Ethics check

[FishinFools]

Gonna try to stick a turkey this year from a ground blind since I didn't draw a tag in the lottery. Thought I would take my son (11) along with me, he would have his shotgun. I figure if we have one hang up at 40 yards, bang. If we have one run right into our decoys at 20 yards, arrow. (I think he would be okay with it since he has already bested my best bird ever. The things we do for our kids!?) I don't feel comfortable with a bow shot over 25 yards right now. Of course we have a few months to improve that.

I kind of feel like this set up is cheating...but since it is two different hunters, maybe not. Thoughts?

[DonBo]

We do this all the time. I have a buddy I hunt with, we almost always hunt together from the same blind, me with the bow, him with the shotgun. No ethical dilema there.

[Abndoc]

I might be wrong on this, but if they are under 12 I thought it was one gun or bow, between child and adult. You might want to double check the law there.

[FishinFools]

Abndoc, good idea to double check. We hunt in MN, and youth ages 9-11 can hunt turkey without a hunter safety certificate as long as they are accompanied by an adult (in un-aided visual and verbal communication range). I do not see any restriction that the adult, if properly licensed, cannot also take a turkey while hunting with a youth. If anyone knows different, please let me know! thanks!

[Abndoc]

I been trying to figure it, i guess the wording is different for big game..deer then turkey. I maybe wrong..just thought I read that somewhere. either way good luck. My 8 yr old is counting the days down until he can get one for himself. He will be along this spring carrying the good ol' Daisy

[Cheetah]

I know in Wisconsin with the youth hunt program they let the young kids hunt with a mentor but the mentor cannot be in the field with a weapon. It was a little tricky to figure it all out when I took my cousin out for his first deer hunt last year.

Not sure if MN does it the same way or not, I haven't read the details fully.

As for the question of ethics, it doesn't bother me one bit.

[SkitterPopper]

The best thing to do is to contact the CO I listed below and ask him the question. This way you are not going by second hand knowledge.

K357 Prior Lake Adam Block 952-873-6241 Scott

If he does not answer leave a message and he will get back to you.

Good luck to you and your son!

[Musky Buck]

Speaking of ethics, what do you make out of a few of my neighbors who are feeding turkeys right now and will until the hunting season is over? Seems kinda nice to help them through winter and kinda hmmm when their ground blinds will be set up perfectly on the few trails they use to get there, but a lot will change weather wise until the hunt actually starts. Often wondered since it's a year round feeding deal if he's crankin deer there also, but oh well, he's got hundreds of dollars going into bagging a bird.

[FishinFools]

set up on the property line and "intercept" the buffet parade!

[Archerysniper]

The problem with feeding turkeys is the coyotes stay really fat all winter

[Archerysniper]

As for the question of ethics, it doesn't bother me one bit.

+1 a turkey is a turkey I doesn't matter as long as it was legally taken

[Fish to Win]

So from what I am understanding any kid under the age of 9 cannot get a turkey license. Correct??

[Borch]

No that's not correct. There's no minimum age for wild turkey. They must be occompanied by an adult and have a license which they can buy over the counter. It's strange that a hunters safety certificate is not require until they are 12 years old though.

Found on page 30 of the latest hunting reg booklet.

[FishinFools]

yes, that is correct. It does say "9 years old and younger". My apologies for the inaccurate statement in my previous post.

Happy hunting. (hope you are all practicing your calling already! My family knows that I am!)

[Musky Buck]

I just watch and listen to them in the backyard, ever since we melted off that foot of snow we got on Nov. 19th they come every other day and they like cracked acorns, I mowed right through that mess the last mowing of the year and it's squirrel and turkey city back there. 21 long beards in the bunch.