Whats wrong with the spot and stalk!?!

[sneakysneaky]

I've noticed in a few turkey post's guy's looking down on stalking turkey's, vs. calling them in. I don't get it....  Isn't that a type of HUNTING? A couple guys mentioned ethics or something, but to me it's just as much of a thrill to sneak up on a tom and give him a  3 1/2" when he least suspects it. What do you guys think? Stalk or no stalk?

[wastickslinger]

Personal choice for most. I have no problem greasing one that is dumb enugh to stand there if I come up on him. On the other hand, there is no bigger rush for me that to have a hot tom gobbling his head off and strutting and spitting all the way to your decoy on a string.

[Karl Blanchard]

My issue with stalking is the poor *censored* behind the bird working the tom that you are sneaking in on and then gets whats left of that 3 1/2 right in the face.  Stalking turkeys is very unsafe.  I can't even begin to count how many birds people have screwed up for me by trying to sneak in on them.  The sad part is I think that some of the time guys know another hunter is already the bird and they just don't care. It can go the other way too.  The guy working the bird might not see you stalking up and you get the 3 1/2 in your face.  Either way it is a bad deal.

[carpsniperg2]

yeah its kinda bad had 2 young kids come running over the hill this year right into us where we were working a bird one had a rifle and one had a shotgun i yelled at them and they still kept coming i told them if they crack off a shot towards us there would be a few sent back there way bad when the bird is inbetween us. and they had no adult with them and one had a rifle wonder what that was for

[BLUEBULLS]

i don't have a problem with it. Just be cautious and careful as you always should.

It is more fun to call em in though.

[ICEMAN]

Machias posted a great thread about why not to stalk last year, I will see if I can find it...

[MuleDeerCrazy]

One of my coworkers brother was set up calling a bird over in the Klickitat and had a kid put the sneak on the bird and somehow ended up shooting him seeing the movement of his hand with the call.  One pellet through the jugular and his brother bled to death right on there on the spot.

This was a long time ago and it doesn't happen too often, but that's sure be a crappy way to go!  

[PA BEN]

I've stalked Toms when there hened up. Get them to gobble once in a while, when there hened up in one spot strutting for the hens he's not heading to another hunter. But, I get busted more then not. Now as far as spot and stalk? I've spotted toms that no one in the world knows is there and put the sneak on him. BTW, if the tom you are working decides to go the other way and you move to intercept him, could this stalking?

[fishunt247]

As mentioned so far, it's a huge safety issue. I've also had quite a few birds screwed up by guys trying to sneak in on a bird that I was clearly working. And for me, I don't hunt turkeys to stalk one and shoot it. I hunt them to hear them gobble, call them in, have that conversation with the bird, and beat him that way. If they didn't gobble and we couldn't call them in, I wouldn't hunt them. The 8 pounds of meat wouldn't be worth it to me. Leave the stalking for deer hunting.

[jackelope]

I know exactly 3 people who have been shot by goofballs stalking turkeys back east.
true story, no joke...2 guys shot 1 time, 1 guy shot another time. I also know of an old man, lifetime hunter, true woodsman, who shot someone turkey hunting. He will never be the same.