ethics....

[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.