Post by: alecvg on October 04, 2009, 11:24:49 PM
Post by: aaronk on October 05, 2009, 05:05:54 AM
"When scouting or hunting really early or really late in the day. Look up in the trees. This is where turkeys roost. While it is very unsportsmanlike to shoot a turkey in a tree, mark where the bird is and come back later before first light and catch the birds when they come down off the roost,"
Courtesy of: http://www.huntwashingtonstate.com/HWS/Birds/turkey.htm
I would still probably call F&W just to make sure. Back home in Ohio it is definitely illegal.
Post by: bobcat on October 05, 2009, 05:11:46 AM
Post by: gasman on October 05, 2009, 05:15:03 AM
"When scouting or hunting really early or really late in the day. Look up in the trees. This is where turkeys roost. While it is very unsportsmanlike to shoot a turkey in a tree, mark where the bird is and come back later before first light and catch the birds when they come down off the roost,"
Why is it unsportsmens like? You wuould not call shooting a deer or elk while beding unsportsmen like. How about grouse, so if you shoot a grouse our of a tree that wuld be unsportsmen like.
I don't think so.
:twocents:
Post by: aaronk on October 05, 2009, 05:35:11 AM
Why is it unsportsmens like? You wuould not call shooting a deer or elk while beding unsportsmen like. How about grouse, so if you shoot a grouse our of a tree that wuld be unsportsmen like.
I don't think so.
:twocents:
I agree. I'm not sure why the individual who wrote that has the stance it is unsportsmanlike. I think it's a subjective term in this context.
Post by: yelp on October 05, 2009, 07:10:33 AM
Distances to a turkey on a roost sometimes are further than if they were on the ground. Meaning wounding an animal instead of placing a proper kill shot. How many grouse have flown away wounded?
Identifying your target is foremost. Some fall seasons are beardless only, some are either sex. So if you blast a roost tree you better make sure you know what your target is. Grouse hunting has no sex restrictions, because of the difficulty in telling the difference.
There are lots of hunters in this state that if they knew how to hunt wild turkeys properly they would get more enjoyment. Many of new turkey hunters revert to the flush and stalk techniques they learned from their mentors. But these skills are normally used for other game like deer, grouse pheasants. Calling in turkeys and watching them strut and come in gobbling cures any feeling I have to kill any turkey off of a roost. Similar to the duck hunting example..not illegal to blast ducks on the pond, but if you were to see what it was like to call in those ducks have them circle the blind and shoot them before they land..totally different experience. The hunt is what you make it.
Eventhough it currently isn't illegal if this is the only way for you to kill a wild turkey then you probably shouldn't be turkey hunting. There are cheaper ways of getting a turkey sandwich! LOL
lets say 10 guys surrround a roosting site and blast away killing what ever..
I included a pic of a roosting site. Remember by leaving alone the roost sites you may kill more turkeys in the long run. These sites are selected by turkeys as security sites. Same with blasting ducks/geese off a pond..Many field hunters leave the ponds untouched and the ducks and geese feel secure and come back everyday making the hunting quality last longer. :twocents:
Post by: jackelope on October 05, 2009, 07:39:43 AM
pretty much sums it up.
Post by: Machias on October 05, 2009, 07:43:43 AM
Post by: yelp on October 05, 2009, 08:00:16 AM
:twocents:
Post by: MuleySniper on October 05, 2009, 08:07:19 AM
:twocents:
MS
Post by: Machias on October 05, 2009, 09:51:45 AM
Post by: KimberRich on October 05, 2009, 10:39:54 AM
:dunno:
:twocents:
Post by: turkeydancer on October 05, 2009, 12:17:40 PM
:yike:
Post by: Machias on October 05, 2009, 01:24:56 PM
"When scouting or hunting really early or really late in the day. Look up in the trees. This is where turkeys roost. While it is very unsportsmanlike to shoot a turkey in a tree, mark where the bird is and come back later before first light and catch the birds when they come down off the roost,"
Why is it unsportsmens like? You wuould not call shooting a deer or elk while beding unsportsmen like. How about grouse, so if you shoot a grouse our of a tree that wuld be unsportsmen like.
I don't think so.
:twocents:
Please don't take offense to this but that is part of the problem here in the NW. To equate turkeys to grouse is like comparing rabbits to deer. One is small game and one is considered big game. They just don't compare. Hunting grouse and turkeys is about as different as it gets. Just a thought.
Post by: yelp on October 05, 2009, 01:26:44 PM
One thing I learned from our discussion this spring is for ME to stop looking down my nose at folks who don't hunt turkeys the way I do. I think once they learn the traditions of turkey hunting then they will see it's not all about just filling your tag. That it is ALOT more fun and challenging to call in your bird. But that said I'm not going to look down on anyone who doesn't do it my way. If they ask, I'll talk about turkey hunting ethics the way I was taught, they can take or leave it. :)
well said..I agree.
Post by: alecvg on October 05, 2009, 06:54:18 PM
Well said Machias..I know that alecvg shot his first bird this last youth season. In the previous threads he says he missed a shot and took chase after the flock and shot a bird.. So knowing that..now he is asking if shooting turkeys from a roost is legal.In my opinion he is probably curious, but most of youth nowadays don't have mentors to teach youth how to hunt properly or to hunt turkeys properly for that matter..like your grandfather and my friend Wacenturian...I guess it is up to us that are fortunate to experience turkey hunting for what it is and to pass on our knowledge.
:twocents:
Ya, I got a little ecxited, and made some possibly unsafe mistaks, I am young and dumb. :chuckle: But in case you are wondering, no I did not miss that turkey when it was on a tree, not being sure of the laws, I would never have considered that. THANKS for all the help guys, personally, I would not want to shoot turkeys in a tree, but it is always good to know the laws. Thanks again.
-Alec
Post by: yelp on October 05, 2009, 07:05:45 PM
Thanks for all the responces, Yelp seemed to really clear it up, you sure know alot about turkeys!Well said Machias..I know that alecvg shot his first bird this last youth season. In the previous threads he says he missed a shot and took chase after the flock and shot a bird.. So knowing that..now he is asking if shooting turkeys from a roost is legal.In my opinion he is probably curious, but most of youth nowadays don't have mentors to teach youth how to hunt properly or to hunt turkeys properly for that matter..like your grandfather and my friend Wacenturian...I guess it is up to us that are fortunate to experience turkey hunting for what it is and to pass on our knowledge.
:twocents:
Ya, I got a little ecxited, and made some possibly unsafe mistaks, I am young and dumb. :chuckle: But in case you are wondering, no I did not miss that turkey when it was on a tree, not being sure of the laws, I would never have considered that. THANKS for all the help guys, personally, I would not want to shoot turkeys in a tree, but it is always good to know the laws. Thanks again.
-Alec
Don't consider you dumb..and you shouldn't either. Just remember to learn from your mistakes and be safe and most of all have fun. Someday you may have a chance to teach someone how to hunt turkeys. :)
Post by: alecvg on October 05, 2009, 07:46:47 PM
Thanks for all the responces, Yelp seemed to really clear it up, you sure know alot about turkeys!Well said Machias..I know that alecvg shot his first bird this last youth season. In the previous threads he says he missed a shot and took chase after the flock and shot a bird.. So knowing that..now he is asking if shooting turkeys from a roost is legal.In my opinion he is probably curious, but most of youth nowadays don't have mentors to teach youth how to hunt properly or to hunt turkeys properly for that matter..like your grandfather and my friend Wacenturian...I guess it is up to us that are fortunate to experience turkey hunting for what it is and to pass on our knowledge.
:twocents:
Ya, I got a little ecxited, and made some possibly unsafe mistaks, I am young and dumb. :chuckle: But in case you are wondering, no I did not miss that turkey when it was on a tree, not being sure of the laws, I would never have considered that. THANKS for all the help guys, personally, I would not want to shoot turkeys in a tree, but it is always good to know the laws. Thanks again.
-Alec
Don't consider you dumb..and you shouldn't either. Just remember to learn from your mistakes and be safe and most of all have fun. Someday you may have a chance to teach someone how to hunt turkeys. :)
Thank-you, I hope to teach some kids how to hunt someday!
Post by: Tom Tamer on October 08, 2009, 09:04:48 PM
Well KR not saying what's right for me is right for you, but myself I would rather come home with empty coolers ... to me it's not about the meat as much as the enjoyment of the true chase and the comraderie ... to me popping one out of the trees would be about as fun as stopping by Safeway and blasting a couple out of the freezer. Not for me my friend ... and of course you know, you're gunna get a "turkeydancer" hug when you get one so you just might want to seriously rethink that "tree" thing. LOL ...
:yike:
And those are scary.....I've witnessed them
Post by: yelp on October 09, 2009, 07:09:50 AM
Well KR not saying what's right for me is right for you, but myself I would rather come home with empty coolers ... to me it's not about the meat as much as the enjoyment of the true chase and the comraderie ... to me popping one out of the trees would be about as fun as stopping by Safeway and blasting a couple out of the freezer. Not for me my friend ... and of course you know, you're gunna get a "turkeydancer" hug when you get one so you just might want to seriously rethink that "tree" thing. LOL ...
:yike:
And those are scary.....I've witnessed them
I don't want to know...LOL
Post by: turkeydancer on October 12, 2009, 01:03:16 PM
:yike:
Post by: boneaddict on October 12, 2009, 01:22:37 PM
Post by: yelp on October 12, 2009, 06:53:13 PM
Okay guys ... give up your most prized turkey locations or you're getting a big'un next time I see ya ....
:yike:
You gotta catch me first... :chuckle: But just in case you catch me by surprise.
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=47.763963&lon=-118.19313&z=16.4&r=0&src=msl
:chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: Wacenturion on October 12, 2009, 08:38:42 PM
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=47.763963&lon=-118.19313&z=16.4&r=0&src=msl
Post by: SHANE(WA) on October 13, 2009, 12:03:01 AM
Post by: yelp on October 14, 2009, 05:50:22 AM
and we are talking about a turkey :chuckle:
I don't know we went from roost tree shooting to hugging...I am just glad we haven't taken it to the next level.... :yike: roost tree hugging.. :tree1:
Post by: turkeydancer on October 14, 2009, 12:00:32 PM
:bash:
Post by: yelp on October 14, 2009, 05:19:35 PM
Is that what those were?...LOL
Post by: JBar on October 14, 2009, 05:43:52 PM
I was calling from inside the timber to some turkeys out in a field, I had identified the turkeys when I crested the hill so I backed up into the timber and started calling. A few minutes later it sounded like all hell broke loose in the field and turkeys all started flying my way. Something had spooked these turkeys and some landed in the trees 15 to 20 yards away. I identified a Jake in one of the trees and I dropped the hammer on him. Unsportsman like? I didn't think so, I didn't sneak up on roosted turkeys in the dark and start blazing but I did shoot one out of a tree.
Post by: yelp on October 14, 2009, 07:25:07 PM
Post by: KimberRich on October 15, 2009, 09:19:29 AM
Post by: Jekemi on October 21, 2009, 03:18:37 PM
Post by: grgflowers on November 29, 2009, 07:57:13 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on November 29, 2009, 11:10:19 PM
Post by: lokidog on November 30, 2009, 02:06:19 AM
Ducks and Geese spend most of their time in the air so shoot them in the air. Does that make sense to you guys?
Man, those would be some really tired ducks and geese.... As for turkeys, this time of year, I think they spend as much time roosted as on the ground. ;)
So by previous reasoning, setting up an ambush for henned-up or unresponsive birds is also unsportsmanlike? I may catch crap for this, but I am tired of people trying to tell others what is moral or ethical. I am not referring to safety or legal issues. If you do not think it is an ethical thing to do, don't do it. Everyone's hunt is different and has different circumstances and different goals. A lot of people hunt for the fun of the hunt AND the meat. If the meat is not important to you, bring a camera and save some birds/bucks/bulls for the rest of us. :twocents:
So, back to the turkeys.... yes, there is hardly anything more exciting than calling for and working a big tom into your decoy, but I have also enjoyed several stalks and an ambush as well. Each was rewarding in its own way. And, I'll admit it, I have shot one out of a tree (a gobbling tom by himself) that was an incredibly challenging stalk to get close enough to Mr Eyeballs for a clean shot.
Post by: Jekemi on November 30, 2009, 11:32:27 AM
Post by: turkeydancer on November 30, 2009, 01:05:58 PM
:twocents:
Post by: lokidog on November 30, 2009, 05:14:53 PM
Like you, I do not shoot from county roads, jump posted fences, or do other ILLEGAL things in pursuit of game. And, what is "traditional" in one place may not be in another, it does not make it any less ethical because it has not traditionally been done there. You may hunt in any way that you choose to (legally), I WILL NOT JUDGE YOU or anyone else's ethics. If someone I am hunting with does something that does not agree with my PERSONAL ethics I can then choose to hunt with them again or not.
I am just tired of everyone else thinking that their ethics are better than everyone else's and should be emulated by everyone else. Tell Republicans that they should support universal health care because it is the "ethical" thing to do, or tell Dems that they shouldn't be able to obtain an abortion because it is the "ethical" thing to do. Oh yeah, many think personal ownership of firearms is "unethical." Take care of yourself, choose to behave how you feel is appropriate, and leave everyone else alone. Again, not referring to ILLEGAL activities.
Oh yeah, we better get rid of the turkeys here in WA and welcome back the wolves as that is the traditional way of WA's wildlife.... :)
Post by: turkeydancer on December 02, 2009, 11:46:23 AM
:bdid:
BTW - I said I must have my own level of personal satisfaction from my hunts, not that my ethics are better than yours or anyone elses. I also stated that it's also everyones choice (within the law)and that it won't matter what anyone else thinks.
Post by: PA BEN on December 13, 2009, 06:39:17 AM
Post by: boneaddict on December 13, 2009, 07:24:14 AM
To each is own. It is legal and thus you can do it if that floats your boat. It doesn't float mine.
Post by: PA BEN on December 13, 2009, 09:06:56 AM