OT: Opening day was a bust....

[bigbore442001]

I went out for the opening morning of turkey season in Massachusetts. On Sunday night I put one gobbler to bed( that is when you scout at nightfall and make some owl calls to determine the location of a roosted bird)

I had my Thompson Center Black Mountain magnum 12 gauge loaded with 2 oz of no 5 shot and sparked by a CCI musket cap. I made sure my green safety sticker was on it( I know it detracts from the looks but I don't want to pay the fine for not having it.)

I crossed a friend's property where he has a small camp and has seen birds in the area. As the morning went on I heard some gobbles. So I moved approximately 100 yards from the birds. The birds were roosting on another piece of property where the owner doesn't allow hunting. I'll respect his boundaries and stay where I am allowed.

I made some soft purrs and nice yelps on my glass pot caller. I got some responses and then waited. In this game you don't want to overcall.

Then all of a sudden I heard a gunshot about 80 yards or so from me. Then I hear some branches breaking, wing flaps and a dull thud.

Someone went onto the posted land when the owner was away at work( he is a teacher and leaves early) and then shot a roosted bird.

Needless to say, my morning was shot. I did walk around a bit making some calls but to no avail. Sometimes that is the nature of turkey hunting in Massachusetts.

[Pete44ru]

I heard a gunshot about 80 yards or so from me. Then I hear some branches breaking, wing flaps and a dull thud.
Someone went onto the posted land when the owner was away at work( he is a teacher and leaves early) and then shot a roosted bird.
Sometimes that is the nature of turkey hunting in Massachusetts.

Slob hunters & tresspassers upset me no end - they make honest work (scouting & h-u-n-t-i-n-g ARE work IMO ) seem fruitless, but I hope that anyone disappointed won't stoop to their level, and lose their class ("Sportsman").


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[Tycer]

Slob hunters & tresspassers upset me no end - they make honest work (scouting & h-u-n-t-i-n-g ARE work IMO ) seem fruitless, but I hope that anyone disappointed won't stoop to their level, and lose their class ("Sportsman").


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Amen!

[Rusty]

I've never heard of the green safety sticker? What is it and how does it work?

Thanks,

[madman4570]

Don't even know if I am going out in the (am)
There are so many running around here---------one thing for sure-----------not much sport!
Wife had to beep at them last night coming home because there was about 15 in the driveway!
See them everyday walking the pooch on the trails in the woods!

[bigbore442001]

I've never heard of the green safety sticker? What is it and how does it work?

Thanks,

The green safety sticker is a circular sticker that has printed Hunt Safe on it. If you don't have it pasted on your shotgun you may be fined $75. by a Massachusetts EPO.

This came about because of a turkey hunting accident near my home town back in the early 90's .

[1894c]

I've never heard of the green safety sticker? What is it and how does it work?

Thanks,

The green safety sticker is a circular sticker that has printed Hunt Safe on it. If you don't have it pasted on your shotgun you may be fined $75. by a Massachusetts EPO.

This came about because of a turkey hunting accident near my home town back in the early 90's .

stickers always make me feel safer...let's just print a sticker and all of the world problems are solved...sorry...couldn't resist... :)

[Chuck 100 yd]

If they check you and you do have the sticker do you get a gold star to go along with it???

That is just about the stupidest thing I ever heard of. Green sticker my foot!

[Mescalero]

I don't know,
my lead auditor got charged with Christmas decorations one year.
So she comes back and gives me a little xmas tree for my desk, complete with lights.
Then she says " don't plug it in, we are trying to save on electricity ".

[Dave]

That is low down to shoot a turkey off the roost.

[madman4570]

That is low down to shoot a turkey off the roost.

No real hunter would do that-----------------------------------absolute disgrace to hunting in all aspects.
I went out the first day(Wed)and there are setting hens all over heck. Called in three Jakes real close,didn't pull the trigger coming back to house at 10am kicked off 2 setting hens from nests just from a log road.Last time out since.
Had a gobbler struting in yard this am with two deer eating new sprouting plants.

Can hear from distances guns going off-----but thinking here------------these are some safe birds!

[Griff]

That is low down to shoot a turkey off the roost.

No real hunter would do that...

Sez "poacher" to me. Especially stealin' from a posted property. Regardless how I feel about folks that don't allow hunting, (& don't hunt themselves)... stealin' what another man has is poachin'.

[madman4570]

That is low down to shoot a turkey off the roost.

No real hunter would do that...

Sez "poacher" to me. Especially stealin' from a posted property. Regardless how I feel about folks that don't allow hunting, (& don't hunt themselves)... stealin' what another man has is poachin'.

Hear what your saying Griff!
That brings up an interesting topic one of these days we will have to discuss (those who post/do not post???)
It's funny----though I know no one "owns the wild crtiiters"that we are lucky enough to grace us.I have found that hunting your own land----------gives somewhat of a different mind set to say hunting on Public Lands etc.
From much observations I have had(and by no means is this not an absolute/all/even most????)but with many------I seem to equate those that just show up (thinking heck I am just hunting it anyway etc.) being somewhat comparable to those that own say a home and those that rent!
Again---------guys on here that rent---------I am sure you guys ain't in that mix!

But you know what I mean-----your at your place-----a UHAUL truck pulls up----then all he## breaks loose with 6 kids come storming out running through everyone's yards etc. and then you hear this slanged pallet yelling from "daddy" JUNIOR" you get back here/now!

This year with the birds------I normally hunt spring birds hard------but this year other things were pressing more and my thinking-----let em chill. Also------this spring (ticks absolutely unreal)---maybe was just that big oak tree ???? and there was both wood and deer types.
But setting up against that tree (first day) had 6 or 7 that were on me!
Guess when you even look out on the lawn and see deer/turkey etc.-------------------what do you expect????????