Can You Shoot a Turkey Off the Roost?

Despite their tendency for showing up on roads and in fields on the days you arent hunting, finding turkeys when they are actually in season can be very difficult. One of the best ways to ensure the presence of birds on opening morning is to establish where they roost.

Shooting turkeys off the roost is a controversial topic among turkey hunters While it’s legal in some states, many consider it unethical This article examines whether you can legally shoot a turkey off the roost, the ethics of doing so, and tips for a successful roost hunt.

Is It Legal to Shoot a Turkey Off the Roost?

The legality of shooting turkeys off the roost varies by state Here are the general regulations

In most states, including Pennsylvania, shooting turkeys off the roost is legal. There are no laws prohibiting it.
Some states, like Kansas, specifically prohibit shooting turkeys from a tree or before they hit the ground after flying down from the roost.
Other states may prohibit shooting turkeys off the roost through general hunting regulations, like a requirement to identify game before shooting.

So you’ll need to check your state’s hunting regulations to know if roost shooting is legal where you hunt. Even if legal, many view shooting off the roost as unethical.

The Ethics of Shooting Turkeys Off the Roost

The ethics of roost shooting are hotly debated in the turkey hunting community. Here are some common perspectives:

Opponents argue it violates fair chase. Shooting a turkey off the roost while it’s still dark out or just flying down is considered too easy by some hunters. It removes the work of calling a turkey in.
Proponents say it’s a legitimate tactic. Advocates argue that as long as it’s legal, roost shooting is just another hunting strategy for filling your tag.
It may harm reproduction. Studies show adult gobblers play a role in flock reproduction. Removing dominant gobblers from the roost early in the season may reduce breeding.
It disturbs the flock. Shooting at roosted turkeys can scatter the flock and make birds call-shy for the rest of the season. This negatively impacts other hunters.
It’s unsafe. Shooting at turkeys silhouetted against the dawn sky risks misidentification and endangers non-hunters who may be nearby. Crippled birds also fall dangerously close to hunters.

There are good arguments on both sides. Ethical roost shooting requires hunters to weigh these perspectives and make an informed decision.

Tips for Hunting Turkeys Off the Roost

If roost shooting is legal in your state and you choose to do it, here are some tips to be effective and ethical:

Scout birds – Locate active roost sites ahead of season by listening for gobbles at fly-up and fly-down times.
Be safe – Set up a safe distance from the roost, at least 100 yards. Only shoot when you can clearly ID the turkey. Avoid shooting directly overhead.
Go in early – Get set up well before fly-down time so you don’t spook the birds off the roost while sneaking in.
Be patient – Resist the urge to call aggressively or over-call. Stay quiet and let the birds fly down and present a shot naturally.
Consider a decoy – A decoy placed in the expected flight path can draw a bird’s attention and pull it within range after fly-down.
Don’t educate birds – If a tom hangs up out of range, back out and hunt him later rather than risk educating him through failed calling attempts.
Be selective – Consider passing on hens and younger gobblers to maintain breeding opportunities. Remove problem birds first.

Following tips like these can make roost shooting more productive while also addressing some ethical concerns. But the decision to hunt turkeys off the roost remains a personal one. Know your local laws, weigh the ethics carefully, and hunt responsibly.

can you shoot a turkey off the roost

What Is a Roost?

A Roost refers to the place in which Turkeys sleep. Since a sleeping turkey is an easy target for predators, mature Toms spend their nights up in trees where they are safe from predators and right nearby the ladies they had gathered during the day. After spending the night on a limb, Toms will spend the early hours of the morning making their presence known to all surrounding Hens, listening for responses before deciding which direction to fly down based on his determination of his best chance to meet a mate. This process will be repeated day after day in the same tree until the mating season has ended or until harsh weather or stress pushes them off the site.

Locating and Setting Up on the Roost

Locating these roosting sites typically takes place the night before the hunt, using locator calls such as an owl or a crow to force a shock gobble and reveal their location just after dark. This process was discussed in our previous article and can be found here.

Once you have established the roosting tree, your setup location needs to be considered. I typically like to set up between 100 and 200 yards from the roosting site. Setting up on the edge of open areas is key, giving the bird plenty of room to fly down and providing a good view of his location and behaviour once he lands. This will also give him a good view of your decoy which may further influence his fly down direction.

Try to arrive at your spot well before sunrise to avoid spooking birds that have already woken up. While it is not foolproof, from my personal experience, turkeys will often begin to send out their first few gobbles just after nautical sunrise. This time period is when everything in the field first begins to reveal itself and can be found on most weather apps. Once you establish when this period will occur, aim to be at your tree at least half an hour before to keep yourself hidden while you set up.

How to Hunt a Turkey off the Roost

FAQ

Can you shoot a turkey while it’s roosted?

(Be sure to check current ammo regulations.) True enough, you can legally shoot a turkey off the roost in some states, while in others you’ll lose your license privileges for it. Right here is where some might interject the idea that just because it’s legal doesn’t make it ethical or sporting.

How to hunt a turkey off the roost?

Hunting Near Turkey Roosts Roosting a turkey is great, but you’ve still got to slip into the area the next morning, call him in, and kill him. Go in at dark and take your time. You’ll have to move slowly to avoid making noise. You should also avoid using a headlamp when you get anywhere near the roost.

What to do if you bump a turkey off the roost?

The obvious solution is to find another gobbler and let the bumped bird settle down. That’s not always an option, though. Small tracts of land, a ticking clock or silent woods can force us to play the cards we were dealt. And that means you have to hunt that bird, spooked or not.

Is it illegal to shoot a turkey off the roost in NY state?

In New York, It’s Legal to Shoot a Turkey Off the Limb Many states prohibit it.