Just Wanted to Tell Him THANKS

[Southern Sportsman]

Roost shooting has been going on for decades. SS as already pointed out it was illegal as it was before legal shooting hours. Nice try though.

OP said he shot him at 6, which I believe makes it a legal kill. But 5:55 or 06:00, it's a sorry thing to do.

 

[CAW]

For me, turkey hunting is all about the challenge. I want to trick the bird. I want him to come to me because I tricked him. I have no desire to shoot one of the roost. It ranks right up there with sitting in a ground blind waiting on a bird to walk into a food plot. I won't even shoot them in the fall while I'm bowhunting. I'd rather wait until spring when I can try and trick them. That's just my preference.

But I do agree with catman. If someone wants to shoot one off the roost and it's legal, knock yourself out. Who am I to judge? And of course, this situation by the OP is much more than just shooting one off the roost. Shooting one off the roost may not be illegal, but sneaking up on one and shooting it before legal light is illegal. The guy who shot this bird is a poacher, not a hunter.

*Edit* - My bad, looks like he shot him during legal light, so he's not a poacher after all. But based on his other behavior, he sounds like a guy that I would probably not want to share a campfire with.

 

[timberghost35]

I understand what everyone is saying here. The legallness of it is not what had me pissed. Dont get me wrong, the shot at 602 scared the hell out of me. It was more of the i dont give a rats a$$ atittude the guy had. He walked right past 3 trucks that were parked at the area. He walked to the bird who was gobbling, shot him out of the tree, the procedded to have his other buddy come get him. Now the whole time, squeling tires and throwing rocks everywhere, including at all 3 of our trucks. I guess you could say Im a little pissed about it, especially that i took 2 days off work to make this opening wknd and for it all to be over before the birds hit the ground. That was Sat morning. Sunday morning I heard one bird that sounded like he was in North Carolina, and today I still havent heard a bird. Now ist like all the birds around here have vanished...

 

[Nsghunter]

Wow, I really don't have any words for the op. I know what it's like to prepare, take the long drive. I just have had this type of outcome yet. Driving that far and being unsuccessful is tough but I can't imagine some jerk stealing your bird then driving home empty handed...

 

[Bone Collector]

The days of being able to hunt public land are gone for me. I remember when there weren't many turkey hunters. Now, every jackleg with a shotgun and a crow call are in the woods messing up the real hunters. I hate it for you guys.

I've learned with public land you have to get past the first week or two of season, then the jacklegs with crow calls give up and you have the whole place to yourself, for the most part.

 

[timberghost35]

The days of being able to hunt public land are gone for me. I remember when there weren't many turkey hunters. Now, every jackleg with a shotgun and a crow call are in the woods messing up the real hunters. I hate it for you guys.

I've learned with public land you have to get past the first week or two of season, then the jacklegs with crow calls give up and you have the whole place to yourself, for the most part.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people will drive down the road, stop, and hit a crow/owl call and then wait a min or so, hop back in the truck and go about 200 yrds and try again... I heard 3 diff trucks do it today.