Tough call...

[RUGER]

That sucks man.
I hunted one bird for several hunts in a row one year and on our last hunt I made the last ditch effort and threw the dice.
My son and I got to within 50 yards of him on the roost and set up.
Just before legal shooting time a tresspasser popped him off the limb and ran like a bat out of hades to the property line.

I tried to catch him but he had too big a head start. :livid:

 

[AR1527]

I promise all of us Arkansas aren't like that but sadly 90% that turkey hunt are. It's gotten super tough around here because we just don't have any turkeys. I bet in my county there is 3 hunters for ever gobbler and I live in one of the best in the state. Absolutely not trying to make excuses for what happened but just saying that's why y'all have to deal with so many of us on yalls public ground. It's even worse around here, the game warden told me they know of two so far that have been shot off the road with a rifle and we still have a week until season starts.
Like i said, not making excuses but I hope you realize we're not all like that. I know how aggravating it is to be covered up with out of staters and I've pretty much quit duck hunting because of how crazy it gets on our public ground.
Just trying to lessen the heat on us Arkansas a little so I don't have slashed tires when I go over there next year lol. I know there's plenty of bad apples in the bunch but not all of us are.

Catman- Keep up the great work on YouTube! Really enjoy your videos.

 

[catman529]

I promise all of us Arkansas aren't like that but sadly 90% that turkey hunt are. It's gotten super tough around here because we just don't have any turkeys. I bet in my county there is 3 hunters for ever gobbler and I live in one of the best in the state. Absolutely not trying to make excuses for what happened but just saying that's why y'all have to deal with so many of us on yalls public ground. I would almost bet that the people that shot that turkey are from my hometown. I know a group of them went over there and where they were going was right at a 5 hour drive, I may ask one of them about it when they get back because I hate when turkeys get killed like that. It's even worse around here, the game warden told me they know of two so far that have been shot off the road with a rifle and we still have a week until season starts.
Like i said, not making excuses but I hope you realize we're not all like that. I know how aggravating it is to be covered up with out of staters and I've pretty much quit duck hunting because of how crazy it gets on our public ground.
Just trying to lessen the heat on us Arkansas a little so I don't have slashed tires when I go over there next year lol. I know there's plenty of bad apples in the bunch but not all of us are.

Catman- Keep up the great work on YouTube! Really enjoy your videos.

thanks, and no I don't assume all AR guys are like that, but can tell a bunch of em are. It's the same way with east TN hunters heading west to kill some deer for the freezer, but they aren't as bad. Actually ran across a guy from ETN yesterday who was cool as heck and we probably talked for an hour. My first longbeard 5 years ago was in a field where a guy from AR set up a blind and decoys and we both killed one, he seemed alright too. Just gotta expect the Jack legs when hunting a well known WMA.


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[Andy S.]

Just gotta expect the Jack legs when hunting a well known WMA.

ESPECIALLY on opening weekend. Most public land is best used middle of week, and mid to late season if you want to get away from all the BS.

 

[Spurhunter]

Seems like I read a post here a few seasons ago about a guy shooting one off the roost. Can't remember who it was. Guy said it was ok because it was legal.

 

[catman529]

Seems like I read a post here a few seasons ago about a guy shooting one off the roost. Can't remember who it was. Guy said it was ok because it was legal.

And can you believe he still ain't sorry he did it. At least he didn't drive 5 hours to walk past someone's truck to kill a bird that would have pitched right down to him. Rumor has it he's never done it again, and wouldn't be against it being outlawed...


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[Bone Collector]

If you could see him and also saw them approaching there's no way I would have let them get close enough to shoot him. I would have scared that bird into the next county.

the thought crossed my mind


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This is what I would have done. That is scary first off, they could have accidentally shot you. Plus if you scared, so what. He'd be back and I know you, you'd find him in a week or so and get back on him.

I hate that happened. It has happened to me too on public. That is why I stay on private until after the first two weekends.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

I didn't realize you can shoot them on the roost legally. Sorry this happened to you Catman. Public land can be challenging for sure.

 

[Andy S.]

I didn't realize you can shoot them on the roost legally.

Some states you can if it's after legal hunting time, but it is illegal in MANY states (GA, NM, KY, OH, etc).

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

That sucks Cat, hate it for you man. But that's part of public land hunting, and I swear, there seems to be more turkey hunters from Arkansas than you can shake a stick at. I see them in west TN, and you flat can't get away from them in Missouri.

Opening day at Natchez Trace I headed toward my primary spot. Got pulled up and two guys from Arkansas were parked about where I was going to. I pulled up and asked them the area they were headed and he pointed in the direction I had previously seen turkeys and said "about a quarter mile that way that's where we heard them". Well good thing I had a plan B and Plan C. I wished em luck and drove to Plan B and got on a hot bird that worked up into 11 am. However, the area was a very active ATV spot. twice my setup was botched by riders. I backed out about 3 and went to Plan C and got on a bird late and found my first Morel mushrooms which were tastey. My brother said he spoke with the guys from Arkansas. He said they claimed they had a guy shoot from the road and ruin their hunt. I did hear 2 shots up their way. Moral to my story is Arkansas hunters are everywhere lol

 

[Setterman]

In just the past few days I've had more googan run ins then any man should have in an entire lifetime

I'm at my wits end with every one.

There's no excuse for what happened to you catman and this sort of behavior is why I have such strong opinions on certain aspects of the sport. For so many it's not about the hunt and more so only about the kil.

 

[catman529]

In just the past few days I've had more googan run ins then any man should have in an entire lifetime

I'm at my wits end with every one.

There's no excuse for what happened to you catman and this sort of behavior is why I have such strong opinions on certain aspects of the sport. For so many it's not about the hunt and more so only about the kil.

I tell you what I'm about the kill right now. Been running around these field birds since sunrise. Someone else snuck on em this morning and missed, scattered the flock. One of the toms flew 10 feet overhead, my buddy who owns adjacent property was with me and he tried to wing shoot it and his shotgun stock broke. Since then I've seen a tom or two in the field and have gone back and forth all day trying to set up. Of course calling has not worked. Just bumped one at 40 yards. Know where he went into woods. Dang if I can't kill one today I hope to roost one. If I do catch up to one today it will be the hardest earned bird in a while. Sorry for the rant, at least the googans haven't been too bad here this year.


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[REN]

Shooting one off the limb is about as low as it gets in my book. Sorry if that offends some but TO ME it's total disrespect to the animal and as unethical and non hunting as you can find

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[FLTENNHUNTER1]

I didn't realize you can shoot them on the roost legally.

Some states you can if it's after legal hunting time, but it is illegal in MANY states (GA, NM, KY, OH, etc).

FL also...

 

[Setterman]

In just the past few days I've had more googan run ins then any man should have in an entire lifetime

I'm at my wits end with every one.

There's no excuse for what happened to you catman and this sort of behavior is why I have such strong opinions on certain aspects of the sport. For so many it's not about the hunt and more so only about the kil.

I tell you what I'm about the kill right now. Been running around these field birds since sunrise. Someone else snuck on em this morning and missed, scattered the flock. One of the toms flew 10 feet overhead, my buddy who owns adjacent property was with me and he tried to wing shoot it and his shotgun stock broke. Since then I've seen a tom or two in the field and have gone back and forth all day trying to set up. Of course calling has not worked. Just bumped one at 40 yards. Know where he went into woods. Dang if I can't kill one today I hope to roost one. If I do catch up to one today it will be the hardest earned bird in a while. Sorry for the rant, at least the googans haven't been too bad here this year.


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I hear ya, sometimes one just needs to die. Keep your chin up, it'll turn around and sooner rather then later

 

[catman529]

In just the past few days I've had more googan run ins then any man should have in an entire lifetime

I'm at my wits end with every one.

There's no excuse for what happened to you catman and this sort of behavior is why I have such strong opinions on certain aspects of the sport. For so many it's not about the hunt and more so only about the kil.

I tell you what I'm about the kill right now. Been running around these field birds since sunrise. Someone else snuck on em this morning and missed, scattered the flock. One of the toms flew 10 feet overhead, my buddy who owns adjacent property was with me and he tried to wing shoot it and his shotgun stock broke. Since then I've seen a tom or two in the field and have gone back and forth all day trying to set up. Of course calling has not worked. Just bumped one at 40 yards. Know where he went into woods. Dang if I can't kill one today I hope to roost one. If I do catch up to one today it will be the hardest earned bird in a while. Sorry for the rant, at least the googans haven't been too bad here this year.


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I hear ya, sometimes one just needs to die. Keep your chin up, it'll turn around and sooner rather then later

I ended up bumping 2 toms in the thicket, they were hunkered down like quail until I walked by at 10 yards they popped up and ran off. I guess this wind doesn't help, it's been blowing over 20mph this afternoon.

Forecast looks crappy tomorrow but I might have to bite the bullet and take my blind out to that field to sit out the rain. I'll set it up in the edge of the woods where I can sneak out the back and move on the birds if I need to. We will see how I feel about that when the alarm goes off tomorrow...


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