ethics....

[Sundance]

thanks

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Although unethical, it is not illegal.....
They do ask (or used to) in the regs not to do it, but.....
Some people hunt for different reasons than others, that guy just wanted to shoot something, not hunt.

[Machias]

Not illegal.  Not my cup of tea either.  

[BIGINNER]

not my cup of tea either,... but i might consider it on the evening of the last day of the season if my tags not filled...  lol  

[bobcat]

I've shot grouse out of trees. Not sure I see the difference.   

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I've shot grouse out of trees. Not sure I see the difference.   

I guess it's just a "Turkey Hunters" mindset, kind of like ground sluicing ducks...
Every body has their own way of looking at things.
Ever try to call in a grouse ?
Or shoot males only ?

[Machias]

I've shot grouse out of trees. Not sure I see the difference.  

Not slamming on you but that is EXACTLY my problem with alot of Washington Hunters, they regard the turkey not as a Big Game Species, but a on the same level as a grouse, which is like compairing contails to deer, IMO

[fishunt247]

Bobcat...so you shoot ducks on the water too, geese when they land in your setup??? This is a problem with turkey hunting that's been around since the free tag days: some people now equate turkeys to grouse or pheasants. They are not. Turkeys can be (or in my opinion, must be) called, and you can have a lot of fun doing it that way. And most likely you shot grouse out of a tree during the day, not when they were in the tree at first/last light in their place of sleep. For turkeys, not ethical in the least.

[fishunt247]

Machias and Stick, funny how all three of us posted our replies at the same time, and without reading your two posts, our three ideas basically echoed the exact same thing. Bobcat, our opinions are turkey hunter opinions. I would guess that you don't turkey hunt, or if you do, you don't hold it to much of a tradition.

[Copperwood]

Like previously stated some people like to hunt and others like to kill. I don't do that but each to their own. P.s. grouse and Turkey are two totally different things. Just because they have feathers doesn't mean they should be compared.

[turkeydancer]

Not illegal ... hate to get in the ethics, but if the only reason they are hunting turkeys is to brag about bagging one then what won't they do to get one ... what level of any real satisfaction with the experience will they ever have? I'm glad the majority shares the same view ... not considered ethical, nor rewarding in anyway.  There is only one time that I would even consider it ... if the original "on the ground" shot somehow just managed to seriously wound the bird, he still managed to fly up somehow, and could be seen definitely suffering on the limb ... then it might be considered the "ethical" thing to do.
 

[ICEMAN]

Crap, here we go again.

It is a legal way to harvest a bird, lets just comment that some hunters feel it is unethical to shoot them from trees. No need to bash Bobcat for his statement.

Guys need to get out and get some fresh air. Anytime a group of hunters starts bashing each other, there is no end to the bashing. Why bash on someone who is following the law? Some guys choose to not shoot them in trees. Some duck hunters choose not to shoot birds which have landed. Some traditional bow guys really look down their noses at guys who use compound bows. Do we really need to put guys down who are following the law?

[carpsniperg2]

  you said crap and i thought it said carp i was like what the he ll did i do now

legal is legal/to each there own/we are all hunters/united we stand divided we fall

[Phantom Gobbler]

After hunting our first few years without tagging a turkey, my partner and I were visiting the homestead of a friend north of Colville.  Our friend and his son just couldn't believe that we had not killed a turkey yet when they were so abundant (this was before the two years of back to back hard winters recently that has trimmed the numbers of birds down up north).  To their way of thinking you just went out early or late, sneak up and shoot one out of the roost.  

Well we have not resorted to this "recommended" hunting technique to date, but stemming from the days when the objective was to put meat on the table, this would be an acceptable method of harvesting a legal bird.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

My sons first turkey hunt could have been over 10 minutes into opening day if i would have let him shoot a tom out of the roost. But i explained to him although it is legal it is not ethical. We had a good discussion and he agreed that it would not be fair.

[Machias]

Crap, here we go again.

It is a legal way to harvest a bird, lets just comment that some hunters feel it is unethical to shoot them from trees. No need to bash Bobcat for his statement.

Guys need to get out and get some fresh air. Anytime a group of hunters starts bashing each other, there is no end to the bashing. Why bash on someone who is following the law? Some guys choose to not shoot them in trees. Some duck hunters choose not to shoot birds which have landed. Some traditional bow guys really look down their noses at guys who use compound bows. Do we really need to put guys down who are following the law?

I don't think anyone was bashing Bobcat, just pointing out that the wild Turkey deserves a little high place on the ladder then a grouse, that's all.   

[bobcat]

And I expected exactly that. Also, I never said I would shoot a turkey out of a tree, just that I'd done it with grouse. I'm not a turkey hunter. Tried it once. But honestly I did want to hear why it would be different than shooting a grouse out of a tree. I'm still not convinced that there is any difference, except in the minds of many hunters. And that's fine. Everyone has their own ethical standards. I don't often shoot grouse out of trees or on the ground anymore. Since I started hunting with a dog (18 years ago) it became less fun taking them the easy way. But I will still do it occasionally and I surely don't have a problem with others killing grouse any way they wish. Sometimes I want grouse for dinner, and it takes more than just one to feed a family of four.

Machias, to tell you the truth, I almost feel as if grouse in this state actually deserve to be "higher on the ladder" than turkeys, since grouse are native here and turkeys are not. Turkeys were put here for only one reason, and that is to be killed by hunters. So maybe it's not such a bad thing for someone to shoot a turkey out of a tree when they want to have a turkey dinner.   

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

As I understand it, ethics and legality aside, is that (some) turkeys have habitual "roosting trees" and if you shoot birds out of that tree it messes with their little minds and can have consequenses to the health and wellbeing of the flock.
The ethics question is more of a personal thing, you can do whatever you like, if it is illegal, I will turn you in.
If it is what I consider unethical, that is my own opinion, I will just not hunt with you, or respect your ethics.
There are lots of hunters out there that just like to "get something" and believe that validates them,
Personally, I would rather go home with memories of how I accomplished a difficult task than just have the ability to say "I got one"
But again, that is my choice, you are welcome to your own.
As a Traditional Archer, I feel that it is not what you harvest, but how you harvest that determines the quality of the experience.
As a result, I have more good memories than trophies, but that is why I hunt in the first place, if it was for meat there is a WallMart down the street that has turkeys a lot cheaper, without the effort I put in just trying to find them.

[Machias]

I guess we'll just have to disagree Bobcat.  

[fishunt247]

I wouldn't even agree that turkeys were put here just to be killed. We all get a lot of enjoyment (I hope) out of wildlife, and not all is centered around a kill. There are a lot of species in this state that aren't native.
With ethics, as we've established, it's personal. And I truly believe that people that turkey hunt, and are really into turkey hunting, won't stand by the choice of shooting turkeys out of trees.

[bobcat]

Sure people get enjoyment out of seeing wild turkeys, but they were orginally brought here for the reason of establishing a viable population, for the purpose of hunting, correct? What other purpose could there have been? It was hunter's dollars that provided the funding.

Anyway, I will probably eventually get into turkey hunting, when I have more free time, probably when I'm retired and when my kids are on their own. When I do I will be hunting them the "right" way. It's just like with duck hunting, or hunting upland birds with a dog. I won't shoot ducks on the water or pheasants on the ground (what fun is that?) So it's not like I don't understand what some of you guys are saying on here, in regards to the ethical way to hunt turkeys. But I don't have a problem with someone who would choose to take a turkey out of a tree, as long as they are doing so in a safe and legal manner.

[canyelk48]

Shooting turkeys while they're roosting is pretty weak, IMO.  Turkey hunting is about the challenge of either calling them in, or if they can't be called in, then figuring out where they're headed and setting up a deke for an ambush.  If you just want a turkey dinner, then go to Safeway.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Bobcat, this was my first year turkey hunting, and it was a blast. They are elk with feathers, on a smaller scale of course. I will turkey hunt for the rest of my life know, it was so much fun with my 10 year old. And the problem with ethics and morals is everybody has different ones and we feel like ours are the most important. And when we discuss them things get heated.

[runamuk]

I've shot grouse out of trees. Not sure I see the difference.   

bobcat I rarely seem to agree with you but in this circumstance I do ....not sure how a turkey requires a different set of ethics from a grouse both are birds and both live in the woods....both roost in trees and forage on the ground  and turkeys are ugly freaky birds grouse ar rather pretty and oh so cool when strutting their stuff.  I still do not understand this "ethic" of course I dont intend to hunt turkeys but my kid does and he has spent several seasons trying to get one I would not think less of a kill off a branch than on the ground at this point he has put in a ton of time and dedication.

[Wayne1]

If you just want a turkey dinner, then go to Safeway.

I hate when people say that..  Make's hunting sound more like a sport, instead of the intent of hunting for meat. As long as I pay for my hunting licence and tag with my own hard earned money, I I want to feed my family whatever legal game animal we feel like eating, the last thing I need to hear is that crap. I take it to the poster of that coment..  that when your hunting ...  your not going after the meat...  just the feathers...  Save the animal's lovers, love to hear hunter's saying that...  just give's em more ammo....  fact is...  is if all your going for is the feather's, then your a sad excuse for a" hunter", and I'd have to use that word loosely in your case.

making note to self...  add that name to the list of hunters never allowed on my place.

[rasbo]

any port in a storm...what ever floats your boat if its legal..heck if you owe something to the game stalk them with a homemade bow.in a loin cloth..Everybodys right!!!!!!

[carpsniperg2]

If you just want a turkey dinner, then go to Safeway.

I hate when people say that..  Make's hunting sound more like a sport, instead of the intent of hunting for meat. As long as I pay for my hunting licence and tag with my own hard earned money, I I want to feed my family whatever legal game animal we feel like eating, the last thing I need to hear is that crap. I take it to the poster of that coment..  that when your hunting ...  your not going after the meat...  just the feathers...  Save the animal's lovers, love to hear hunter's saying that...  just give's em more ammo....  fact is...  is if all your going for is the feather's, then your a sad excuse for a" hunter", and I'd have to use that word loosely in your case.

making note to self...  add that name to the list of hunters never allowed on my place.

i am not on the list can i come hunt

[deerslyr]

so does that mean its unethical for an elk hunter to shoot a bull in its bed while its sleeping just because he didnt call it in?

[ICEMAN]

If shooting a bird out of a roosting tree is unethical, why is it considered ethical to sneak in before light and set up a decoy in a field the bird is used to landing in each morning? 50 yards is the difference? How about 40 yards...20?

[shoot-em-dead]

If you noticed I haven't been around for a while, and this is exactly why. This site has a bunch of great folks but all it seems happens is complaining about the ethical standards of others. I find this topic to be rather stupid. It is leagal. If someone gets a harvest by shooting a roosting Tom or Jake then great. The argument here is kind of like saying you hate that driver that goes the speed limit and never goes over or under.

[ICEMAN]

Exactly the point I am trying to push....we should lay off the guys who wish to hunt legally, yet differently, to each his own...

[garyltbh]

I think that each person can choose how they want to harvest there turkey. If you hold turkeys in high reguard and want to call them in befor you shoot him then great.If you walk under his tree and shoot him thats fine to.Its up to each person to deside what they want out of there hunt.period.If you dont want to shoot a turkey out of a tree then dont. But dont give a guy a hard time because he does things his way.I have killed quite a few birds and no i havent ever shot a turkey out of a tree.But i dont have a problem if someone does.

[canyelk48]

If you just want a turkey dinner, then go to Safeway.

I hate when people say that..  Make's hunting sound more like a sport, instead of the intent of hunting for meat. As long as I pay for my hunting licence and tag with my own hard earned money, I I want to feed my family whatever legal game animal we feel like eating, the last thing I need to hear is that crap. I take it to the poster of that coment..  that when your hunting ...  your not going after the meat...  just the feathers...  Save the animal's lovers, love to hear hunter's saying that...  just give's em more ammo....  fact is...  is if all your going for is the feather's, then your a sad excuse for a" hunter", and I'd have to use that word loosely in your case.

making note to self...  add that name to the list of hunters never allowed on my place.

Sorry to spin you up Wayne.  The point I was attempting to make was that hunting turkeys (for me anyway) is more about the challenge of successfully outsmarting them and not about just hunting a turkey for meat.  Does a turkey shot in the field taste any better than one shot out of a tree?  No, but I feel better about the way I harvested my turkey.  That's why I don't shoot turkeys out of trees, hunt dove over a baited field, shoot deer (or elk) feeding over pile of corn or apples that was dumped in the woods, etc., etc.  It's just not my cup of tea; that's all, plain and simple.  If I don't fill my tag, then so be it.  I enjoyed the hunt whether I was successful or not.  If I was hunting solely for the meat, then I could easily fill my FIVE deer tags and THREE turkey tags that TN offers each year right off my farm.  If that makes me a "sad excuse for a hunter" as you so put it, then I guess you're entitled to your opinion, just as I am entitled to mine.  Nowadays the majority of hunters hunt for "sport" and don't rely on hunting as their means of providing dinner for their family.

[fishunt247]

It's pretty interesting how some of these people who seem so passionate about turkey hunting ethics, or about how those who hold themselves to a certain code of ethics are incorrect, don't even hunt turkeys??? Seems to me to have an opinion on the subject you would at least have to do it...and pretty much everyone on this thread that is saying turkeys should not be taken out of trees IS an avid turkey hunter. This really should speak loudly to those arguing the other side. But apparently it doesn't.

[cmiller85]

Turkey hunting ethics are no different than any other hunting ethics. That’s how people can argue against the calling those who shoot turkeys from a tree unethical. People keep throwing in their opinions on turkey hunting “etiquette” and calling it ethics.

Ethics are basically: 1) Making a clean, quick and humane kill, 2) Following the Law, 3) Keeping up after yourself in the woods.

Everything else is personal preference. So, I think it’s interesting how people run others down for hunting in a legal fashion. I guarantee you that every one of us does something (i.e. hunt with a high powered rifle, use binos, use manufactured calls and decoys, bait, use hounds, spotlight) that someone else could run up and down all day long on how unethical it is.

If it is legal and people make a clean kill, who cares if it isn’t “Your Cup of Tea”? That’s what I see many of the people (who have no experience hunting turkeys or those who shoot turkeys off the roost) arguing. And they are exactly right.

I could give you a list a mile long of all the things I wouldn’t do while hunting, because its not “My Cup of Tea”, that are perfectly legal. But my reasoning involves my personal hunting “etiquette” not “ethics.”

Etiquette you can argue and debate. Ethics is pretty straight forward across the board.

[steen]

First animals are different than someone who has hunted for years, your hunting skills change as you age.  If it is legal you shouldn't judge the person.  I can imagine the hunter was pretty excited, then it was a great hunt for him.  I wouldn't hunt a whitetail over corn in the sendaro (spelling) no matter what the inches on the antlers but it is legal and people put them on the wall all the time.  It is how it is done in Texas. 

[newbie]

This year for the first time, I called in a turkey and blew his head off. I was by myself in a place on public land that I had discovered by myself. It was the coolest thing I have done in a long time. With gas and everything, that turkey probably cost me a couple hundred bucks so the hunting for food thing doesn't really work. I personally don't care how anyone else shoots their bird but calling one in is definitely the most fun.

[Karl Blanchard]

nobody has pointed out the fact that unless you work a bird they really aren't all that cool.  If you want to walk up under a tree so be it but talk about lame.  no gobbling, no spittin and drumming no strutting.  Just "look there's one, BOOM!  Then you gotta carry out and clean his nasty stinking carcass for a couple breasts and some stringy tough legs.  Like someone else pointed out, I don't buy the meat thing because between gear, gas, tags, food and all the other expenses you could buy a flippin turkey farm. I hunt for meat but I want maximum "that was freakin awesome" factor while on my adventures and shooting a bird in the almost dark off a branch is not it.  work em in close and take their head off!!!!!