Turkey hunting: Lets raise a little Heck

[greatwhite]

By the same token as I said then maybe we need a Deer and Bear Course. I have heard many times of people being shot during deer hunting and bear in Canada but rarely Turkey.

IMO, you have been called out because of this thread (for example):
https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...y-Course/page5

Despite the fact that many of us gave you some valid reasons with very detailed examples you kept coming back with some very unintelligent replies (i.e. Rabbit course and such....). I couldn't believe it....

We don't have to all agree but when someone as a valid point it's not a bad thing to take it, zip it and move on.

No hard feeling at all, life goes on to the next thread. Lots of good guys around here.

[singlemalt]

I am an infrequent visitor to this forum. As a die hard Ontario hunter and fisherman for 50+ years I would really like to feel comfortable here but I don't. To me an internet forum should be like a friendly pub where you can drop by and enjoy a pint and a friendly conversation with like minded individuals. Unfortunately way too often this feels more like a hostile roadhouse where others are just looking for an excuse to punch your lights out. I tend to avoid those places in real life and on the internet.

[MikePal]

To me an internet forum should be like a friendly pub where you can drop by and enjoy a pint and a friendly conversation with like minded individuals.

That's very true and for the most part this forum was like that years ago. I used to equate it what we used to do before the internet; sit at the regular's table at Tim's in the morning and have coffee with a bunch of the local lads; Chat, tell stories, discuss the events of the day, have a few laughs and most of all respect each others opinions. I always liked a social 'Face to Face' conversation, one can see the 'wink' or 'smile' to let you know the comments are made in good fun.

That nuance is lost nowadays with social media, with a keyboard to hide behind and not being held accountable to what they say has, like you said, made it a hostile environment.

[greatwhite]

In Ottawa there are a bunch of us that actually get together and have breakfast together. We don't all agree on the same things but we have a civil discussions.

I am an infrequent visitor to this forum. As a die hard Ontario hunter and fisherman for 50+ years I would really like to feel comfortable here but I don't. To me an internet forum should be like a friendly pub where you can drop by and enjoy a pint and a friendly conversation with like minded individuals. Unfortunately way too often this feels more like a hostile roadhouse where others are just looking for an excuse to punch your lights out. I tend to avoid those places in real life and on the internet.

[seabast]

By the same token as I said then maybe we need a Deer and Bear Course. I have heard many times of people being shot during deer hunting and bear in Canada but rarely Turkey.

GW,

The only reason a turkey course was/is necessary its because it's a fairly new game that neither our parents or grand parents have hunted so no one could teach them and us the way we have been taught deer or rabbit hunting. On top of that the safety requirements are somewhat higher if you don't use your brain (and who does?). Turkey are a 20lbs birds that are tougher to kill with a shot gun (#4, 5 or 6 only, that's not really big) so I think it makes sense to have we need some kind of special course.

If now it's taught in the regular hunting course, great its not necessary but a bunch of older new turkey hunters will have no clue of what not to do.

I found the course pretty entertaining too....

[greatwhite]

Turkey hunting is now 30 years old.

My other point was there will be more people shot hunting Big Game next year then will be shot hunting Turkey in the next 5 years. What it comes down to is being a safe hunter.

In the past I have seen unsafe Waterfowl hunters, Deer hunters and even small game. I have been accidentally shot at by a deer hunter before and small game hunters who didn't see me, yes I even wear hunters orange when hunting small game.

You always need to know your target and what is beyond your target. I have even heard of people using their scopes instead of binoculars to look for deer. What we really need is maybe emphasize safety even more for all types of hunting and the key is knowing your surroundings.

Next year I will probably go Turkey with my son and assuming I have a new Job as currently I get home to late and right now I am working 7 days a week. There are quite a few Turkey around my area in fact right behind my house (The one place I do not have permission to hunt LOL the Turkeys probably know that to)

GW,

The only reason a turkey course was/is necessary its because it's a fairly new game that neither our parents or grand parents have hunted so no one could teach them and us the way we have been taught deer or rabbit hunting. On top of that the safety requirements are somewhat higher if you don't use your brain (and who does?). Turkey are a 20lbs birds that are tougher to kill with a shot gun (#4, 5 or 6 only, that's not really big) so I think it makes sense to have we need some kind of special course.

If now it's taught in the regular hunting course, great its not necessary but a bunch of older new turkey hunters will have no clue of what not to do.

I found the course pretty entertaining too....

[Sprite]

(#4, 5 or 6 only, that's not really big)

And #7s...

[Bluebulldog]

In Ottawa there are a bunch of us that actually get together and have breakfast together. We don't all agree on the same things but we have a civil discussions.

One of the reasons I'm looking forward to the move! Two weeks from today guys.

[Bluebulldog]

I am an infrequent visitor to this forum. As a die hard Ontario hunter and fisherman for 50+ years I would really like to feel comfortable here but I don't. To me an internet forum should be like a friendly pub where you can drop by and enjoy a pint and a friendly conversation with like minded individuals. Unfortunately way too often this feels more like a hostile roadhouse where others are just looking for an excuse to punch your lights out. I tend to avoid those places in real life and on the internet.

This place still is. There will always be trolls, and a-holes everywhere. The key is to be forthright, open, genuine, and don't engage those who seem to think it's their place to ruin your day.

Even when I disagree on here, I am always polite. It pays.

[anfield21]

Welcome to the internet! The land of ruled by anonymous trolls....No matter the level of education or common sense, mistakes can always happen whether it is big or small game. I was "shot" by my uncle when I was 16 years old while turkey hunting. We had watched the birds roost the night before so we had a pretty good idea where they would come out the next morning. We setup in a large field in opposite corners hoping to be able to cover as much of the field as possible while not putting ourselves in danger. My uncle said he wouldn't shoot a certain direction and I agreed to do the same. He was probably 150-200 meters away but the field rose in the middle so as it turns out your aiming fairly high if the turkeys are a certain distance away ..Turkeys came out in the exact spot where he said he would not shoot, and guess what he did...I was far enough away that the shot essentially bounced off my jacket but the point is, he made a terrible mistake which could have been a lot worse. We had recently taken the turkey hunting course, but sometimes you just can't account for stupid...