How many longbeards are called in?

[fairchaser]

Just curious on what percentage of turkeys killed are actually called in the traditional way without decoys. I'm not talking about ambushing, decoying, waiting for one to walk by or creeping to one on hands and knees. I'm not opposed to any of these methods. I haven't tried reaping and I won't shoot one off the roost. But it seems to me that most turkeys are killed using non traditional methods.

 

[Devin2009]

I call 90% of mine in. I will take them any way legal tho I'm not gonna pass up a chance you only get so many in a lifetime!

 

[poorhunter]

Mine are probably around the 90% range too. I have killed some because I know where they were going to be. I have killed a couple crawling into a field n my belly.

 

[Tennessee Lead]

[emoji817]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Haven't used a decoy this year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[muddyboots]

For me prolly 1/2. I love a good stalk.

 

[cbhunter]

98% here


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Setterman]

100% here and maybe 40% statewide

 

[spoon]

This year I've called 3 of 4

 

[TN Larry]

All of them here with just a call and gun in the woods. Any other way just doesn't excite me. I've stalked a few in the past but not many.

 

[ZachMarkus]

Just about all of mine are called to the gun, I've never killed one over a decoy. I have killed 4 or 5 from behind a fan.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Bgoodman30]

I've called in 5 only seen one die....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[cowhunter71]

Everyone I have ever killed. I don't pay any attention to those who turkey hunt any other way. A little harsh I reckon, but just the way it is in my family

 

[Andy S.]

There is no way to quantify this, but I would bet my life on less that 50% statewide called to the gun, and I would bet a fair amount of money on less than 40% statewide. Unless something changes, I believe this number will continue to steadily decrease over time (40% this year, 39% next year, etc) due to all of the new "killing techniques" promoted today on FB, Instagram, YouTube, etc.

 

[bloodtrailing]

All of the ones on the internet are called to the gun shot at 35 yards have 10 inch beards and 1 inch spurs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[poorhunter]

There is no way to quantify this, but I would bet my life on less that 50% statewide called to the gun, and I would bet a fair amount of money on less than 40% statewide. Unless something changes, I believe this number will continue to steadily decrease over time (40% this year, 39% next year, etc) due to all of the new "killing techniques" promoted today on FB, Instagram, YouTube, etc.

Surely not that low is it? I agree that the plastic turkey has turned hunting into killing, but 50%? If that IS true, and that trend has been going on for a few years, no wonder we have so few turkeys.

You've seen my posts about how bad it is on all my farms this year, but except for any trespassers, I'm the only one that hunts those farms and I don't use decoys. I don't see anyone on any of the other neighboring farms using them either, but obviously I don't watch them all the time and can't see everywhere...but surely I'd see them sometime? Decoys are bad for turkeys and turkey hunting, but I'm not sure that is what is going on where I live. There has been a small but perceptible decline over the last few years until this year when the population seems to have fallen off the face of the earth. Very very disheartening. I love turkey hunting and have for getting close to 30 years.

 

[catman529]

For me prolly 1/2. I love a good stalk.

me too, I would rather call one in, but stalking and trying to get ahead of them can be a real challenge too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Southern Sportsman]

There is no way to quantify this, but I would bet my life on less that 50% statewide called to the gun, and I would bet a fair amount of money on less than 40% statewide. Unless something changes, I believe this number will continue to steadily decrease over time (40% this year, 39% next year, etc) due to all of the new "killing techniques" promoted today on FB, Instagram, YouTube, etc.

Agree 100%. If decoys and fsns were banned, I would bet big money the kill total would drop by half the first year. So many people have started turkey hunting in lhe last 5-10 years and simply know nothing except pop up tents and decoys.

 

[Roost 1]

I kno guys that kill several birds each year that don't even own a turkey call. Strutting decoy or fan and shotgun is all they carry. I say either outlaw male decoys or reduce the limit by half. Guys say decoys are here to stay, let's see if they want to give up half their limit to keep decoys.... not to mention the ones that kill 2 or 3 times their limit. That's another discussion!!'

 

[ruger7mag]

There is no way to quantify this, but I would bet my life on less that 50% statewide called to the gun, and I would bet a fair amount of money on less than 40% statewide. Unless something changes, I believe this number will continue to steadily decrease over time (40% this year, 39% next year, etc) due to all of the new "killing techniques" promoted today on FB, Instagram, YouTube, etc.

Agree 100%. If decoys and fsns were banned, I would bet big money the kill total would drop by half the first year. So many people have started turkey hunting in lhe last 5-10 years and simply know nothing except pop up tents and decoys.

Completely agree with both posts!