Can you shoot a turkey in its roost?

[BOWHUNTER45]

I like your thoughts  I never tried it so I would not know 

[Bofire]

"Can you shoot a turkey in its roost?"   "can", depends on the range and what yer packin.
Carl

[bradslam]

Well im going to put in my    I have hunted turkeys 13 years and never shot one off the roost. My big question is: why does everyone say it is unethical?? I have personally tried to get close to roosted birds both in the morning and the evening and have never got close. They always bust you and fly off well before you can get in range. If you are a good enough stalker to get within range of a smart gobbler without him detecting you, than that seems plenty fair chase to me and nothing unethical about it. Those who say turkeys will stay in a tree even with predators right beneath or near them, need to a little more experience with trying to stalk a roosted bird. I have seen countless times when a gobbler either saw the hunter when he was coming in or another predator such as a coyote and have flown off the roost in the opposite direction. Also the turkeys in this state generally roost about 3/4 of the way up the tree which is usually in excess of 30-40 yds off the ground. Unless you are directly under the tree, the bird is probably way out of range. Just some of my thoughts on the issue.

How much experience do you want?  I have hunted turkeys all over this state for many years and have got the slam several times.  Let me give you a personal example from a few years ago while hunting Rios.  I was out in the late evening roosting birds.  At one location, I stopped and blew my coyote howler very loudly.  The response came from a long beard about 15 feet directly above my head!  In fact, I'm glad he didn't deficate on me.  The situation was not what I intended, but that bird just sat there looking down at me.  Even though he never moved while I was there, I wasn't sure he would be there the next morning, but sure enough, he was in the exact same spot.  Now tell me you could get that close to one on the ground with it knowing you were there.  I do think it is harder to get close to them on the roost in the morning especially the closer to daylight it gets, but I have had plenty of opportunities to shoot one out of the tree if I wanted.  As far as the roosting turkeys being out of range unless directly under the tree, some of the country I hunt is very steep and you can look straight out at the birds if you are above them on the hill.

[Fishnfowler]

I love it 

three simple words not directed at any person specifically and people take offense to it 

I'm with you Dan-o


And to think, I'm not a turkey hunter 

But its the same debate every year 

I'm told a fox smells his own hole first.  I'm not calling you a troll, just sayin'. 

As to ethics.  You measure the character of a sportsman not by the heft of his gamebag, but by the manner of his pursuit.  If someone here wants to shoot roosted turkeys, by all means have at it.  Boasting about it here will tell us all we need to know.  If that is "holier than thou," then count me in.  Just like I know porn when I see it, I know a slob hunter when I see it.   

Killing something for killings sake is what teenage boys do before they grow into men.  Putting food on the table is a poor excuse for a broken moral compass. 

[MerriamMagician]

Well im going to put in my    I have hunted turkeys 13 years and never shot one off the roost. My big question is: why does everyone say it is unethical?? I have personally tried to get close to roosted birds both in the morning and the evening and have never got close. They always bust you and fly off well before you can get in range. If you are a good enough stalker to get within range of a smart gobbler without him detecting you, than that seems plenty fair chase to me and nothing unethical about it. Those who say turkeys will stay in a tree even with predators right beneath or near them, need to a little more experience with trying to stalk a roosted bird. I have seen countless times when a gobbler either saw the hunter when he was coming in or another predator such as a coyote and have flown off the roost in the opposite direction. Also the turkeys in this state generally roost about 3/4 of the way up the tree which is usually in excess of 30-40 yds off the ground. Unless you are directly under the tree, the bird is probably way out of range. Just some of my thoughts on the issue.

How much experience do you want?  I have hunted turkeys all over this state for many years and have got the slam several times.  Let me give you a personal example from a few years ago while hunting Rios.  I was out in the late evening roosting birds.  At one location, I stopped and blew my coyote howler very loudly.  The response came from a long beard about 15 feet directly above my head!  In fact, I'm glad he didn't deficate on me.  The situation was not what I intended, but that bird just sat there looking down at me.  Even though he never moved while I was there, I wasn't sure he would be there the next morning, but sure enough, he was in the exact same spot.  Now tell me you could get that close to one on the ground with it knowing you were there.  I do think it is harder to get close to them on the roost in the morning especially the closer to daylight it gets, but I have had plenty of opportunities to shoot one out of the tree if I wanted.  As far as the roosting turkeys being out of range unless directly under the tree, some of the country I hunt is very steep and you can look straight out at the birds if you are above them on the hill.

Well I think it all depends on the bird, the scenario, and the geography. I'v never managed to get to close to a roosted one, but then again the only times I have tried have been in the morning when trying to set up within 50 yds of the bird. And I wasnt taking a shot at you or anyone else when I said people need more experience when trying to get real close to roosted birds. Again it all depends on the scenario and bird. They might all react a little differently, so my comment was a bit out of place. I just based my opinion through what I have experienced myself. Again, I have never shot one out of a tree, and probably wouldnt even with the given opportunity.

[h20hunter]

What would be the diffrece between a bear and a turkey in the tree? Both seek refuge and feel safe.

[Huntbear]

I love it 

three simple words not directed at any person specifically and people take offense to it 

I'm with you Dan-o


And to think, I'm not a turkey hunter 

But its the same debate every year 

I'm told a fox smells his own hole first.  I'm not calling you a troll, just sayin'. 

As to ethics.  You measure the character of a sportsman not by the heft of his gamebag, but by the manner of his pursuit.  If someone here wants to shoot roosted turkeys, by all means have at it.  Boasting about it here will tell us all we need to know.  If that is "holier than thou," then count me in.  Just like I know porn when I see it, I know a slob hunter when I see it.   

Killing something for killings sake is what teenage boys do before they grow into men.  Putting food on the table is a poor excuse for a broken moral compass.

Wow... so glad the moral majority (which is neither) has spoken....  must be nice to be so perfect..  such a clean doorstep that you can judge others.   

This is exactly how the Anti hunters will get us.... divide and conquer ....

I am so glad I was not raised a hunting snob.. 

There is a code of ethics I live by hunting...

Always know what I am shooting at

ALWAYS be safe with my firearms

Make clean, quick kills

Try and not intrude on someone else's hunt

If it is legal..... I am down with it...   

Now.. .gonna take my unethical ass back out in the woods see if I can find that elk up in its roost... figure that picture is worth at least 10.00.  Which is 9.99 more than this thread is worth..

[The Gobble-stopper]

Might as well put my 2 bits in. Its not a matter of ethics. Turkey hunting is all about the hunt. Shooting an elk laying in its bed is about feeding the family, the neighborhood, and Im going to do whatever is legal to take advantage of that. Turkey hunting is not honestly about feeding the family, etc. Come-on how far does a turkey go to provide food. Its about the chase. Anyone can stake out a well known turkey roost and blast them out of a tree. But at the same time we can go to the super market and buy one. Its more about the chase. Try calling a hunter wise seasoned turkey, especially an eastern and try and get him on his ground, not easy, but a lot more fun than shooting him out of a tree.

[Big game archer]

Wow... this thread has got a lot of attention. Personally, I would never shoot a turkey of off the roost. Because for me it is truly about the hunt. When I go out into the field, I look forward to calling in a turkey or at the very least spending my whole day trying to. Shooting one 5 minutes into the season on opening day out of the roost just doesn't appeal to me. All that it means is that I spent a whole 5 minutes hunting turkeys this year, which wouldn't excite me. However, to each thier own. As long as you are not poaching, then its fine by me.

[dscubame]

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

You mean they do not enjoy what YOU think turkey hunting is really about.

[Huntbear]

As a side note...  to all you guys whose attitude is   MY ETHICS ARE THE ONLY RIGHT ONES

I hope none of you have ever taken a WILD steelhead or salmon out of the water for pictures, ,

Or done the "Texas Heartshot" at that once in a lifetime buck or bull...

Or shot a cougar or bear out of a tree

or shot more than 400 yards

or multitude of other things while in the woods..??

Because there are people out there that think all of those and more are unethical...  sure would not want you being all hypocritical and stuff and not following everyone elses ethics too....

[Dan-o]

A question for those who believe it's unethical to shoot a roosted bird:

At what point can that bird be ethically taken?   
   *   As soon as it hits the ground?
   *   After a 15 minute "sporting time out" when they hit the ground?
   *   Does it require a fair chance for said bird to wander out of range before shooting?
   *   Or???

And a related question.    If you know where the birds are roosted, and due to terrain etc, you know which way their going to hit the ground, is it unethical to set up that direction from their roost in the morning?

I happen to have a spot that regularly roosts birds, and they'll always come out the same direction - into the only good clearing right there.    I never set up on that roost site - at least partially becaue it's far too far a drive for me to just shoot a bird at first light.   But......   I might take my son there for a first bird. 

[cmiller85]

As a side note...  to all you guys whose attitude is   MY ETHICS ARE THE ONLY RIGHT ONES

I hope none of you have ever taken a WILD steelhead or salmon out of the water for pictures, ,

Or done the "Texas Heartshot" at that once in a lifetime buck or bull...

Or shot a cougar or bear out of a tree

or shot more than 400 yards

or multitude of other things while in the woods..??

Because there are people out there that think all of those and more are unethical...  sure would not want you being all hypocritical and stuff and not following everyone elses ethics too....

You're going too easy on these guys Huntbear. If one doesn't hike in at least 10 miles from the nearest road and kill an animal with any combination of sticks, stones and/or bare hands then one is an unethical, slob hunter.

Me on the otherhand, I won't shoot a gobbler unless, through my superior calling, I can coax him back and forth up and down until my name has been spelled in the sand with his wing tips while strutting in front of me; in Old English text no less. Anything else is too easy, and, of course, highly unethical.

[dscubame]

 

[Seatown5]

I dont know if anyone has mentioned this but deer and elk dont yell to you when they are sleeping.  The only reason anyone even sees a turkey in the tree is because its gobbling its head off at every noise that is made.  Even if you stuod under that tree and yelled "okay turkey get ready i am going to shoot you" he wouldnt fly away, he would just gobble again.  There arent many elk that will bugle one hundred times just before they hit the sack.  So my only point is that comparing turkeys to big game is fairly rediculous.  Of course all of us would shoot a big game animal that is sleeping.  You would be stupid if you didnt.