If you truly feel like turkey hunting (especially on public land) is in serious trouble, then I challenge YOU to not make a single post on ANY of your social media platforms about killing a public land turkey during the 2025 season. If the cause is greater than you, then this shouldn't be a problem. Right?
A challenge to ALL for 2025
- Thread starter Jbird22
- Start date
easy for me.......I dont generally hunt public 
Chickenrig
Well-Known Member
Omega
Well-Known Member
I'm not a turkey hunter so not quite following, are you saying that people hunt public land turkeys to brag, or that posting about it brings out more turkey hunters?
From what I gather, and I may be wrong, from the posts about turkeys, things like corn piles, low poult counts and predators have more to do about them being in "trouble" than hunters.
30-06 type of guy
Well-Known Member
Don't think I've ever posted that mine were public. If you can read between the lines in my videos then you may pick up on it there if other hunters get involved somehow.
Florida just approved a ban on non-resident hunters for the 1st 9 days on public beginning in 2026. It's all but imminent that other states will reciprocate.
IMO, it's a gold rush effect that has been greatly exacerbated by people glamorizing their public land endeavours on various social media platforms.
Andy S.
Well-Known Member
Ditto! Many of us old heads screamed this from the top of the mountain a decade ago about a particular middle TN WMA, and other public lands, but some could not see the forest for the trees, while others were publicly chasing self gratification and fame. Once the horse is out of the barn, the damage is done and unretractable. There is nothing wrong with celebrating your success and being VERY generalized about location/details. Good luck, hope you all have a great season.
ImThere
Well-Known Member
I only hunt public land turkeys. Why would I not share my success (if I have any) with my tndeer brothers?
Share your success all you want. But in your sharing, do you feel it's necessary to identify it as a public land kill or just a kill in general?
I agree. The best days are behind us. More state draws and tag systems coming. I would hate to be just getting into Turkey hunting.
ImThere
Well-Known Member
I don't think I've ever mentioned where I hunt.
That's not what I was referring to. My post was meant for those who feel like they HAVE to specify in their posts that it's a public land kill and offer way more specific information than they should.
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Unfortunately, I'm afraid this is probably more true than I'd like to admit. My only hope is that some of these newly imposed regulations will weed out a good portion of those who hunt mostly for attention-seeking purposes.
I still remember when hunting public wasn't cool!
Huntaholic
Well-Known Member
I hunt a mix of public and private. Most years I will start on public and kill 1 or 2 before the GOOGANS booger everything up.
lol
Well-Known Member
Will likely get struck down if challenged under "dormant commerce clause" jurisprudence.
