Reaping?

[Andy S.]

I think Alabama outlawed this didn't they? I'd be all in favor of all states outlawing it. But as long as it's legal and someone wants to do it then go for it. I don't think any more or less of a person doing it.

Alabama prohibited methods of hunting:

"Use or possess a decoy while turkey hunting which has mechanical and/or electronic parts that have the capabilities of movement or producing sound or which can be manipulated to do so, including any that are handheld or attached to weapons such as fanning or reaping. In addition, turkey decoys shall only be lawful during spring turkey season."

 

[swd]

I am new to turkey hunting. Last year was my first season. I did not kill a turkey or have any great interactions with birds. We hunted in the "traditional" way by trying to locate birds at or before sunrise, set up near them, and call them in, mostly without the benefit of decoys. It was still a lot of fun, and I look forward to this spring.

I fully understand the risk of reaping, especially on public land, and I believe it is a terrible idea.

That said, I do find the attitude of many turkey hunters to suck. You have your idea of what turkey hunting is and want to crap all over anyone that decides to do it differently.

Hunters need to stick up for one another, pursue poachers, and unite. There are too many out there that enjoy and use the division to reduce our ability to pursue these and other animals.

Any sense of ethics you may have about method and means are assuredly not shared by the animals you pursue, so get over yourself and the idea that your way is the "right" way.

 

[Hunt 365]

Not trying to start a war but I'm at my wit's end. Got a real good friend that's hooked on the tactic. He planning on trying it on public land. What would you guys say to him other than he's going to get himself killed? I have already tried that. He's a new turkey Hunter that loves watching reaping videos.

Good way to die on public land. I've done it several times on private. Wouldn't do it for $1 million on public

 

[scn]

I am new to turkey hunting. Last year was my first season. I did not kill a turkey or have any great interactions with birds. We hunted in the "traditional" way by trying to locate birds at or before sunrise, set up near them, and call them in, mostly without the benefit of decoys. It was still a lot of fun, and I look forward to this spring.

I fully understand the risk of reaping, especially on public land, and I believe it is a terrible idea.

That said, I do find the attitude of many turkey hunters to suck. You have your idea of what turkey hunting is and want to crap all over anyone that decides to do it differently.

Hunters need to stick up for one another, pursue poachers, and unite. There are too many out there that enjoy and use the division to reduce our ability to pursue these and other animals.

Any sense of ethics you may have about method and means are assuredly not shared by the animals you pursue, so get over yourself and the idea that your way is the "right" way.

Or, as a real turkey hunter, you can continue to stand up for ethical hunting practices, and call bs on crap like this. I put people that stick up for this foolishness in the same category as the ones that use yeller acorns. It might be a great way to kill a bird, but, it isn't turkey hunting.

I can assure you that real turkey hunters don't care if the wannabes think we suck because we care about the ethics of the sport.

 

[cowhunter71]

Or, as a real turkey hunter, you can continue to stand up for ethical hunting practices, and call bs on crap like this. I put people that stick up for this foolishness in the same category as the ones that use yeller acorns. It might be a great way to kill a bird, but, it isn't turkey hunting.

I can assure you that real turkey hunters don't care if the wannabes think we suck because we care about the ethics of the sport.

 

[Setterman]

I am new to turkey hunting. Last year was my first season. I did not kill a turkey or have any great interactions with birds. We hunted in the "traditional" way by trying to locate birds at or before sunrise, set up near them, and call them in, mostly without the benefit of decoys. It was still a lot of fun, and I look forward to this spring.

I fully understand the risk of reaping, especially on public land, and I believe it is a terrible idea.

That said, I do find the attitude of many turkey hunters to suck. You have your idea of what turkey hunting is and want to crap all over anyone that decides to do it differently.

Hunters need to stick up for one another, pursue poachers, and unite. There are too many out there that enjoy and use the division to reduce our ability to pursue these and other animals.

Any sense of ethics you may have about method and means are assuredly not shared by the animals you pursue, so get over yourself and the idea that your way is the "right" way.

As a by the book old school turkey hunter, I assure you I could care less if you think I suck or my attitude towards the new generation of kill at all cost hunters is that they are pathetic.

for some of us we started hunting when working a bird on any given morning was a successful hunt.

for some of us the kill is somewhat anticlimactic and the game is far more important.

for some of us this sport is entirely about a gun, call, and shotgun with only a tree or bush to hide us as we call a bird to us.

I've been doing this a long time, and absolutely speak my mind at how disgusting the direction of the sport has turned in The last ten years of so. Gone are the new hunters who desire to learn turkey behavior, how to set up, how to call, when to move, when not to move etc.

Now hunters want to fill tags as fast as possible and with as little challenge as possible.

it started with plastic turkeys, then hiding in a tent with a plastic turkey, now crawling behind fans and shooting loads that kill at 80 yards is cool.

I think this new stuff is trash, and diluting a once fantastic sport.

the only thing that sucks is what is happening to turkey hunting.

Reaping is a dangerous and pitiful tactic. Hunters who use this tactic will get zero respect from me

 

[Displaced_Vol]

In Missouri the spring turkey booklet lists out and give a short synopsis of the accidents form the previous year. There were always 1-2 accidents each year from 2 people hunting together and separating to chase a turkey and one ends up shooting the other. It was really eye opening that there were that many each year and it would say if it was a fatality or just an injury. Always made me think about it when I read the booklet. I have attached the one from the 2021, 2019, and 2018 Booklets.

Wow I've never seen anything like that in KY's or TN's books.

 

[Gravey]

I tried it one time and won't lie it was an adrenaline rush but agree there's no woodsmanship in it and not my cup of tea. From a safety standpoint I wish they'd outlaw it. Would be interesting to know how many birds would've lived if not for being killed in this manner. I'm guessing a bunch.

 

[PalsPal]

That said, I do find the attitude of many turkey hunters to suck. You have your idea of what turkey hunting is and want to crap all over anyone that decides to do it differently.

You've caught on pretty quickly.

It's VERY similar to politics and religion. As with those instances, just ignore and move on. You don't get dragged down and it drives them crazy when you ignore them.

And for the record, reaping doesn't appeal to me.

 

[rem270]

People keep bringing up "old school" style hunting but if you're not making your own broad heads, making a bow out of a stick, or using a spear then you're really not an "old school" hunter. I'm sure the Indians would bash y'all's style the way you bash these "new style" hunters ruining the sport.

And no I'm not a fan of reaping.

 

[CATCHDAWG]

People keep bringing up "old school" style hunting but if you're not making your own broad heads, making a bow out of a stick, or using a spear then you're really not an "old school" hunter. I'm sure the Indians would bash y'all's style the way you bash these "new style" hunters ruining the sport.

And no I'm not a fan of reaping.

Getting off topic here but I've got a buddy who is considering giving up bow hunting due to shoulder problems. I told him maybe he should get a crossbow? He said he wouldn't ever do that because it's not "bow hunting". I just rolled my eyes as he notched a arrow on his high end tricked out Mathews.
And for the record, I had to google what reaping is! Lol

 

[scn]

There is a little difference between subsistence hunting by our Native Americans and hunting as a sport.

As a sport, the kill doesn't have to be the ultimate high point. The hunt can actually be more important than the kill. That seems to be lost on a lot of younger hunters who only care about their grip and grin for Faceplant.

As an old codger, ethics, especially the work ethic, seemingly have been largely discarded by our youngsters who have adopted the entitled attitude of have it now with the least amount of work.

And, yes, there are certainly exceptions to that blanket indictment. I can think of several. But, on the whole, I'll stand by it. And, I see if leaching over into our hunting heritage every day.

He66, who knows, maybe they are right.

 

[woodsman04]

I nearly have more respect for a poacher that shoots them under a feeder than reapers and decoy blind sitters.

That isn't turkey hunting.

 

[Setterman]

People keep bringing up "old school" style hunting but if you're not making your own broad heads, making a bow out of a stick, or using a spear then you're really not an "old school" hunter. I'm sure the Indians would bash y'all's style the way you bash these "new style" hunters ruining the sport.

And no I'm not a fan of reaping.

This one of the dumbest counter arguments that people constantly use For one simple reason. Hunting for survival is entirely different than hunting for sport.

 

[Korben]

I nearly have more respect for a poacher that shoots them under a feeder than reapers and decoy blind sitters.

That isn't turkey hunting.

What about decoy's and no blind. Just starting chasing turkeys. I haven't used a decoy but was considering it. Would not reap just from a safety standpoint.

 

[deerfever]

I don't think anyone has ever said "old school " had any thing to do with choice of weapon or hunting with a shotgun and trying to get the best pattern for an ethical kill. It's more about a style of hunting and a mindset that doesn't involve crawling behind the replica of the turkey you are trying to kill. To me this is not a hunting method but just sheer and blatant asking to be shot. I am not going to bash anyone but don't ask me to join hands and embrace the method . Again go back and read my post in the past. I will avoid you on public land like the black plague. I am the guy that you want hunting the day you take off work to enjoy yourself. I am not the guy that is going to pull in on you and take off running out the trail ahead of you and you certainly want find me crawling through a field with a Gobbler in front of my face. I have been taught better and will teach my son ethics and respect for others and the animal he is hunting. I promise you I have made it known to members of the commission how I feel about it and the method should be illegal. Now as long as it's legal if you want to do it , have at it but don't expect me to agree with it . Again I hope no one gets hurt but it's just a matter of time. The OP ask how to convince his friend not to do it on public land we gave our opinion, I hope he shows him what we have said. I hope it convinces his friend not to take part in it. In the end it might keep a new hunter from getting shot!

 

[harley 2008]

I agree with Setterman, Turkey hunting is about calling and working birds to the gun. Winning sometimes and other times getting beat. Thats what keeps me coming back. I dont believe its about crawing to a bird, fan in hand and shooting it. I dont believe in sitting in a blind and waiting for one to walk by and then shooting it. I like to run and gun. I like putting the miles in and finding a hot bird and working him to the gun. To me the new hunters are different now days. I guess i am just an old run and gun turkey hunter. Those that know me know i kill my share of birds year in and year out. I hunt public land 99 percent of the time. I love hunting pressured birds. Times change and hunters change. Myself i will continue to hunt run and gun call and work birds like always. To those that hunt other ways thats your choice. But i believe that your missing out on the best , When you work them, call them, set up on them and then kill them..

 

[OffHand85]

Chickasaw State Forrest 2008, I shot a big six point in this holler near a swamp, by my self had to drag him up a big hill, I had three ropes tied to it, inching this big bodied deer up using saplings tying off and pulling tying off and pulling, heard two "zings" then the shots back to back, I look down the hill and see blaze orange.
This younger guy had shot my deer twice while I was pulling it out. It took everything I had to keep calm ,being a 23 yo myself I wasn't only frightened and realizing I was just almost shot twice with a semi auto browning 308! The guy was crying, screaming for his dad so upset he did that. After calming him down he helped me drag it out and we found his dad.
I was wearing my orange and still had my dead deer shot twice dragging it up. Fanning is stupid, I can't believe some hunters even consider it.

 

[OffHand85]

There is a little difference between subsistence hunting by our Native Americans and hunting as a sport.

As a sport, the kill doesn't have to be the ultimate high point. The hunt can actually be more important than the kill. That seems to be lost on a lot of younger hunters who only care about their grip and grin for Faceplant.

As an old codger, ethics, especially the work ethic, seemingly have been largely discarded by our youngsters who have adopted the entitled attitude of have it now with the least amount of work.

And, yes, there are certainly exceptions to that blanket indictment. I can think of several. But, on the whole, I'll stand by it. And, I see if leaching over into our hunting heritage every day.

He66, who knows, maybe they are right.

I have never killed a gobbler, had the chance to shoot one off the limb I had spooked , I waited for hours trying to get this bird on the ground, only 45 yards from this old oak he was hiding in. The last day in this particular wma I still couldn't shoot it off the limb, I learned so much that day about turkey hunting I'm glad I let him stay in that tree that day. Just didn't seem sportsman like even looking at him through my red dot. I'll get him this year, he is still there, hope to make him my first long beard harvested!

 

[prstide]

I am new to turkey hunting. Last year was my first season. I did not kill a turkey or have any great interactions with birds. We hunted in the "traditional" way by trying to locate birds at or before sunrise, set up near them, and call them in, mostly without the benefit of decoys. It was still a lot of fun, and I look forward to this spring.

I fully understand the risk of reaping, especially on public land, and I believe it is a terrible idea.

That said, I do find the attitude of many turkey hunters to suck. You have your idea of what turkey hunting is and want to crap all over anyone that decides to do it differently.

Hunters need to stick up for one another, pursue poachers, and unite. There are too many out there that enjoy and use the division to reduce our ability to pursue these and other animals.

Any sense of ethics you may have about method and means are assuredly not shared by the animals you pursue, so get over yourself and the idea that your way is the "right" way.

For the record, I have killed one turkey by fanning and it was not challenging nor memorable after having hunted by traditional methods for the last 18 years.
With that said if you respect the resource and would like to continue to have a huntable turkey population in this state it would be in your best interest to continue hunting in the traditional methods which you learned last year because it's the only ethical way to hunt turkeys.
If one wants to "kill" turkeys or "tag out" so pictures can be posted on social media and somehow feel accomplished to a small group of like minded folks, by all means feel free to strap your full fan decoy to an rc car or a tail fan to your gun and have at it. Just don't think you're somehow due respect from the majority of folks passionate about the wild turkey and the ethical methods by which the species has been successfully hunted for 100's of years.
Reaping is a cheat to win mentality and NOBODY LIKES CHEATERS whether it be in school, at work, or in the woods. Good luck this spring.