New outdoors card. (No T on the front of the card)

[Noseyarentcha]

I think GW was attempting to ask how turkey hunting is so much different from other forms of hunting ie ducks, geese, pheasant, grouse, deer etc.
You have that knowledge Rick.
I am confused as well and have never hunted any kind of bird or shot a gun. If someone would take a moment to give a bit of an explanation, it would be helpful to a lot of us.

[kickingfrog]

For what it's worth I don't think duck id is covered by the course now either.

[Gun Nut]

I think GW was attempting to ask how turkey hunting is so much different from other forms of hunting ie ducks, geese, pheasant, grouse, deer etc.
You have that knowledge Rick.
I am confused as well and have never hunted any kind of bird or shot a gun. If someone would take a moment to give a bit of an explanation, it would be helpful to a lot of us.

For you Noseyaentcha, the one major point of turkey hunting is you don't attempt to stalk turkeys. You attempt to draw them in close enough to take a kill shot at their head. It's important that you are well camouflage and do not move. You use decoys and calls to bring the turkey in close. There is an inherent danger to doing this if you have other hunters stalking the bush and responding to your turkey call.
The other point I was attempting to make, is if you have a hunter shooting at a turkey he may have flushed, the light bird shot that he's required to use, maybe slowed by the birds heavy feathering, and not achieve a kill shot. Leaving the bird damaged but alive enough to flee the scene and later fall prey to other predators. If properly hunted this possibility is pretty much eliminated.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

[trimmer21]

IMHO,Turkey hunting is the most dangerous type of hunting we do simply because hunters are sitting in the bush in full camo completely invisible behind very real looking decoys making noises like birds other hunters are looking to shoot at. That could be problematic for neophyte hunters who are into what we call "run and gun" or "spot and stalk". I'm not sure if this is a good thing to open Turkey hunting up in this manner or not.

[Noseyarentcha]

Thank you GunNut and Trimmer. I have a better understanding now Definitely information that every turkey hunter should know!

[rick_iles]

I might also add, you never wear anything that's red, blue or white. Even a red emblem on your coat or hat can get you shot.
The reason is, when a breeding Tom gets all fired up, its head can be anything from bright red with a white top, bright blue and red or red and blue. Guys have been shot in other jurisdictions because of this. If an untrained hunter is sneaking up on you, thinking you are a turkey (especially when using a gobble call), a flash of red, white or blue can be taken as a gobblers head, and bang.....a shot hunter !!
We all know you are supposed to identify your target before taking a shot but......like Trimmer, I question the decision to open the hunt up. My opinion is....it's all about the money !!
And a follow up to GunNuts post, I have shot several gobblers that have old shot in their breast or legs, from guys shooting them while out of effective range,

[greatwhite]

Not much different than Deer hunting, when in some places there are numerous hunters.

I might also add, you never wear anything that's red, blue or white. Even a red emblem on your coat or hat can get you shot.
The reason is, when a breeding Tom gets all fired up, its head can be anything from bright red with a white top, bright blue and red or red and blue. Guys have been shot in other jurisdictions because of this. If an untrained hunter is sneaking up on you, thinking you are a turkey (especially when using a gobble call), a flash of red, white or blue can be taken as a gobblers head, and bang.....a shot hunter !!
We all know you are supposed to identify your target before taking a shot but......like Trimmer, I question the decision to open the hunt up. My opinion is....it's all about the money !!
And a follow up to GunNuts post, I have shot several gobblers that have old shot in their breast or legs, from guys shooting them while out of effective range,

[rick_iles]

Not much different than Deer hunting, when in some places there are numerous hunters.

Not many deer hunters shoot at something white, blue or a flash of red....unless of course Rudolph is on the menu.

[greatwhite]

When Turkey hunting I would suspect you need to be aware of your surroundings watching for other hunters just the same. A safe hunter doesn't just toss out the safety book because he is turkey hunting.

Not many deer hunters shoot at something white, blue or a flash of red....unless of course Rudolph is on the menu.

[Noseyarentcha]

Thank you very much Rick. Your knowledge and experience is always appreciated.