Have to rant

[northwesthunter84]

I don’t normally complain but opener has be crazy. People road hunting DNR parcels for Turkey. Does that really work. Guys just about shot me decoys about 10 min ago. We were off a dirt two track but still close enough that from that direction people could have got shot. This year has been way worse than past years.

As a side note had a young man impress me by pulling up as we parked. Asked if we minded him hunting the area also and we shared plans so we wouldn’t butt heads. Don’t know if he is a member but that’s how it should be.

[salish]

I decided to stay home on the opener this season for these very reasons. I may miss a shot at a bird but I'll save me a ton of aggravation.

[Bigshooter]

Everyone likes to complain about road hunters.  But i'd rather have them driving around than out in the woods hunting.

[GWP]

Wife and I NEVER went on opening day just because of all the 'Yea Hoo's' out. Unless we were going remote, that whittles down the numbers as it requires walking!

[TriggerMike]

Never seen so many hunters in the turkey woods before. Been crazy the last few days. Cabin fever from Covid? Or Youtube/Onx Maps influenced and the new norm?

[jackelope]

Last year we were bickering because we couldn’t hunt. This year we’re bickering because there are too many people hunting.
Maybe we should make Turkey hunting by special permit only.

[bearpaw]

Lots of poaching on private property going on! 

[hunter399]

Yup,lots of folks out this weekend.
 

[HillHound]

That is frustrating bearpaw. I called one in for my wife on our place Thursday afternoon and gave it a break yesterday. I hope everyone else did.   
I’m taking my boy out this evening and hopefully have a repeat. It might happen If other people pay mind to the signs. We went riding this morning on public and it looked like opening weekend of elk season. Wall tents and 3-4 trailer camps all over.

[Pinetar]

Good to hear lots hunters are getting out of the big cities and going hunting and enjoying the outdoors with their friends and family. Best way to get away from road hunters is too hunt further from the road where you can't see them, then they are happy and you will be happy

Amazing to me that someone would poach and trespass for a bird. Turn them in so they get the hammer.

[TriggerMike]

Last year we were bickering because we couldn’t hunt. This year we’re bickering because there are too many people hunting.
Maybe we should make Turkey hunting by special permit only.

Well, ya. Haha.

[Meow]

I just shot my first bird on DNR land this morning. I didn't see anyone else today, despite being near a road. Though maybe I stumbled right past them in the dim woods without knowing it. I noticed in the vicinity of the LPO NWR it's pretty hard to get far from roads, assuming you count the closed ones.

Just for my edification, is walking roads (and then getting a short distance off of them to call when an area appears promising) frowned upon, or just driving around?

It seems especially crazy that people are poaching on private land when there are tons of birds on huge areas of public land.

I can see why people love turkey hunting. What a rush when the birds respond to your calls (even when you're worried you sound more like a dying walrus than a turkey--darn numb fingers and awkward positions), and especially when they get close.

[rtspring]

Always wondered how shooting turkeys from a road  was “fun”! But then again some guys don’t like women either.  To each their own I guess!!!!

[snake]

So many dang turkeys around I usually have to shoot a few just out of self defense.

[dilleytech]

There will be more hunters this year then any of us has seen before in all categories. I think people learned during the meat shortages last spring how important a freezer full of meat can be.