Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Lower Mainland
    Posts
    40

    Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    I have been fortunate enough to get out on 2 Turkey hunts the season. The first was on opening day. I live in the Lower Mainland, so I was looking for a hunting location that was reasonably close. I scouted my way east, checking out Rock Creek, Christian Valley, Grand Forks, Christina Lake, and Fruitvale. In each location, I found birds, but they were all on private land, or were already being watched by other hunters. I ended going on to a location I know and love near Salmo, and took a nice bird in the first 1/2 hour of legal light on the 15th opening. Two weeks later, I returned with a buddy, and called a bird in for him, again in the first 1/2 hour of daylight. So that was 2 trips 16+ hours of driving, over 200$ of gas each trip for about 5 min. of actual hunting each time. And totally worth it. Hearing the birds gobble to my calls, watching their big blue heads coming bobbing towards me as they came into range, making a good shot dispite the adrenaline shaking hands are all things I'll never forget. The questional incidences occured each time on the drive home.
    The first instance occured while driving out of the area I got my bird. I ran into 2 guys buzzing around on Quads. Neither was in cammo, and the had rifle butts sticking out of the gun boots on their bikes. I assumed they were bear hunting, so stopped to tell them about a bear I'd seen earlier. I was supprised to find they were Turkey hunting, using their Rim fire .17 HMR's. Both guys boasted of shooting Tom's last year at over 80 yards. "The birds never even knew we were there!" They also mentioned that they had blasted 2 hens out of a tree in the fall during the any bird season. While I support anyone who wants to get out hunting, to me the spirit of turkey hunting is camoflaging yourself in the bush, and using calls to try to talk a bird into shotgun range. Rim-fires work, but to me, Turkeys arn't a species that should be road-hunted.
    The second occurence was while returning from the second trip. We ran into an older gentelman on the side of the road, dressed in camo, and stopped to talk. He was Turkey hunting, and in the course of the conversation, he asked us if we had any spare batteries we could give or sell him, as the batteries in his call had died. I explained to him that electronic calls were illegal for hunting Turkeys, and even showed him the relevent sections in the hunting regs that said so. The hunters response was along the lines of "Wholesale Sports wouldn't sell the electronic calls if they were illegal, and since Wholesale Sports does sell them, they must be legal."
    I made the effort to show him, and his 2 buddies that had joined him how easy it was to use a box and slate call, but they obviously wern't interested, and infact not so politely invited me to eff off. As I left the area, I looked for a truck to get a licence plate number for a report, but there was a number of trucks in the area, and no way to be sure which was theres.
    Again good on them for getting out hunting in the Spring, but to insist on using the unethical electronic calls, despite clear evidence that they were in the wrong just annoys me.
    I'm sure most of the turkey hunters in the Province are like me, and love hunting in all it's forms, but I'm just saddened to see some people miss the whole spirit and ethics of the sport.





    http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/...s2011x2056.jpg

  2. Site Sponsor

  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    2,312

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    nice Tom,,,
    but remember to each their own, some have ethics some do not. as long as it is legal to shoot turkeys with a rim fire i will do the same thing.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    89

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    I have a buddy that would not agree with how you are hunting these birds. He says anyone can call a bird in and shoot it with a shotgun. He will only use his bow. I personally like calling them in, but if it was the last day and a nice tom stands around long enough to shoot, he might just have to die. If its legal who am I to judge them.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Pemberton BC
    Posts
    1,521

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    Your opinions on "the spirit of turkey hunting" is just that- Your opinion. If you want to use a shotgun and wear camo, then that's your business. If some guys want to shot them from roads with rifles, that is their business. If everyone kept their noses out of the others business, the world would be a better place.
    Knowledgeable shooters agree- The 375 Ruger is the NEW KING of all 375 caliber cartridges. ALL HAIL THE NEW KING!

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Merritt
    Posts
    5,082

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    Quote Originally Posted by gbrown001 View Post
    I have been fortunate enough to get out on 2 Turkey hunts the season. The first was on opening day. I live in the Lower Mainland, so I was looking for a hunting location that was reasonably close. I scouted my way east, checking out Rock Creek, Christian Valley, Grand Forks, Christina Lake, and Fruitvale. In each location, I found birds, but they were all on private land, or were already being watched by other hunters. I ended going on to a location I know and love near Salmo, and took a nice bird in the first 1/2 hour of legal light on the 15th opening. Two weeks later, I returned with a buddy, and called a bird in for him, again in the first 1/2 hour of daylight. So that was 2 trips 16+ hours of driving, over 200$ of gas each trip for about 5 min. of actual hunting each time. And totally worth it. Hearing the birds gobble to my calls, watching their big blue heads coming bobbing towards me as they came into range, making a good shot dispite the adrenaline shaking hands are all things I'll never forget. The questional incidences occured each time on the drive home.
    The first instance occured while driving out of the area I got my bird. I ran into 2 guys buzzing around on Quads. Neither was in cammo, and the had rifle butts sticking out of the gun boots on their bikes. I assumed they were bear hunting, so stopped to tell them about a bear I'd seen earlier. I was supprised to find they were Turkey hunting, using their Rim fire .17 HMR's. Both guys boasted of shooting Tom's last year at over 80 yards. "The birds never even knew we were there!" They also mentioned that they had blasted 2 hens out of a tree in the fall during the any bird season. While I support anyone who wants to get out hunting, to me the spirit of turkey hunting is camoflaging yourself in the bush, and using calls to try to talk a bird into shotgun range. Rim-fires work, but to me, Turkeys arn't a species that should be road-hunted.
    The second occurence was while returning from the second trip. We ran into an older gentelman on the side of the road, dressed in camo, and stopped to talk. He was Turkey hunting, and in the course of the conversation, he asked us if we had any spare batteries we could give or sell him, as the batteries in his call had died. I explained to him that electronic calls were illegal for hunting Turkeys, and even showed him the relevent sections in the hunting regs that said so. The hunters response was along the lines of "Wholesale Sports wouldn't sell the electronic calls if they were illegal, and since Wholesale Sports does sell them, they must be legal."
    I made the effort to show him, and his 2 buddies that had joined him how easy it was to use a box and slate call, but they obviously wern't interested, and infact not so politely invited me to eff off. As I left the area, I looked for a truck to get a licence plate number for a report, but there was a number of trucks in the area, and no way to be sure which was theres.
    Again good on them for getting out hunting in the Spring, but to insist on using the unethical electronic calls, despite clear evidence that they were in the wrong just annoys me.
    I'm sure most of the turkey hunters in the Province are like me, and love hunting in all it's forms, but I'm just saddened to see some people miss the whole spirit and ethics of the sport.
    I understand your frustration but it is not illegal to shoot birds with rifles in this province and there is no law that says you have to wear camouflage. Like you I think these hunters cheat themselves out of an experience and adrenalin rush, but that is their loss not yours. The same is true for shooting a turkey out of the roosting tree, it's not illegal. However, it is not smart to ruin the only predictable place (sanctuary) turkeys will return to every day.

    While electronic calls are illegal, they are not unethical. In fact I would not be against it if electronic calls for all game species and waterfowl became legal. There is absolutely no advantage to the response of a turkey or duck compared to an electronic or traditional call. The only advantage is that the hunter does not have to learn how to call and that to me is neither unethical or unsportsmanlike. Calling is not a hunting strategy, it's a tactic that only will work in a well planed and executed overall hunting strategy. Ethics are not measured by the degree of difficulty it takes to kill an animal or how many hours, days and months it takes to become a good caller or shooter.

    Having said all that, congratulations on a very fine looking tom and a great experience the hunters you encountered will never have.
    Last edited by huntwriter; 05-01-2011 at 02:03 PM.
    "Wouldn’t it be wise for us to be more tolerant of each other and pick our battles with the ones that really threaten our way of life?"

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    1,535

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    Your opinions on "the spirit of turkey hunting" is just that- Your opinion. If you want to use a shotgun and wear camo, then that's your business. If some guys want to shot them from roads with rifles, that is their business. If everyone kept their noses out of the others business, the world would be a better place.
    X2 Glad you had a successful hunt and enjoyed yourself. If you let what others are doing out there ruin your enjoyable experience, well, perhaps you shouldn't be out there. They won't get close if they are on quads and don't have camo and the rifle bullets well, they just bounce off a turkey anyway..
    Last edited by eastkoot; 05-01-2011 at 02:32 PM.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Kelowna, BC
    Posts
    4,993

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    Quote Originally Posted by eastkoot View Post


    X2 Glad you had a successful hunt and enjoyed yourself. If you let what others are doing out there ruin your enjoyable experience, well, perhaps you shouldn't be out there. They won't get close if they are on quads and don't have camo and the rifle bullets well, they just bounce off a turkey anyway..
    Maybe a regular rifle bullet might but these were magnums.........
    Growing old is unavoidable. Growing up is highly overrated....

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    armstrong bc
    Posts
    116

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    A lot of people seem to think ..if its legal...its ethical ...its safe.. They don't put alot of thought into what they are doing. If all you want to do is get a turkey...save your money and buy a butterball LOL. It is not all about getting....its about the process. I am sure alot of people will jump on this statement.
    I am done arguing with the obtuse. You can write till your blue in the face and it won't make a difference. Good luck turkey hunting .

    Hunt Close...regarless what weapon you use........its rewarding

    good luck hunting
    Last edited by bluesman; 05-13-2016 at 11:35 AM.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Northern BC
    Posts
    3,080

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    Quote Originally Posted by bluesman View Post
    A lot of people seem to think ..if its legal...its ethical ...its safe.. They don't put alot of thought into what they are doing. If all you want to do is get a turkey...save your money and buy a butterball LOL. It is not all about getting....its about the process. I am sure alot of people will jump on this statement.
    I am done arguing with the obtuse. You can write till your blue in the face and it won't make a difference. Good luck turkey hunting .

    Hunt Close...regarless what weapon you use........its rewarding

    good luck hunting
    You might be done arguing with the obtuse, doesn't mean that all of us are......

    Your reason to hunt turkey's, isn't my reason. Your methods and enjoyment is just that, YOURS.
    Some people hunt for different reasons than yours. Some folks want to try a mountain grown turkey, not a pen raised bird. Some folks want to hunt with the equipment they have, and if that is legal, then more power to them.
    If you want to get all 'Nam'd up, and sit with a shotgun and call a bird in, that's great. I will always support your right to do that. If you want to say that your way is the only way, and that everyone should do it your way, then all those guys out there that are doing it THEIR way, legally, are going to slap you down into the dirt.

    The quicker you realize that your opinion, is simply YOUR opinion, the easier it is going to be on your here. Some folks here have opinions that they loudly voice, any time some subject matters come up, and people take offense at that. Just the way of the world.

    If you want to dig up 5 year old threads to try and push your agenda, that's fine, but don't be surprised when someone else disagrees with you.


  11. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Langley
    Posts
    7,428

    Re: Turkey hunting- Spirit and Ethics.

    hahaha, bluesman, crying the blues again. Best re hash I've seen in a while. I actually thought bluesman had changed his name. Maybe he's going to game warden school.
    Quote Originally Posted by hunter1947 View Post
    Unions and beacon is what I fry the liver in with a coating of flower on the liver ,,I eat the tong,,the hart,, its very good eating......

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •