IT IS TIME.

[Machias]

Fellas, step back for just a second, we're speaking to a 16 year old young man and in a small way trying to guide him to be safe as possible.  Things about turkey hunting and elk are similar, if wise old gobblers could smell they would be as hard as some wise old bulls to get in range.  And I grant you if you follow rule 9 your good to go.  But there is the problem you encounter when stalking turkeys, folks who shoot at sounds and movements do NOT follow the rules, and turkey hunting seems to bring it out more then other forms of hunting.  When your sitting in the hospital with your sight gone it's not going to comfort you much that the other guy didn't follow the rules.

P.S.  I agree with Mountainwalk338, I tend to speak softly, increasing my volume until they notice me, don't want to startle anyone.  The main thing there they are trying to get at is don't wave or move before you get their attention.

[Wacenturion]

BushChimp....you said....

"Comparing turkey hunting to elk hunting isn't that far of a stretch to me. Stalking is stalking."

I said...... 

......."comparing turkey hunting to elk hunting to validate stalking of gobblers is a real stretch."


VALIDATE being the key word here.  I didn't say they were not comparable.....i.e.  like calling a tom or buggling a bull.  Stalking an elk is pretty standard for elk hunting outside the rut....but stalking turkeys is outside the norm. 

[popeshawnpaul]

Maybe in an "any turkey goes" type unit I could understand a bit more.  If one could shoot females and males then they would be likely to shoot at anything moves.  So I can see how in other states there are accidents.  However, in our state I believe you can only shoot males or turkeys with visible beards.  One would have to verify the beard.  If someone shoots a hunter walking in then they aren't following the rules and are shooting at anything moving. 

I know that there are various  guidelines that you should not stalk a turkey out there.  However, there are guidelines and rules that you shouldn't speed in a car, yet we all do it.  The most likely cause of death in the U.S. is car accidents, yet we still drive around.  I don't believe the occurrence of accidents for stalking turkeys is crazy high.  I'd like to see some statistics not that it happens in Missouri, but how many times per year it happens in WA.  Every year people get shot doing every type of hunting.  Is it really quite a bit higher for turkey hunting while stalking?  Show me statistics if they are out there.  Otherwise, I have a hard time believing them. 

Then you get into the issues of private land.  If you are the only person that is supposed to be on the property is it ok?  Should we assume someone is on the land tresspassing?  Should you be more cautious about stalking on crowded public land?  If you hear someone calling a bird, can you discern which one is the human caller?  These are questions an intelligent person can answer and make their own decisions.  I'm not saying everyone should go out and stalk turkeys everywhere.  I'm saying use your head and approach the tactic/idea in a reasonable and cautious manner.  Just as you would any hunting situation like elk hunting. 

By the way, in a unit where you can shoot elk cows and bulls I don't think it's much of a stretch to compare elk hunting with turkey hunting...calling, camo, *censored*es shooting on sight, etc.

[Intruder]

Folks.... Machias is 100% on the money here.  First and foremost this is a super unsafe thing to do.  The guy calling the bird, even if he is a really careful hunter is going to be completely camo-ed, on the ground, and very well hidden.  His view will likely be very limited and he will be sitting perfectly still.  The guys stalking in will almost certainly have a limited view also.  It is a total recipe for disaster.  And can't count the number of times have had guys walk up on my while I'm setup and they had no idea I was there. 

As far as comparing stalking an elk and stalking a turkey.... it's a total stretch.  In most states if you're rifle hunting the hunters are going to be wearing blaze orange.  During bow season where it's really a factor both guys will be approaching downwind.  And it's really an entirely different scenario in respect to the cover, the weapon, the shot ranges and even the position you're shooting from. 

Not trying to insult anyone but do some reading on turkey and the history of the sport.  Stalking turkeys is not an acceptable hunting technique.   

[Wacenturion]

Intruder.......thank you!

[jackelope]

facts are facts...a huge number of people get shot every year turkey hunting. maybe not in washington, but back east, it happens way too often. the way that turkey hunting is taking off in our great state, more and more people in the woods, we are sure to see a rise in the accidental shooting of turkey hunters.
there is a reason why it reads everywhere to not stalk turkeys. PEOPLE GET SHOT.
people shoot a decoy, not realizing it's a decoy. what happens to the unsuspecting hunter that is sitting 15 yards on the opposite side of the deke? he gets a face full of #4's. thats a bad start to his day.
the list of reasons to not stalk turkeys goes on and on.

[BrushChimp]

I don't believe stalking turkeys is outside the norm. Just ask me, I'll tell ya..

I talked to a few other hunters recently as well who admit to stalking turkeys as well. It's a good tactic I believe. I'm not retarded or blind and shoot decoys. Nor do I intrude on other's hunts. I'm about 99% sure no one else hunts the areas I do so this might have a bit to do with it.

People who shoot decoys and/or mistake other hunters for critters outta be shot themselves. It takes very little brain power to distuingish human from furry/feathery animal. If they don't have the smarts to do that, I don't want them passing on their genes.

[jackelope]

ok.

[ICEMAN]

A number of guys get shot duck hunting too.  If I was to follow the reasoning that it is so unsafe to move in the woods wearing camo, maybe I should just stay home. I mean, many folks do not even call, but will set up a deke, and wait, and then here I come walking down the trail.

I am sure we all agree that much more attention to safety is in need during a camo clad hunt. Duck hunting, coyote, turkey, bear.

But, I stand a better chance of being injured or killed on my drive to turkey camp than while in the turkey woods. More guys get injured loading their guns than shot by some unscupulous hunter.

What you end up stating here is that some other guy (moron) is waiting to shoot at me cause I am wearing camo in the woods. Closing distance is safe as long as I am not "sneaking"?  Lets be a bit realistic. You have no idea what is around the bend. You risk walking into someones shotgun range all day long. No matter what you do, you could get shot. It is a risk. It is hunting. We can make it as safe as we possibly can. I have blaze orange that I can deploy after we claim a bird for the walk out. I can walk down open trails and closed roads and stay in the open as much as possible.  I try to stay as far away from other people as possible. But, I cannot control what some asswipe does with his shotgun. 

I believe that alot more guys "run and gun" than are willing to chip in here. How far can I close on a tom I hear? How can a hunter determine distance to a tom?

I appreciate the reminders for safety, but in the real world, guys are moving about all the time, and are at constant risk of being mistaken for game, not just when they hear a bird. I think that what some consider stalking, others call closing distance.

Huntmossberg8, this thread of yours has turned a bit into a wrestiling match of sorts, all for the good though.

[jackelope]

ice..i run and gun mostly. that is not stalking. stalking is moving in to shooting distance of a bird and shooting it. running and gunning to me is locating a bird, moving close, 100-200 yards, and calling it in from there. thats my definition anyway.

this is a pointless jacking of a thread and i'm the dummy for keeping it going.

[Machias]

Unbelievable, I'm done.

P.S.  Pope, all those states with the advice not to stalk turkeys are spring gobblers only. 

P.S.P.S.  The morons who shoot at sound and movement, they happen to be the same guys who don't care about "No Hunting" signs as well.  At least when you sitting there in the Hospital you can tell yourself over and over, I was on private property and it sure sounded like a real bird.  Good luck to you all.

 

[bucklucky]

I'm with ya Macias.

[Ray]

Did someone say turkey?

[popeshawnpaul]

The thread is jacked but it's a great topic and debate.  It seems to me there is something else going on here.  Do you not think it's sporting to stalk a turkey and the only proper way is to call them in?  It seems funny this is the issue we are crying foul on.

I wanted to see just how dangerous this could be so I went and looked up hunting statistics from Wisconsin and Texas.  Just Google them, they come right up.  Turkey hunting is by far and away not the most dangerous animal to hunt.  In Wisconsin, on average, I see that 2.5x as many deaths occur while deer hunting.  In texas, the number one cause for hunting accidents is someone got covered on the swing by another wingshooter.  By far and away the biggest cause for hunting accidents was wingshooting errors...  ie Dick Cheney.  Why are we not crusading to outlaw wingshooting for Doves in Texas?

I think accidents do occur when people stalk turkeys.  However, I have not been convinced that there is a large percentage of these accidents compared to other accidents in turkey hunting and other game hunting.  If anything, I've realized how dangerous wingshooting is.  Looks like I'll be hunting grouse alone this year.  Oh crap, how am I going to get to the hunting area if I can't drive there because that's unsafe according to the statistics...

[Intruder]

The thread is jacked but it's a great topic and debate.  It seems to me there is something else going on here.  Do you not think it's sporting to stalk a turkey and the only proper way is to call them in?  It seems funny this is the issue we are crying foul on.

I wouldn't argue that 1 bit.  Stalking turkeys in addition to being highly dangerous is not a sound or acceptable method to hunt them.  Generally speaking it isn't very effective.... although at very specific times it can be done.  But more to the point when you go stalking after a gobbling bird you have no idea if someone is there who you may be screwing up.  As Jack said, moving to w/in 150 yards to call is a whole different ball game then trying to sneak into 30 yards.  You're making a giant assumption that:
1. they will be calling
2. that you'll hear them calling if there are
3. that you can identify their call as NOT being a real hen

In respect to the stats that were stated I'm not convinced that they tell the whole story.  While I'm sure the numbers are true do they truly measure what's being discussed?  We're not claiming that turkey hunting is unsafe... we're claiming that stalking turkeys is unsafe.  To a large degree it's an apples to orange comparison. 

All I can say is for all of you who believe it is perfectly acceptable to stalk turkeys please just do some reading about the sport and its history.  Try to get some more information from respected outside sources.  You will see that overwhelming position is that stalking birds is a no no.       

I too am done! 

BTW.... Nice Bird - Congratulations.