Ethical vs Legal

[woodsman04]

We all know they are different things. Sometimes things are legal, but not ethical. In my opinion, there are illegal things that are ethical. I've heard that it is technically illegal to put a deer out of its misery with 22 rim fire behind the ears after it's been hit by a car.

Different folks also have different moral or ethical standards. What some see is un-ethical others have no problem with it.

Some of the new age hunters, and especially turkey hunters, have lost all concept of what ethical standards once were. These people truly think of it is legal then it is ok. This is certainly not the case. The southeastern states as a whole have had liberal bag limits and creel limits on fish and game for a long time. Because most of the southern folks know good ethical standards, and managed the resource ethically. The limit of bluegills is 50 I believe (May be wrong and no I don't feel like looking it up.) but I was raised when you have a good mess of fish, stop right there and go eat them.

I have never used decoys, and plan to never do so. But to me, they really aren't ethical because it makes the game so much easier, and it cheapens the hunt, in my opinion. I don't care what anyone uses matter of fact. I just don't appreciate the degrading of wild turkeys by people that solely decoy them up, shoot at em flying off after you spooked them fighting your decoys. I don't appreciate what has become of the sport of turkey hunting so many of us have cherished for our entire hunting lives.

About shooting hens, bearded or not, spring or fall. Just because it's legal is it ok? Well maybe or maybe not. I don't really know if ethics concern shooting hens. I think it's more about either being uneducated about turkey biology, shooting a novelty just because you can out of spite, or truly doing it because you truly wanted to. If you truly wanted to shoot a bearded hen because you wanted to and it made you happy, great for you. But I do think these people need to understand. One hen shot ain't going to make much a difference, but it will make a difference too because that is one hen that could raise a gobbler and two more hens and so on and so forth. So yes minuscule, it does matter. I myself, cannot see anyone who truly loves the wild turkey shoot a bearded hen out of spite. But maybe some of these folks are still beginners? Still have the more itchy trigger finger like I used to? I don't know.

If people aren't educated on decisions we make as far as killing turkeys, the state will mandate on us what we can and cannot kill. And that's the least thing I want, more government and more rules.

Hunters need to be more educated on what each decision they make when they decide to shoot a turkey. The bickering we get every turkey season on here is mostly people standing up for what they believe in, and then trying to educate others on to why they feel this way. This in turn is fought back by if it's legal it's ok, and what have you done to help.


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[Setterman]

I'm tired and had a few beers since I'm not hunting tomorrow. I'll address this with a clear head in the AM.

 

[Setterman]

There is nothing ethical about using decoys. Nothing.

It allows so many hunters, thousands, to have success that would otherwise fail miserably. They're having success by waddling out staking the decoy where it can be seen from long distances, crawling in a tent and as soon as a dominant bird sees it they charge and die. The tent hides movement and the decoy over rides all the challenges of killing a turkey by hunting it. What's ethical about that? Nothing

It's all about shooting any more, it's not about hunting, being challenged, or learning.

It's been pathetic for years and is only getting worse.

It's also laughably lazy. No desire to learn and no desire to hunt, just shoot

The legal makes everything okay crowd are a sad lot. They're not sportsman or conservationist. They're the ones that push the envelope in the name of filling the freezer and don't really care about the resource to any extent. It's a disgusting stance on many levels.

Ethics are a personal choice, and the new generation of hunters have the ethical standards of a corrupt politician. The ends justify the means and as long as they're filling tags they could care less how it's done or what it's doing.

 

[@fulldraw]

I guess this is unethical. https://youtu.be/nu6OCx6sTA8

I kill birds every year with a bow. A lot of times it's just like this without a blind. This is my second bird this year of which both were with bow and blindless. The first one was public land. I usually run and gun with the bow so setups are typically quick. I struck these birds and within 5 mins they were in sight. This bird was at 9 steps. To be ethical with a bow the shot should be as close as possible. I'm not shooting over 25 yds. The decoy does help me get away with drawing my bow but my calling is what brought the turkeys to me. Some of you can get over yourselves. There is a time and place for decoys. I'm against reaping and electronic decoys but I see nothing wrong with the way I use them to take the challenge to the next level. You think you're so good then bring out the bow and hunt without a blind.

 

[knightrider]

There is nothing ethical about using decoys. Nothing.

It allows so many hunters, thousands, to have success that would otherwise fail miserably. They're having success by waddling out staking the decoy where it can be seen from long distances, crawling in a tent and as soon as a dominant bird sees it they charge and die. The tent hides movement and the decoy over rides all the challenges of killing a turkey by hunting it. What's ethical about that? Nothing

It's all about shooting any more, it's not about hunting, being challenged, or learning.

It's been pathetic for years and is only getting worse.

It's also laughably lazy. No desire to learn and no desire to hunt, just shoot

The legal makes everything okay crowd are a sad lot. They're not sportsman or conservationist. They're the ones that push the envelope in the name of filling the freezer and don't really care about the resource to any extent. It's a disgusting stance on many levels.

Ethics are a personal choice, and the new generation of hunters have the ethical standards of a corrupt politician. The ends justify the means and as long as they're filling tags they could care less how it's done or what it's doing.

I have nothing to say :rotf: so much arrogance and hypocrisy in this post :roll:

 

[TurkeyBurd]

Agree or not agree...people are going to do what's best for them. If they are allowed to then it will be done...human nature.

 

[Setterman]

There is nothing ethical about using decoys. Nothing.

It allows so many hunters, thousands, to have success that would otherwise fail miserably. They're having success by waddling out staking the decoy where it can be seen from long distances, crawling in a tent and as soon as a dominant bird sees it they charge and die. The tent hides movement and the decoy over rides all the challenges of killing a turkey by hunting it. What's ethical about that? Nothing

It's all about shooting any more, it's not about hunting, being challenged, or learning.

It's been pathetic for years and is only getting worse.

It's also laughably lazy. No desire to learn and no desire to hunt, just shoot

The legal makes everything okay crowd are a sad lot. They're not sportsman or conservationist. They're the ones that push the envelope in the name of filling the freezer and don't really care about the resource to any extent. It's a disgusting stance on many levels.

Ethics are a personal choice, and the new generation of hunters have the ethical standards of a corrupt politician. The ends justify the means and as long as they're filling tags they could care less how it's done or what it's doing.

I have nothing to say :rotf: so much arrogance and hypocrisy in this post :roll:

I don't think you understand the meaning of hypocrisy

Behold one of the if it's legal it's cool googans

 

[fairchaser]

There are all kinds of ethical challenges when it comes to hunting. Not just how you might entice a turkey but what turkeys you might go after. Let's say you hear a gobble but you think another hunter is closer and he might be going after that bird. What do you do? It's certainly legal and some might say all's fair when it comes to calling a turkey. What would you do?

 

[Setterman]

There are all kinds of ethical challenges when it comes to hunting. Not just how you might entice a turkey but what turkeys you might go after. Let's say you hear a gobble but you think another hunter is closer and he might be going after that bird. What do you do? It's certainly legal and some might say all's fair when it comes to calling a turkey. What would you do?

I absolutely walk away without any second thoughts. I only hunt public and I always yield to others

 

[fairchaser]

What if your set up on a bird and working him but you hear another hunter working the same bird? You are pretty sure you were there first but it's for sure another hunter calling your bird. Do you back off or just keep calling and allow the gobbler to decide?

 

[Setterman]

What if your set up on a bird and working him but you hear another hunter working the same bird? You are pretty sure you were there first but it's for sure another hunter calling your bird. Do you back off or just keep calling and allow the gobbler to decide?

If I can I slip out without spooking the bird. If I can't get out without ruining both our hunts I'll stay put. It's a safety thing for me in this situation. I'll eventually find another bird and getting shot isn't worth the risk

 

[fairchaser]

What if your set up on a bird and working him but you hear another hunter working the same bird? You are pretty sure you were there first but it's for sure another hunter calling your bird. Do you back off or just keep calling and allow the gobbler to decide?

If I can I slip out without spooking the bird. If I can't get out without ruining both our hunts I'll stay put. It's a safety thing for me in this situation. I'll eventually find another bird and getting shot isn't worth the risk

Your right! There's always another bird and another day to hunt. It's just not worth the risk or the hassle dealing with the googans. It must be frustrating though hunting public ground when half your hunts get interfered with by someone else.

 

[cowhunter71]

I guess this is unethical. https://youtu.be/nu6OCx6sTA8

I kill birds every year with a bow. A lot of times it's just like this without a blind. This is my second bird this year of which both were with bow and blindless. The first one was public land. I usually run and gun with the bow so setups are typically quick. I struck these birds and within 5 mins they were in sight. This bird was at 9 steps. To be ethical with a bow the shot should be as close as possible. I'm not shooting over 25 yds. The decoy does help me get away with drawing my bow but my calling is what brought the turkeys to me. Some of you can get over yourselves. There is a time and place for decoys. I'm against reaping and electronic decoys but I see nothing wrong with the way I use them to take the challenge to the next level. You think you're so good then bring out the bow and hunt without a blind.

Stick to deer hunting bud. I'll be needing to see some "in the woods" footage, without the use of decoys or blinds, of some hard pressured Gobblers, to give you any respect. At that point, I will eat my words

 

[Mike Belt]

Something that hasn't been addressed concerning ethics on any game you hunt is numbers. In many instances (and probably most) hunters don't have a lot of land to hunt. On the land they do hunt everyone has the same limits and the same regulations. In areas where there are major declines in game populations (whatever the game), bordering properties may have several hunters using each property. In this instance if a single bearded hen or gobbler is taken it probably won't make an overall difference and the hunter is perfectly legal in doing so. But consider that that hunter takes 50-100% of the limit as does a buddy or two and the same thing happens on several adjoining properties. Now they may have jeopardized the entire population in that area. Each is legal but are they collectively ethical?

 

[Scud]

:stir: :stir: :stir: :stir: : :stir: :stir: :stir: :stir: stir:
I guess the yearly thread about this wasn't good enough. This year we get it twice. :bash: :bash: :bash:
How many times does it take for all of you decoy using googans to learn??? :smash: :smash:

 

[cowhunter71]

Waiting on rain to stop so I can head to the woods. Ethics are the choice of each individual. Sadly, they have taken backseat to the "kill at all cost" social media commanders mentality. Hero shots are all that matter. As for me, if the hard pressured Gobbler was not called down the barrel of your "shotgun" to within 40 yards of the tree you were sitting against and then killed, I don't want to hear about it. Those are my ethics regarding turkey hunting and, God willing, will never change. The only exception I would make, would be for someone with a "severe" handicap, who had to much passion for it to ever quit. That being said, my good buddy is in a wheelchair from an accident with a momma cow. He hunts from a track chair on the same public ground I hunt on. No blind, no decoys and has already killed one "good" Gobbler that had, at least, 17 hens with 'em. I hope to God I would still have the drive that this old boy has if I were in his shoes. He is making me look bad I have yet to push the safety off here in Tn, on my same home turf.

 

[knightrider]

There is nothing ethical about using decoys. Nothing.

It allows so many hunters, thousands, to have success that would otherwise fail miserably. They're having success by waddling out staking the decoy where it can be seen from long distances, crawling in a tent and as soon as a dominant bird sees it they charge and die. The tent hides movement and the decoy over rides all the challenges of killing a turkey by hunting it. What's ethical about that? Nothing

It's all about shooting any more, it's not about hunting, being challenged, or learning.

It's been pathetic for years and is only getting worse.

It's also laughably lazy. No desire to learn and no desire to hunt, just shoot

The legal makes everything okay crowd are a sad lot. They're not sportsman or conservationist. They're the ones that push the envelope in the name of filling the freezer and don't really care about the resource to any extent. It's a disgusting stance on many levels.

Ethics are a personal choice, and the new generation of hunters have the ethical standards of a corrupt politician. The ends justify the means and as long as they're filling tags they could care less how it's done or what it's doing.

I have nothing to say :rotf: so much arrogance and hypocrisy in this post :roll:

I don't think you understand the meaning of hypocrisy

Behold one of the if it's legal it's cool googans

most definitely understand the meaning, all you do is fluffy kitten and whine and call people names when their views don't line up with yours. You sound more like a liberal with every post you make putting other people down because they don't do things the way you do. Googans don't think so far from it, I share alot of the same views you do on turkey hunting only I don't put people down for how they do it. Just because they do it that way doesn't mean I have to or that I have to support it but I dang sure am not going to resort to calling them names or talking down to them for it.

 

[@fulldraw]

Stick to deer hunting bud. I'll be needing to see some "in the woods" footage, without the use of decoys or blinds, of some hard pressured Gobblers, to give you any respect. At that point, I will eat my words

Now you're assuming that I haven't killed turkeys that way. Unfortunately for you, you have to have proof that someone hunts a certain way to believe them. When I tell you I have killed the way you described at LBL and FC you'll retort with "they aren't pressured enough". Then we'll be back at square one with your revolving mindset that your "only" way of hunting is greater. Fortunate for both of us I seldom post my kills on social media. Although I respect guys like you that are set in your ways, I don't go looking for respect or judgement. I don't kill just because I can. Many years I don't fill my tags mainly cause several birds are enough and they are a limited resource. I wish you good luck this season. And by chance I decide to video a hunt with the bow, without a blind and in the woods I won't try to humiliate you on a public forum. There is enough of that already.

 

[Omega]

I'm kind of glad I don't hunt turkey. I'm one in the camp that if it is legal, then it's up to the individual hunter to decide his ethics line. For me, I hunt deer, the line is spots and button bucks, I won't intentionally harvest fawns though I have twice done so because I did not see the spots in time, button bucks I've taken a few because I thought they were does. I don't hunt trophies either, so I'll harvest a spike and larger, though if I am donating the venison I'd rather harvest bigger deer. I have hunted with bow, black powder and rifle (haven't successfully pistol hunted) , but only due to seasons and regulations, but I much prefer rifle hunting. I now harvest my deer from a permanent stand, and I don't really consider it hunting so much as harvesting but it is what works on my 8 acre hunting area so it's what I use. I've seen people use dogs and bait, I don't like it, but if it is legal who am I to say anything about it to others?

 

[REN]

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