no stalking turkeys in pa?

[callwinner11]

:agreed:I like the law to , People that think that's a stupid law I really don't think we need them hunting here anyways. We have enough people that don't have common sense

[TrackeySauresRex]

:agreed:I like the law to , People that think that's a stupid law I really don't think we need them hunting here anyways. We have enough people that don't have common sense

I'm sorry fellas, This is JMHO. It's a great law! Theres a lot of jack a... out there (trespassers as well). Has anyone had someone creep in on your setup? I have,and it's outright frightening.
You know what they say about comon sense? It aint too common....

EveryOne,
Please B-Safe

[30_06]

You can't make laws to regulate common sense. Common sense would tell you that they don't work.

[Hooksfan]

I do believe those folks voted for Obama.  That should be explanation enough.

Not real fond of this quote.

The only Obamanites here in Pa live in Filthadelphia & Libsburgh!  It is a large Commonwealth with more against him than for him.

Now on the subject of stalking...you are permitted to move anytime anywhere on a spring gobbler with NO orange..those old orange rules are gone. You are NOT permitted to stalk, sneak or what ever you want to call it upon a turkey OR sounds of a turkey..(hunter). This is for safety reasons. (I didn't write it I just obey it).

In the spring you are also NOT permitted to be lawfully hunting for a gobbler or bearded hen without some type of call on your possession.  You are NOT permitted to hunt in the spring with any type of centerfire OR rimfire firearm.   

In the fall, you need to wear 250 square inches of orange (head,chest & back), walking to or moving through the woods.  You can remove your orange on your set-up BUT you need to have 100 square inches visible at least 10 or 15 feet(can't remember now) from your set-up.  (I use and orange band around a tree).

A centerfire or rimfire IS legal in the fall and both sexes are legal.

Again...I didn't write them,I just follow them. 

If you don't agree...write the PGC at PGC.com. 

P.s. Ive been here for quite some time and won't leave and if any of you confeds think you can hang with me in these mountains in turkey season.......come on north of the Mason/Dixon.....hahahaha!

CT,
My initial response was not that well thought out.  I appreciate you bringing it to my attention.  I am perfectly aware that the comments do not reflect the mindset of the good folks in the rural areas nor most of the folks who would actually have to abide by this nonsensical law.  The comment was rather intended for the government mentality at the state level that proposed it.  I apologize for my comments coming across as an indictment of all the good folks in Pennsylvania.

[CT Spur Collector]

I do believe those folks voted for Obama.  That should be explanation enough.

Not real fond of this quote.

The only Obamanites here in Pa live in Filthadelphia & Libsburgh!  It is a large Commonwealth with more against him than for him.

Now on the subject of stalking...you are permitted to move anytime anywhere on a spring gobbler with NO orange..those old orange rules are gone. You are NOT permitted to stalk, sneak or what ever you want to call it upon a turkey OR sounds of a turkey..(hunter). This is for safety reasons. (I didn't write it I just obey it).

In the spring you are also NOT permitted to be lawfully hunting for a gobbler or bearded hen without some type of call on your possession.  You are NOT permitted to hunt in the spring with any type of centerfire OR rimfire firearm.   

In the fall, you need to wear 250 square inches of orange (head,chest & back), walking to or moving through the woods.  You can remove your orange on your set-up BUT you need to have 100 square inches visible at least 10 or 15 feet(can't remember now) from your set-up.  (I use and orange band around a tree).

A centerfire or rimfire IS legal in the fall and both sexes are legal.

Again...I didn't write them,I just follow them. 

If you don't agree...write the PGC at PGC.com. 

P.s. Ive been here for quite some time and won't leave and if any of you confeds think you can hang with me in these mountains in turkey season.......come on north of the Mason/Dixon.....hahahaha!

CT,
My initial response was not that well thought out.  I appreciate you bringing it to my attention.  I am perfectly aware that the comments do not reflect the mindset of the good folks in the rural areas nor most of the folks who would actually have to abide by this nonsensical law.  The comment was rather intended for the government mentality at the state level that proposed it.  I apologize for my comments coming across as an indictment of all the good folks in Pennsylvania.

Thank you, I appreciate that.  CT.

[sixbird]

Well, I've been the object of a hunter stalking a "hen and gobbler." Luckily I saw him and spoke up. Otherwise I may have been one of those unfortunate statistics!
I think it's a good law whether enforceable or not...When reading the game laws, that one will make a person think about a scenario that maybe they wouldn't think of on their own (some people aren't very forward thinking).
That along with the realism of some of the new decoys...Combine this stuff with a guy who maybe lacks calling skill and REALLY wants a bird...It can get dicey!
I live in New Jersey, a very liberal state (I think everybody except me voted for the socialist) and most of the laws I see are just somebody trying to mind somebody elses' business...Exert control over every aspect of our lives...That law I like!   

[catman529]

Maybe PA needs more stupid laws because they have more stupid hunters. Glad stalking is not illegal here. Also seems like everyone is partial to their own state's rules.

[callwinner11]

 

[Old Gobbler]

Pa has had some serious safety problems in the past

Do any of you from PA remember about 20-25 years ago when they tried to get guys to wear Orange vests when moving through the woods ? I remember guys making a stink over that - its been a long time hard to remember the details 

[catman529]

OG, do you know why PA has had such safety issues? is it something with the local culture or the way people are raised and taught to hunt? I know there are safety concerns anywhere, but from reading this thread it seems like PA has had more serious concerns to the point of making stalking illegal and requiring orange to move through woods. Just wondering what might be the cause.

[DirtNap647]

i dont know if its because we have so many hunters or what?

[CT Spur Collector]

i dont know if its because we have so many hunters or what?

OG, do you know why PA has had such safety issues? is it something with the local culture or the way people are raised and taught to hunt? I know there are safety concerns anywhere, but from reading this thread it seems like PA has had more serious concerns to the point of making stalking illegal and requiring orange to move through woods. Just wondering what might be the cause.

Pa has had some serious safety problems in the past

Do any of you from PA remember about 20-25 years ago when they tried to get guys to wear Orange vests when moving through the woods ? I remember guys making a stink over that - its been a long time hard to remember the details 

Maybe PA needs more stupid laws because they have more stupid hunters. Glad stalking is not illegal here. Also seems like everyone is partial to their own state's rules.

OG.....I do remember the orange vest disaster...it was truly disgusting.  I think the problem with folks understanding this thread is they do not really understand PA or have been here to hunt.

We do have a very strong hunting tradition and contrary to the "stupid" remarks (I'm not not happy with), we have an outstanding LARGE group of turkey hunters,(resident & nons). With a population of over 200,000 birds (second or third in the nation) we also see well over 100,000 turkey hunters in the spring and fall seasons. Over a 35,000 spring harvest. We also see close to 800,000 deer hunters in respective seasons...(when I was a kid it was over 1 million). LOTS of guys.

The next thing is the 1.8 MILLION acres of public hunting...not quite sure if everyone gets that. I would think we are very close to leading the nation with public hunting. Nons & residents have a varied supply of public land to try for that bird....we welcome ALL.  Very different than trying to just park & walk in the woods in Oklahoma, Texas or Florida. You just don't do that....right?

The PGC and the PANWTF have worked very hard TOGETHER to try to come up with good or next to good rules for all types of events that may happen in the turkey woods of PA.  We all don't agree from time to time but the PANWTF  was instrumental in changing the exact law you speak of OG. We wrote letters, had meeting after meeting and finally the PGC agreed that we needed to change....we did.

Right now, I'm not sure if anyone is looking at the stalking rules at the PANWTF or PGC level...but as of this season, which opens 4-27-13,  stalking a sound or a bird is illegal in PA.

I for one have been stalked many times in the last forty years. There might be times when 6 guys are surrounding one tom....sounds sick huh?  I was stalked two fall seasons ago, the guy got to within 25 yards, lifted his shotgun, pointed that big black hole at me before I could yell. It was not fun at all..we both had a very stern conversation as you could imagine.  I had an orange band in the tree and I also asked if he saw it. He said he was so excited he lost all control.  That could be one issue that we need to address. Peer pressure.

The PGC has done a very good job here trying to educate the youth and all hunter for that matter.  We've had many accidents in the past and I believe we've reduced those numbers considerably.

There are many, many reasons we have accidents while turkey hunting but if we could all remember what dad said..."make sure of your target and what's behind it"... we'd have fewer accidents.

Sorry I went on so long..but I've read this thread so long I'm bored!! Haha.  I've read everything from we're socialists to were stupid and I'm a bit tired of it. I'm a native, we have a rich hunting history and a bunch of us are real good turkey hunters that would put some of your skills to shame. Let's get over this and move on.

Thanks CT.

[socalturkeyman]

No worries my Yankee friends, Oklahoma has dumb laws too...We have rattlesnake season!

http://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/hunting/reptile-amphibian-regulations/

It is coming to us all.  Some of these dumb regulations that it.  The environmental and tree hugging groups have to much of a foothold, and they are wanting to protect everything.

Well California is trying to pass a law for total protections of montain lions. Meaning,that if your attacked by a lion you cannot kill it to protect yourself or others around you.I think that tops all of the stupid law in the country. lol jmo.

[catman529]

Thanks CT Spur Collector. Makes sense that the high number of hunters would make the woods more dangerous.

[willy8457]

 If you check the  PGC they said we had over 250,000 Turkey hunters  Last year Spring and fall combined. Thats More Hunters then two or three states togather. I have been stalked sevaral times myself in the fall, I was even fined for that orange law when I was working a bird that I had worked before, this bird would come so close ANd strut but had drawen a line in the sand ,then It would go out this big bench well when it started out thru the woods I decided i could cut him off, I didn't get 100 yards out an old logging road when I was stopped for no orange. I wasn't happy to say the least. But anybody that thinks it's a good idea to stalk  the sounds of something that everybody else is trying to shoot I don't want to hunt with. Not only is he  Running the chance of shooting somebody he's really at risk for being shot himself. In the heat of the moment things happen, My Dad told me one time that your best freinds might not be who you want to hunt with. I've read some comments on this thread, from people that must hunt private ground where there is nobody around, And they will change there mind the first time it happens to them, Having a gun pointed at you by some body thats Hearts pounding ,And probably has the safe off has a funny way of changing your mind. And until it happens to them  they really won't understand.