Thankfully I've come a long way since then and have many turkeys under my belt, and I only get beat up by a turkey every couple years instead of every year

[turkeydancer]

Seth -
You have a turkey hunting expert in BH45 (John). 

Not unethical to hunt from a tree stand, but not sure there would be an advantage over a cheap camo ground blind.  A turkey's eyes are on the sides of its' head giving him 315 degrees of sight (all but 45 degrees behind him), and any movement will usually spook the bird even if you are elevated.

As mentioned, do not pick a tom up by the legs until you are sure the bird is done as the spurs can rip your hand and/or wrist wide open.  I carry a folding pocket knife to make the final dispatch if needed ... lightly place your foot on the turks head and slice the neck.  (You can also use the knife to ward off pesky wolves   ).

Good luck out there ....   

[MtnMuley]

I would imagine trying to snap the neck of an injured tom with some fight left in him would result in a trip to the doc for puncture wounds and stitches 

Lol, I tried that with my first turkey twenty years ago.  Just figured I'd ring his neck like a grouse or goose.  Wrong.  I slipped into the creek and ended up with a nice gash in the side from a spur.  Never tried that again.

[seth30]

Seth -
You have a turkey hunting expert in BH45 (John). 

Not unethical to hunt from a tree stand, but not sure there would be an advantage over a cheap camo ground blind.  A turkey's eyes are on the sides of its' head giving him 315 degrees of sight (all but 45 degrees behind him), and any movement will usually spook the bird even if you are elevated.

As mentioned, do not pick a tom up by the legs until you are sure the bird is done as the spurs can rip your hand and/or wrist wide open.  I carry a folding pocket knife to make the final dispatch if needed ... lightly place your foot on the turks head and slice the neck.  (You can also use the knife to ward off pesky wolves   ).

Good luck out there ....   

  If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have any at all, and I don't feel like being Washington states first wolf victim