Limbhoppers?

[Boll Weevil]

The thread about silent toms and some choosing not to shoot them got me thinking; who'll shoot a limbhopper? I absolutely don't mean shooting a bird off the roost. Rather, a bird you call in but he flies up at the last minute, within gun range, to try and get a look at the "hen." He might even fly from tree to tree in an attempt to get a look. It doesn't happen to me terribly often but it does happen...I absolutely despise limbhopper.

 

[cbhunter]

Never seen it happen but I don't hunt them as hard as others either.

 

[Setterman]

I had a bird many years that ended up below me on a mountain that had worked in from several hundreds out, between me and him was a cliff. At some point he can't take anymore and flies straight up the mountain towards me and lands on a limb at about 20 yards. I killed him with zero remorse

I've never had one fly in off the roost and land on a limb. If answered and came to my call I'd say he'd die.

I have had several times I could've Killed one that I sat down under and will not kill one that way

 

[bvoss55]

The thread about silent toms and some choosing not to shoot them got me thinking; who'll shoot a limbhopper? I absolutely don't mean shooting a bird off the roost. Rather, a bird you call in but he flies up at the last minute, within gun range, to try and get a look at the "hen." He might even fly from tree to tree in an attempt to get a look. It doesn't happen to me terribly often but it does happen...I absolutely despise limbhopper.

I've had this happen. I was surprised as I had never heard of it happening at the time. I let the 12g eat because to me, he had left the roost tree and I had called him into gun range.
I think part of the reason this happened with me is because it was late season, I was set up within 50 yards or so of his tree, and the ground cover was pretty thick.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I have had several times I could've Killed one that I sat down under and will not kill one that way

Same here. I absolutely will not shoot one off the roost. And that would include a turkey switching limbs in his roost tree before flying down. But if he has clearly left the roost, and he comes to me but happens to fly to a limb to (presumably) get a better vantage point, I'm going to treat him exactly like I wood a turkey that circles the high side of a ridge to get a better vantage point.

I've never had it happen with a gobbler, but I've had cranky hens do it.

 

[megalomaniac]

I've yet to kill a limbhopper, but won't hesitate as long as I have a clear shot at his noggin.

I will NEVER roost shoot a tom. Over the years, I've had around a dozen I've set up under in the pitch black and found I was in shotgun range at daybreak. The minute his feet touch the ground, he's fair game, though. Interestingly, I've only managed to kill about a third of the birds I've set up on less than 40 yards away. Just too close, far too easy for them to look you over while they are safely in the tree. I'd much rather be 75 yds away.

 

[Andy S.]

In all of my years in the turkey woods, I have seen some strange things, but a limb hopper as described in this thread is not one of them. Furthermore, I cannot recall any of my turkey hunting buds ever telling a story about calling a turkey in only to have him fly up in a tree at the last minute. I have to wonder why a gobbler would do that, as it seems to be very out of the ordinary.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

In all of my years in the turkey woods, I have seen some strange things, but a limb hopper as described in this thread is not one of them.

Me either, but if I did, I wouldn't hesitate shooting him.

 

[Boll Weevil]

The last bird I had do this was just a couple of years ago in a stand of huge, open bottomland hardwood. Worked him off the limb and saw him coming strutting/gobbling down through the timber. When he flew up I thought maybe a cat or yote might have spooked (had that happen before), but no, he gets up there and starts strutting. He even changed limbs...he'd strut then fold and look, craining his neck looking.

The timber was open, it was early in the season so not leafed out yet, and I guess he thought he should have been able to see the hen by then. When he couldn't see her, up the tree he goes.

 

[Andy S.]

Interesting, and makes more sense with flat ground and no foliage, as compared to hills/hollars with relief. How far out was he when he flew up? How far from you was he when he landed?

 

[Boll Weevil]

He was within gun range on the limb and when he pitched back down he quartered away still looking for a hen. I thought for sure he'd pitch down and come on to me but he didn't.

 

[Andy S.]

Pretty slick bird, could you see those 2" daggers on the limb?

 

[Bone Collector]

I've never had it happen with a gobbler, but I've had cranky hens do it.

Same, happened opening day last year. Never seen a tom do it.

 

[KPH]

If he is on the roost and I am good enough to sneak up on him you can bet your bibby I will shoot him if it is legal shooting hours. I don't think too many are in danger of being shot..

 

[PalsPal]

In all of my years in the turkey woods, I have seen some strange things, but a limb hopper as described in this thread is not one of them. Furthermore, I cannot recall any of my turkey hunting buds ever telling a story about calling a turkey in only to have him fly up in a tree at the last minute. I have to wonder why a gobbler would do that, as it seems to be very out of the ordinary.

I've had it happen twice. The first time he was just out of range.

The second time, I could tell that there were two gobblers together. I had repositioned several times. Finally I could tell that one had committed, and I got ready. It wasn't until then that I realized I was in a bad spot. It was fairly open plus there were numerous saplings. Finding a shooting lane would tough. I finally saw him at about 50 steps. He slowly eased toward me. I had picked out a lane and waited. Of course he stopped before getting to it.

He then flew up into a tree pretty high, but within 40 yds or so. There was another limb between him and me, and he would stretch his neck out over the limb and look my direction, and then stretch under the limb and look. He did this 3-4 times. I decided if he stuck it under the limb again, I was going to shoot. He did and I did.

He dropped like a sack of potatoes. As I approached him, I heard a commotion, and his buddy flew up into the same tree and watched me pick this one up.

It was crazy.

 

[TN Larry]

I had it happen once years ago. He limb hopped from his roost tree and strutted. I never could get a clear shot as it was later in the year with leaves on but was going to if the opportunity presented itself.

I had a hen fly into the same tree off the roost that I was set up on a couple of years ago.

 

[beefydeer]

Just curious, I am not a turkey hunter, but why is shooting one on the roost frowned upon?

 

[timberjack86]

If I called him in I'd shoot him in a heartbeat

 

[woodsman04]

Never have, but I would if I could. As long as I call him up I'll shoot him, I don't care if he came in riding a donkey or a helicopter.

 

[megalomaniac]

Just curious, I am not a turkey hunter, but why is shooting one on the roost frowned upon?

It just isn't fair or sporting...

Same as shooting doves on a wire instead of flight or letting ducks land on the water and shoot them.

Far too easy to walk right to the tree in the dark if you know the exact tree and snipe him off the limb.

 

[KPH]

It just isn't fair or sporting...

Same as shooting doves on a wire instead of flight or letting ducks land on the water and shoot them.

Far too easy to walk right to the tree in the dark if you know the exact tree and snipe him off the limb.

Just why isn't fair or sporting if the duck lands in front of me it is mine. Like I said if he is dumb enough to let me sneak up on him he is mine or if I am good enough to sneak up on him. There is no way I can see it is not fair or sporting. Heck I would even brag about sneaking up on one. As long as it is legal go for it.

 

[th88]

I've had it had a few times. Killed one of them. All three instances I can remember, the gobbler flew in from his roost tree.

The first time, I didn't shoot cause "ethics". I was gonna kill him when he flew down. He flew down and hit the dang ground running! No shot.

Consulted with my old school turkey mentors and they told me a called in bird, not on his original roost, is fair game!

Happened again but the 2nd time he was just a tad too far. He ended up flying over my head and landing about 80 yards away in some palmettos. A few clucks turned him around and he snuck back in.

Third time.. real foggy morning. Bird gobbled a few times on roost and shut up. I eased off and went after another that was gobbling better. He shuts up. Silence for 1.5hrs. Fog starts to lift, original bird starts back gobbling. I ease closer...closer... I cluck a few times and he hammers. Sounds kind of off though? Next thing i know the gobbler comes flapping out of a big pine about 100 yards out and lights in a giant oak about 20 yards from me, 40 foot up. I smiled as I had been waiting on this day since I first passed that one up a decade prior. They make a funny sound falling 40 feet and hitting the ground. Bruised meat up some too. Pretty certain that bird never flew down that morning due to the heavy fog.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Just why isn't fair or sporting if the duck lands in front of me it is mine. Like I said if he is dumb enough to let me sneak up on him he is mine or if I am good enough to sneak up on him. There is no way I can see it is not fair or sporting. Heck I would even brag about sneaking up on one. As long as it is legal go for it.

IMO, roost shooting a gobbler is WAY worse than shooting a duck on the water. Ducks are hunted over decoys spreads. Shooting one with his feet 3 feet off the water versus shooting one after he lands is a somewhat arbitrary distinction. It definitely eliminates the wing shooting aspect, which is part of the sport, but I'm not getting worked up over it if someone does it once in a while.

Roost shooting a gobbler is no better than spotlighting a deer. They are, by instinct, much more vocal on the limb because they are safe from every natural predator except horned owls. To figure out the exact roost location of a gobbling turkey in the near darkness requires only the ability to hear. You can't sneak up to every roosted gobbler. If you wanted to try it in some of the open cypress woods I hunt in early spring, good luck. But in many situations and in many landscapes, all you have to do is walk slow and keep a tree between you and him. Even if he sees you, his instinct is to go quiet and hunker down until the threat passes. When they flush from the roost, it is almost always when you get 30-40 yards from them in the tree. So a roost shooter just takes advantage of those natural instincts to get a cheap, quick picture of a dead gobbler. And that's not even accounting for the fact that you can roost one the night before, walk in in the dark, sit down 15 yards from his tree, point your gun up, and wait til the clock strikes shooting time.

Roost shooting summarily dispenses with every shred of sport and skill and respect for the animal in exchange for a dead turkey with a lot of roughed up feathers.

I took a kid on the juvenile two years ago. We set up in the dark and at daybreak a turkey gobbled above his left shoulder, 2 trees over. He's 9, loves hunting, and BADLY wanted to kill a turkey to show up his older brothers. I wouldn't have let him shoot it, but he didn't try. Later that day — after calling a group of 2 year olds gobbling through a cypress stand — I asked him about the roost turkey. He just said "I didn't want to kill one like that."

For the record, I could not possibly care less whether there is a rule provision specifically prohibiting roost shooting. There are some things you shouldn't have to be told not to do.

 

[KPH]

IMO, roost shooting a gobbler is WAY worse than shooting a duck on the water. Ducks are hunted over decoys spreads. Shooting one with his feet 3 feet off the water versus shooting one after he lands is a somewhat arbitrary distinction. It definitely eliminates the wing shooting aspect, which is part of the sport, but I'm not getting worked up over it if someone does it once in a while.

Roost shooting a gobbler is no better than spotlighting a deer. They are, by instinct, much more vocal on the limb because they are safe from every natural predator except horned owls. To figure out the exact roost location of a gobbling turkey in the near darkness requires only the ability to hear. You can't sneak up to every roosted gobbler. If you wanted to try it in some of the open cypress woods I hunt in early spring, good luck. But in many situations and in many landscapes, all you have to do is walk slow and keep a tree between you and him. Even if he sees you, his instinct is to go quiet and hunker down until the threat passes. When they flush from the roost, it is almost always when you get 30-40 yards from them in the tree. So a roost shooter just takes advantage of those natural instincts to get a cheap, quick picture of a dead gobbler. And that's not even accounting for the fact that you can roost one the night before, walk in in the dark, sit down 15 yards from his tree, point your gun up, and wait til the clock strikes shooting time.

Roost shooting summarily dispenses with every shred of sport and skill and respect for the animal in exchange for a dead turkey with a lot of roughed up feathers.

I took a kid on the juvenile two years ago. We set up in the dark and at daybreak a turkey gobbled above his left shoulder, 2 trees over. He's 9, loves hunting, and BADLY wanted to kill a turkey to show up his older brothers. I wouldn't have let him shoot it, but he didn't try. Later that day — after calling a group of 2 year olds gobbling through a cypress stand — I asked him about the roost turkey. He just said "I didn't want to kill one like that."

For the record, I could not possibly care less whether there is a rule provision specifically prohibiting roost shooting. There are some things you shouldn't have to be told not to do.

I am so glad you are good enough to sneak up on a turkey on the roost in the morning light. You have your opinion and I have mine. Tell you what I won"t tell you how to hunt and I will hunt my way as long as it is legal .

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I am so glad you are good enough to sneak up on a turkey on the roost in the morning light. You have your opinion and I have mine. Tell you what I won"t tell you how to hunt and I will hunt my way as long as it is legal .

You asked a question. I gave you an answer.

If they change the deer regs to allow spotlighting, I can't stop you from rigging up a KC lightbar and killing a booner. But don't convince yourself that it's sporting just because it's legal. And don't confuse it with deer hunting.

 

[Gravey]

If he comes in to my calling I don't care how if he walks in or flies I'm killing him. Shooting one off the roost that you sat under in the dark is a whole different thing and would not shoot it.

 

[KPH]

You asked a question. I gave you an answer.

If they change the deer regs to allow spotlighting, I can't stop you from rigging up a KC lightbar and killing a booner. But don't convince yourself that it's sporting just because it's legal. And don't confuse it with deer hunting.

I know I am nor perfect like some think they are. I am not to sure how spotlighting deer got into this I don't think I brought it up, some times a guilty dog barks first. I won't look down my noise at the way some one else hunts if it is legal, but if it makes you think you are better than someone else and makes you happy go ahead.

 

[fairchaser]

Closely related to this topic is the idea of shooting a flying turkey. I've had a couple of chances but never have and haven't decided the ethical aspect. I've had them fly straight toward me off the roost after calling and also accidentally flushed them from a tree. I wasn't sure I could hit one but listening to Alvin York describe shooting a flying flock got me thinking about how cool it could be.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Closely related to this topic is the idea of shooting a flying turkey. I've had a couple of chances but never have and haven't decided the ethical aspect. I've had them fly straight toward me off the roost after calling and also accidentally flushed them from a tree. I wasn't sure I could hit one but listening to Alvin York describe shooting a flying flock got me thinking about how cool it could be.

I would do it in the right situation. Don't know exactly what that situation may be, but I'm not really opposed to shooting one just because he's flying for some reason. I wouldn't shoot one flying up to roost. But I've seen them pitch from ridge to ridge at LBL. If I was working a bird and he pitched my way and was sailing over me, I'd shoot him on the wing.

Tom Kelly seems to have killed a lot of them flying in one situation or another. A lot of that was the style of fall hunting he did, but there are a few stories involving flying turkeys in the spring too.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Closely related to this topic is the idea of shooting a flying turkey.

If I recall correctly, Archibald Rutledge thought it an abomination to call in and kill a lovesick and vulnerable spring gobbler...akin to shooting fish in a barrel he wrote. Some other old timer (I disremember his name) felt it perfectly unsporting to kill a gobbler unless he was flushed and "took wing."