Can you shoot a turkey in its roost?

[BOWHUNTER45]

WTH... I do not see the majority of the serious turkey hunters commenting on that issue   

We have no law saying you can not blow a turkey off the limb BUT Turkey hunting has its own set of rules and most serious turkey hunters take it serious and have that certain respect for turkeys than say a deer or an elk ..and blowing one off the roost is not in his vocabulary...Once someone ruins your hunt by listening to a gobbler in a tree while you are waiting for him to fly will serious send a charge to a mans temper... Including me !!! I have had several birds shot off the roost while we were calling to him and its not funny at all ...if you have to blow a bird out of a tree while on the roost then your not much of a hunter.....like I said us turkey hunters have our own set of rules and most who truely love turkey hunting will never do such a thing ... nothen in the game laws states that it is illegal because its hunting and they classify it as hunting ....just like shooting one on the side of the road ....I can handle that easier than blowing one off the limb ...For me its all about calling in a turkey and listening to him responding to my calls ....just like elk hunting ... its all in the way it was ment to be played ....the older you get the less your worried about just killing something ...you give more respect to the game than you did in your younger days ...you enjoy just being out there and not really caring if you get something or not.....blowing birds off the roost is just not ethical when turkey hunting  it was never intended to be done in that manner So I highly advise not doing it that way .... Remember nothen by law says you can not but like I said turkey hunters have their own set of rules and thats a no no 

[bradslam]

I remember a few years back, the game warden in the Davenport area telling me about how he shot a gobbler out of its roost.  As a hardcore turkey hunter that would never dream of doing that, I was shocked.  Legal, yes, but just plain unethical in my opinion.  The difference between a turkey in its roost and a deer in its bed is the expectation of security that the animal has.  A turkey roosts in a tree to avoid predators.  When it is up in its roost tree and it sees a potential predator on the ground, it feels much more secure and is less likely to fly.  At least, until you get very close.  I've had plenty of gobblers let me walk right up directly beneath them.  Of course, most of the time this was an screw up on my part, but the point is it took no skill to do so.  Bottom line is: show the gobbler some respect and if you need to resort to shooting them out of their roost, then maybe you should learn to hunt.

So a deer or an elk that beds down on an open hillside with their backs to a ledge and the wind in their face so they can see  and smell predators of any kind don't have the same kind of safety expectation?

No they don't.  When a deer or elk is in its bed and a predator is approaching, they know they are vulnerable and you can damn well bet that they are contemplating their next move to avoid the danger.  A turkey feels safe up in the tree and many times you can walk right up to them.  Sorry, but like Bowhunter45 said, turkey hunting has its own set of rules and blowing birds off of the roost is just not ethical.

[Woodchuck]

So how did we figure out how to determine different animals thought processes on safety and elevation of predators?

[HornHoarder]

I personally have never shot a turkey from its roost, and never will. I enjoy calling them in way too much. Thats just my personal choice though, and its not my job to force my ethical beliefs on anyone. So whatever floats your boat.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not really picking on anyone ... its just the way it was intended to be done ... its your decision what you want to do ....I am just speaking on the majority of hunters I know .....

    I guess the best thing for someone who thinks it is no big deal is to go find a hot gobbler .. close to a road where someone can hear a turkey gobbling his head off and your set up on that bird and your all excited about your chance of bagging him once he hits the ground , your heart is beating your all excited AND THEN BOOOOOM BOOOOOOM someone slipped up on him as he was gobbling and blowed him off the limb ...Guarantee you will change your mind right then !!!!!!  At least 6 times in my career 

[turkeydancer]

If it's only about harvesting the bird, it is legal ... but ... 
 
But I would think any self respecting turkey hunter will agree with Yellowdog, Bradslam, and Bowhunter45 that you should respect the game you are hunting enough to honor tradition and get more satisfaction out of your harvest.
I've never had problems getting turkeys in what traditionally is considered the ethical manner.  I would rather come home empty handed myself since just being out with my friends and family is enough, and I feel no pressure to come back and worry that anyone would think that I'm less of a hunter.  It's also legal to come running in where someone is calling the birds and start blazing away at 70 yards ...
 ethical, no ... but that happens way to often too ... so where do you draw your line in the sand, and not cross it?

Legal, yes .... totally bad form, yes !  You should respect yourself, the game, and tradition for God's sake !!!

[Broken Arrow]

Just out of curiousity.....do folks feel the same respect for grouse? or is this just a bird thats ok to take by any means such as in the ground, flying, trees etc. This whole post is really intresting. I find myslef with some double standards. I wont shoot a turkey from the roost for many of the same sporting issues mentioned here. Yet i will shoot grouse anywhere.... I like to call in ducks and geese, yet get pissed at sky busters. I think its more sporting for me to bow hunt, yet practice long shots and have taken them. I guess it comes down to what makes you tick and when its all said and done if you feel good about it and follow the rules.

[gasman]

I love seeingv this issue come up every year arojund this time 

All the "Holier then Thou" come out.....

[Woodchuck]

Just out of curiousity.....do folks feel the same respect for grouse? or is this just a bird thats ok to take by any means such as in the ground, flying, trees etc. This whole post is really intresting. I find myslef with some double standards. I wont shoot a turkey from the roost for many of the same sporting issues mentioned here. Yet i will shoot grouse anywhere.... I like to call in ducks and geese, yet get pissed at sky busters. I think its more sporting for me to bow hunt, yet practice long shots and have taken them. I guess it comes down to what makes you tick and when its all said and done if you feel good about it and follow the rules.

Well stated sir 

[Limhangerslayer]

People that shoot birds out of trees don't enjoy what turkey hunting is really about. I Won't shoot one out of tree or off the road.  There is absolutely no sport in walking up to a tree in the dark, let it get to legal hours(which a lot don't do) and pull the trigger.  Wow what a great hunt can't wait to tell my buddies about it

[turkeydancer]

Again, where do you draw the line with any game or fish?  Just legal, or what's legal and what is considered ethical. Guess to me its respecting the game or fish and myself enough to do whats right ... if you figure that's being holier than thou, I figure that means you don't respect yourself enough to care no matter what anyone else would say or think, you only care that its legal, and any further discussion is really just a waste of time.   
 

[Dan-o]

Interesting thread, but a slippery slope indeed.

I understand someone saying they personally wouldn't find it challenging or enjoyable, but to say somebody is unethical if they follow the rules is dangerous ground for all of us.

I personally wouldn't enjoy shooting a bear with it's head stuck in a barrel trying to fish out some more donuts?   Does that make bear baiting unethical where it's still legal?

I personally wouldn't enjoy walking up to a treed cougar and blasting it behind the ear.   Does that make hound hunters who chase cougars unethical (where it's legal)?

I personally don't think that you should be able to use 3" magnum shells with any projectile heavier than steel shot on ducks.....

And Lord knows it's unethical to have wheels on the end of your bow, because it's supposed to be a primitive weapon.....

If shooting ducks off the pond is legal - but not your cup of tea - why shouldn't it be left at just that?

I guess part of the reason I ranted is because I think hunters have a way of dividing ourselves - and then losing rights.

I think, for instance, that anti-hunters will come after bow hunters before rifle hunters?  Why?   Smaller group.   Easier to outlaw.   Part of their death-by-a-thousand=paper-cuts approach to outlawing all hunting.

I say - If it's legal,we better stick together.

And....   I like the "Captain's rules".   There's no law that says you can't hold a higher standard w/o regarding the other with disdain.

Lord...........    I just preached......

[MtnMuley]

All the "Holier then Thou" come out.....

Pathetic comment.  I see noboby stating that they are holier that anybody else.  The way I see it, each person is expressing their thoughts on the situation.  There will be some hunters viewing that probably have the same question about shooting them out of the roost.  Hopefully this civil debate will give them insight on the decision they will have to make.  While there is much debate on this and comparing the situation to shooting a buck out of his bed or grouse off a limb, the majority of dedicated, serious, knowledgable turkey hunters will agree that it's not ethical.  Legal, yes.  As for somebody stating their reason for not doing it and being tainted with the "holier than thou" phrase, that's bullch*t.

[Woodchuck]

Interesting thread, but a slippery slope indeed.

I understand someone saying they personally wouldn't find it challenging or enjoyable, but to say somebody is unethical if they follow the rules is dangerous ground for all of us.

I personally wouldn't enjoy shooting a bear with it's head stuck in a barrel trying to fish out some more donuts?   Does that make bear baiting unethical where it's still legal?

I personally wouldn't enjoy walking up to a treed cougar and blasting it behind the ear.   Does that make hound hunters who chase cougars unethical (where it's legal)?

I personally don't think that you should be able to use 3" magnum shells with any projectile heavier than steel shot on ducks.....

And Lord knows it's unethical to have wheels on the end of your bow, because it's supposed to be a primitive weapon.....

If shooting ducks off the pond is legal - but not your cup of tea - why shouldn't it be left at just that?

I guess part of the reason I ranted is because I think hunters have a way of dividing ourselves - and then losing rights.

I think, for instance, that anti-hunters will come after bow hunters before rifle hunters?  Why?   Smaller group.   Easier to outlaw.   Part of their death-by-a-thousand=paper-cuts approach to outlawing all hunting.

I say - If it's legal,we better stick together.

And....   I like the "Captain's rules".   There's no law that says you can't hold a higher standard w/o regarding the other with disdain.

Lord...........    I just preached......

My thoughts exactly. I just don't have the patience to type that much.  Well done sir.

[Dan-o]

MtnMuley,

Multiple people called it an unethical practice (not a practice they personally don't enjoy, but an unethical practice.).     How is it pathetic to call that a holier than thou attitude?

If I follow the rules, but not the way you like, and you call me unethical for it......   Isn't that the very definition of holier than thou?