The Turkey Roost

Bad Neighbors

Turkey season opened here on Saturday. Beautiful morning, clear and cold with a moderate frost. Birds gobbled very well. I worked a big tom with a group of hens at fly down. Tom wanted to come see me but all the girls said no and led him away. Not such an odd occurance for a turkey hunter except for one thing. In this case the direction they went. Not a thing for them there, no reason for them to go that way. I said to myself, oh well, a turkey will be a turkey. I decided to wait him out so I stayed put and about 15 - 20 minutes later I heard a rifle shot in the direction the birds had traveled. Only shotguns, muzzleloaders and archery tackle are legal here, it was no muzzleloader, sounded more like a .223. As I sat and contemplated what might have happened, I noticed someting else strange. No hens coming out into the fields to feed. Hum...

Talked to the local warden at lunch, he told me he had just written his 6th ticket for hunting illegally over bait (a record for him on opening day). I told him what had happened and that I suspected someting fishy was going on on the neighboring tract of planted pines owned by a big timber company. He said he would check it out.

He called back the next day to tell me something was indeed fishy. He found the largest baiting sight he had ever seen. A 5 acre beetle kill area that was covered in cracked corn and wheat. In some areas he said it was piled up 4-6 inches deep. The area was complete with blind and the remains of a tom and a hen. He found the kill spots, both at rifle range, around 70 yards. He said the whole time he was working the site taking photos and collecting samples for evidence that a steady stream of turkeys were coming in from all directions, some didn't want to leave.
Evidently the person involved had had enough for the day and didn't return. I really hope they do.

So, looks like I need to find another area. With that much food on the ground it will take the birds until June to eat it! I do have other areas but...

Why would someone put so much time, effort and money into baiting up a bird that can be bought for $10 ready for the oven? Why would someone get any enjoyment out of killing an animal over such? I have a few ideas... but.

What do you folks think of this?