Can you shoot a turkey in its roost?

[doyourtime89]

   I had a friend as me if its legal to shot a turkey in its roost.  I think he was taking the master hunter test or something.  But I don't really know if its legal (I would say its not ethical, but not sure about being legal or not) to do that.  I told him I was ask around on this site because so many people know the regs,  laws, RCW's, WAC stuff like that. 

[h20hunter]

One would assume this turkey is roosting during legal shooting hours right? You can shoot 'em on the ground....you and shoot 'em in flight....I dont' know of anything in the regs that says you can't blast one out of the tree if it is legal shooting time.

[MtnMuley]

Absolutely legal, pending it's during legal hours.  Ethical, no.

[Goldeneye]

Absolutely legal, pending it's during legal hours.  Ethical, no.

x2 

[pianoman9701]

You can shoot a duck on the water, a pheasant on the ground, and a turkey in its roost. It's called sloucing (sp?). Calling them in would be the bigger challenge.

[buckcanyonlodge]

Last night I saw turkeys flying into the roost when the sun was still above the horizon...... Not ethical and it will send all the turkeys out of that roost area.

[Broken Arrow]

Im sure its legal. I grew up being taugh that you dont "sluece" birds as well, cause its not sporting. However reading this...i just had a thought. Would it be any less sporting to shoot a big bull elk in its bed if you had a clean shot? Sorry not trying to hijack the thread. Just thinking out loud.....

[pianoman9701]

Im sure its legal. I grew up being taugh that you dont "sluece" birds as well, cause its not sporting. However reading this...i just had a thought. Would it be any less sporting to shoot a big bull elk in its bed if you had a clean shot? Sorry not trying to hijack the thread. Just thinking out loud.....

No, you should wait for them to fly! 

I don't consider being able to get close enough to a bull in his bed and killing it sluecing. It's not any easier than any other elk killing. It takes fair chase and skill.

[Huntbear]

Absolutely legal, pending it's during legal hours.  Ethical, no.

Not picking on you specifically MtnMuley...

But would you shoot that buck of a lifetime in its bed?  OR are you going to couch, stomp your feet, Yell,,, HEY DEER... to give it a chance???  Probably not....

I would shoot a turkey in the roost 10/10 times.. go home a very happy hunter...  I would also shoot a deer or an elk in its bed... 

Ethical??  I see more ethics out the window with guys drinking beer while hunting, shooting way past the range you can really hit anything at, etc..... and so on.... 

[Woodchuck]

Im sure its legal. I grew up being taugh that you dont "sluece" birds as well, cause its not sporting. However reading this...i just had a thought. Would it be any less sporting to shoot a big bull elk in its bed if you had a clean shot? Sorry not trying to hijack the thread. Just thinking out loud.....

No, you should wait for them to fly! 

I don't consider being able to get close enough to a bull in his bed and killing it sluecing. It's not any easier than any other elk killing. It takes fair chase and skill.

So getting within a turkey at say 30yds is different?

[baldopepper]

For me personally, shooting a turkey off it's roost  would equate more to shooting a big bull with a jacklight. Shooting off the roost is illegal in many states.  As long as it's legal I  guess it's just up to each individual, but personally I would'nt feel very good about it. Just my

[Holg3107]

Not picking on you specifically MtnMuley...

But would you shoot that buck of a lifetime in its bed?  OR are you going to couch, stomp your feet, Yell,,, HEY DEER... to give it a chance???  Probably not....

I would shoot a turkey in the roost 10/10 times.. go home a very happy hunter...  I would also shoot a deer or an elk in its bed... 

Ethical??  I see more ethics out the window with guys drinking beer while hunting, shooting way past the range you can really hit anything at, etc..... and so on.... 

Shooting a deer or elk in its bed and shooting a turkey in its roost are completely different. You will never hear of an ethical turkey hunter shoot a roosted bird! That's about as challenging as shooting your neighbors black lab. A deer or elk in its bed has the same opportunity to flea as a deer or elk that is standing or feeding. Turkeys are different, once roosted they generally don't leave. It would be more appropriate to comparing shooting a roosted bird to spotlighting a deer (although yes I know spotlighting is illegal and shooting roosted birds is legal).

[LITTLEBUCK]

I chased a big Tom for 3 days and had him in killing range 4 times with no shot opportunity's. The last morning I could have killed him in his roost tree but felt he was much more worthy than that. To me it is about the hunt, not the killing. Have I shot a bird out of a tree, Yes I have, only due to the fact he was wounded. If you feel the need to kill to have a successful hunt, I guess go for it if it floats your boat. Not for me.

[Skillet]

Huh.  Turkey's just a big grouse, right?  Haven't we all popped a grouse off a limb before?   

As far as using other state's laws to determine ethical standards, by that measure we shouldn't be baiting deer or elk...

If I was in turkey camp and some guy got under a big ol' tom and shot him out of a tree, I wouldn't give him any crap over it.

[pianoman9701]

As far as using other state's laws to determine ethical standards, by that measure we shouldn't be baiting deer or elk...

Some of us don't.