IT IS TIME.

[popeshawnpaul]

I'm not sure that an experienced hunter is a more safe hunter than an inexperienced one.  (ie, Dick Cheney...lol)  Some of the most experienced hunters I know are not safe at all as they keep loaded guns in the car and have a sense of complacency.  I have found that young people who have recently been through hunter safety are the safest hunters to be around.  Most the "experienced" hunters haven't even been through a safety course as it wasn't required in the good old days.  I don't have any data, but I don't think you would find a correlation between hunting accidents and age.  It would be interesting if someone had that data though...

It comes down to knowing what you are shooting at.  If you can't tell a decoy from an original and can't tell if you are going to shoot someone you don't belong out hunting and risking my life.  We are sympathetic for these turkey hunters yet we come down hard on someone who has a hard time telling the distinction between a brown colored black bear and a grizzly in a non-grizzly area?  I do understand sh*t happens, but I have no sympathy here as a fellow turkey hunter.


On the point of the topic, well done.  I have wanted to kill an eastern and have not got out and done it.  Great bird.

[ICEMAN]

Really, if you think about it, we all stalk turkey. Stand in the dark in the morning and pop off with your owl hooter, hear a gobble, and start walking that way. Mid morning, and you could not call in the tom, you know which way you heard him go, and off you go to get ahead of him. It's noon,  and you pop off with your crow call or peacock or coyote call, you hear a tom a ridge away....off you go. It is nearing the end of the day and you hear a tom a couple of hundred yards away, you saunter off thru the woods in his direction. 

We are always moving towards a bird when hunting turkey. If you simply drop your butt to the ground at the first turkey you hear hoping that he will come your way, you arent going to have the best of luck when hunting.

I think it is a bit unclear what was meant by "snuck" up on the bird. Let's give the hunter the beneift of the doubt, that he is being as safe as he can, before we start slamming him.

A simple reminder for all of us, that; "look, hunters can get shot....we are in camo, everyone else is in camo, we are all carrying guns and want to shoot a turkey, make sure of our shots, be very carefull, lets not make any mistakes...." should be enough of a reminder in this case, IMHO.

Great bird Huntmossberg8. Not many guys scoring on the westside on any given year. Congrats!

[Outfitter]

Well we busted our ass for 3 days now and finally got one on the ground this morning. We had one missed yesterday but this is the first one down! Her names Rachel and shes up here from Oregon and its her first kill on anything. Most of our propertys are still under snow. It seems like its about the middle of March here. The birds are still all flocked up. Good luck to all you turkey hunters !!

[Skyvalhunter]

Nice picture Outfitter.

[MountainWalk]

  i just cant believe all you folks dont have anything better to point a shotgun at then a turkey!

[Intruder]

Boy I sure hate the be the stick in the mud.  There is a vey good reason why sneaking in on birds is frowned upon and discouraged.  Not only is it not what turkey hunting is all about, ie learning to call the birds to you, but is extremely unsafe.  Congrats on your friend taking the bird, but congrats even more on not getting yourself or someone else shot. With all the strutting decoys on the market nowadays, folks getting blasted either sitting at a decoy or sneaking in on one will happen much more.  Every year lots of hunters are shot sneaking into gobblers.  How do you know someone else isn't sitting there softly calling to that tom.  It's just a bad idea and very unsafe.      

Here - Here!!!  Even taking the safety aspect out of the mix.  The point about screwing up another guy's setup shouldn't be ignored.  You can certainly move toward a gobblin bird to try and call it.  But trying to sneak up on it could totally screw a guy who's been working it for hours.  And as pointed out...  can get you or the other guy shot.

Bottom-Line: Don't do it!!!!  

[popeshawnpaul]

I agree 100% if you hear a hunter calling to a bird.  If you don't hear another hunter calling it, how would you know another hunter is "hunting" that bird? 

It's just like elk for me.  If I hear another guy calling to an elk, I'll back off.  If you can't tell the difference then you need to back off until you are sure of your quarry.

[Machias]

Iceman and Pope, First off, I'm not slamming on the young man, it's not him I was worried about shooting someone, it's the moron sitting there calling in the bird and then shooting at the camoed hunter sneaking in to the bird.  I'm passing on a safety tip to a young man, that is the NUMBER ONE cause of turkey hunters being shot.  Check out all the real turkey states you want and they will all tell you the same thing DO NOT STALK turkeys.  Iceman, closing the distance on a gobbler and setting up 100 to 200 yards away is NOT stalking, come on.  Little conselation to this young man when he is sitting in the hospital BLIND because some moron filled his face full of shot!  In MO they have an average 20+ shootings a spring, number one reason is guys stalking turkeys.  We are lucky on the eastside, early in the season there is not a large amount of underbrush and by the time things begin to green up and get thick, most nimrods have given up and gone home.

From a different site on hunting safety:  Notice #2:
The following are a laundry list of safety tips that Hughes recommends that all turkey hunters memorize before hitting the field this spring. I encourage you to study them all. Remember, one turkey hunting accident is one turkey hunting accident too many.

To wit:
• Hunt defensively. Never assume other hunters are acting responsibly.
• Never stalk a turkey. The chances of getting close enough for a shot are slim, but the chances of becoming involved in an accident are increased.
• If you want to locate a tom, use an owl, crow or other locator call instead.
• Eliminate red, white and blue colors from your turkey hunting outfit.
• When turkey hunting, assume every sound you hear is made by another hunter. Once you pull the trigger, you can’t take the shot back.
• Hunting should not be treated as a competitive sport. Peer pressure to bag a bird leads to poor judgment.
• Discuss hunting safety techniques with your hunting companions. Many accidents are caused by people in the same hunting party. When party hunting, be sure of everyone’s location.
• Never assume you’re alone in the woods, even on private property.
• Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction.
• Use a flashlight when walking in the dark.
• Make sure your headnet doesn’t obscure your vision.
• Be aware of what’s beyond your target before you shoot.
• Keep your gun unloaded until you are set up in the field. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
• Respect property rights and secure permission before hunting.

Another site:

Tips for a Safe and Successful Turkey Hunt


Turkey Hunting can be an exciting and memorable experience, but it has associated dangers that the hunter must keep in mind. The wild turkey has a keen sense of sight and can easily detect movement and colors that are out of place in the woods, making the use of complete camouflage or drab colored clothing almost a must. Camouflage not only reduces the turkey's chance of seeing the hunter, but also has the same effect on other hunters. Each year hunters somewhere in the U.S. are mistaken for turkey's and are shot. Several factors are responsible for these accidents. Hunters sneaking up on other hunters (stalking) who are calling and hunters who are wearing turkey colors (red, white, blue, and even black.) are involved in a high percentage of the accidents.

Three solutions to these problems are:

DON'T STALK, CALL THE TURKEY TO YOU;
DON'T WEAR THE COLORS RED, WHITE, BLUE, OR BLACK ON ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE EXPOSED DURING YOUR HUNT
DON'T HIDE WHERE YOUR VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED

One more, seeing a theme here?

Turkey Hunting Safety Tips:
 

Select a calling position where you can see for at least 50 yards in all directions and where you are protected from the backside.
Whistle or shout to alert approaching hunters of your position. Never wave or stand up.
Never sneak in on a turkey or use a gobbler call near other hunters.
Never crowd another hunter working a bird.
Never shoot at sound or movement.
Use a flashlight when walking in the dark.
Be aware of turkey "fever" and its prevention. Disregard peer pressure to bag a bird.
Be extremely careful using turkey decoys.
Do not wear red, white, or blue outer wear or exposed inner clothing.
Make sure your headnet doesn't obscure your vision.
Don't assume you are the only hunter in the area. Be certain of a companion's location.
Know and identify your target and what is beyond.
Discuss safety techniques with companions.
Never assume that other hunters are responsible.
Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Always keep your gun unloaded until ready to use.
Never use alcohol or drugs before or while hunting.
Respect property rights and secure permission before hunting.
Hunters should unload their guns when crossing fences, climbing into stands, jumping ditches or traversing steep ravines.

[Skyvalhunter]

 

[BLUEBULLS]

"Not only is it not what turkey hunting is all about"

huh?
what's elk hunting all about then? If this were the case then elk should only be hunted when they're succeptible to calling, right? I don't want to make anyone mad but I think it's fine to sneak a turkey. Just be damn careful and know what you're up against.

It's challenging to stalk a big ole Tom and one on one seems ethical to me.

[Machias]

One more, just for you Bluebulls from our very own WDFW:

Safe and Ethical Turkey Hunting

1. ALWAYS ask permission to hunt on private land. Most landowners are cooperative if you ask.

2. Do not attempt to stalk a turkey. That gobbler you’re stalking may be another hunter.

3. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t use a gobbler call. This call can be productive, but also very dangerous. Use this call when all else fails and then sparingly.

4. Never wear any red, white, or blue clothes. These are the colors of the gobbler’s head, the primary target of the turkey hunter.

5. Never presume what you hear is a turkey. Many hunters are convincing callers.

6. Select a calling site that gives at least 40 yards of vision in all directions and sit with your back to a large tree.

7. If another hunter is working a bird, don’t spoil it by calling or spooking the bird.

8. Make sure that the gobbler is within sure range of the shotgun and shoot only the neck and head.

9. Be absolutely positive of your target. After you pull the trigger, it’s too late.

10. Should you see another hunter (especially if he/she is close to your "line of sight") call out to the hunter in a loud, clear voice.

[BLUEBULLS]

it just seems to me that #2 could be voided if you follow #7 and #9.

[Wacenturion]

 Bluebulls.......comparing turkey hunting to elk hunting to validate stalking of gobblers is a real stretch.  It's all about safety and yes, being ethical,which goes without saying for whatever game one hunts.  Some folks get it right away when they start hunting, usually being taught as such, and some get it later in life once the desire to be successful is replaced by the realization that success is really the experience whether you harvest something or not.     

[MountainWalk]

i disagree majorly with one rule, the last one- call out in a loud clear voice.
 i think that is liable to scare the hell outta someone and who knows what could happen?

i say just talk in a normal plain voice. sorry to nitpick

[BrushChimp]

I'm with BLUEBULLS... #7 and #9 take care of #2... Comparing turkey hunting to elk hunting isn't that far of a stretch to me. Stalking is stalking.