Reaper Turkey Hunting ?

any one do this ?

one of my 4-H kids has gotten into it , has filled a few tags with it also

H took my son for a short trip the other day , a hen busted them and ran off the toms but my son thinks this is the coolest.

lots of leg work to get properties that work for it , but incredible when it works and shoot you could use plane old trap loads for how close they get in

It works well. Try catching one by hand with no tail to hide behind. When strutting it can be done. I have the scar to prove it. Touched 3 last spring but couldn't get both legs at once. Imperative to get both legs or risk injury to you both. Second thought, disclaimer Do not try this.

It's not legal in PA.

My son just got done mounting a fanned jake on a remote control monster truck chassis. I told him neat idea but not legal here in PA. gotta admit looks cool though lol

what part isn't legal in PA

holding the decoy?

moving the decoy during the hunt ?

using a decoy?

the way my son an his friend were explaining it , find birds in a hay field , enter so the birds can't see you , work your way out belly crawling while holding the fanned out Jake.

Big Tom sees Jr and comes in ready for a fight at 15-20 yards sometimes less you pop the turkey

fanned decoy
black hooded sweatshirt
camo pants

I tried It but the crawling part Is out of the question. LOL

17yo boys have a lot more crawl in them

he dad said he crawled in on 1 for 800 yards , a half mile

I am sure his laundry has never been easy but you have to figure if you just crawled across a half mile of hay those pants are just going to stay green

Got spurred by the first turkey I ever shot. Still have the scar on my leg, so I'll pass on grabbing one lol.

Did it before it was a thing. It works but isn’t really turkey hunting. Wish they’d outlaw decoys and fans to be honest. Any kid old enough to hold a gun and fan can shoot a turkey now. The art of turkey hunting has forever been lost with this gadget generation.

Looks dangerous, I think I will pass.

the boys are using a gun , and are really only trying to get them close enough to shoot 20 yards is about perfect

maybe what they are doing isn't true reaper style turkey hunting. I just hadn't heard of it till this week.

they get one week here per tag , between work and school they count there time in minutes

you apply for your tag in march-april for the next year so you guessing at choice weeks and it is a lottery for what week you get a-f

then you can buy bonus tags in march of that year to have extra weeks

it always seemed kinda odd how the DNR did this and I have to admit I don't know much about turkey hunting , always been too busy in the spring to participate but I get a license when I buy my conservation patrons as does the boy the youth conservation patron

Agree with Wanna Be.

In Pa., the regulations say that spring turkey hunting is by calling only. Not legal to stalk a turkey.

The radio remote car with tail attached is illegal do to the fact it is electronic.

What we do here is called fanning, just hold the fan up so turkey see it we had tom's come running to us, or hold it up and walk right up to them.

It works really well later in the season and later in the day once the big toms have claimed strutting areas. Drive around and find them out in the big green fields. Slip in close and let him see the fan. Can even add a little calling if he doesn't react right away. I have shot some of my biggest birds doing it.

A couple years ago a friend had his strutting jake decoy shot right in front of him and his boy with a high-powered rifle from a nearby county road by a poacher. They got the vehicle description and the poacher was caught by leo. There is no way I'm going to crawl around a field looking like a turkey.
I have no problem killing a turkey every now and again while looking like a human

Turkey hunting accidents are occurring every years, nothing new about this...based on personal experience you may want to re-think if you are into approaching gobblers with a fanned decoy.

Daughter and I were shot during a turkey hunt while we sat a base of a tree...nothing dangerous with this right? Guess what it is the only day I did not wear my kevelar vest since 1993 and sure enough it is the day I took lead to the chest...shooter got charged with careless hunting...guy we were hunting with disregarded basic hunting safety rules. I had to give my daughter first aid and to carry her out out of the bush. We were very lucky we didn't end up in a body bag.

Sad part is I have several kevelar vests so that children can wear one while hunting with me and no one had it on. Had just put my dad to rest days before and was still grieving his death. Just to say what sttress can do to you.

Another year had a guy crawling to me while I was calling birds. He moved in within 20 yards on edge of green field and he was with his 12 years old son who was a distance away and calling for him (while wearing blue jeans!!!). I had a little chat with him after and no I did not embarrass him in front of his kid. He felt bad enough about the situation he didn't need to get a lecture in presence of his son.

Had another guy walking up to my son and I while we were calling birds ... this guy was associated with driver of vehicle known for past trespass to hunt conviction...this guy was ready to shoot at anything and he took off when he figured out he was not moving on a bird...maybe not a guy that would provide first aid after the shot !!!

Another year a guy drew his bow on my hen decoy. Fog covered part of the field where I was set up. I was working a gobbler at the time. I thought set up was good and safe...only problem with this situation this hunter came through an open field...no one would think of doing this right? Well wrong I was. Due to condition I did not see this guy moving in until I heard sound of foot steps...I thought placement of my decoy was safe...wrong again. My blind which was installed a fair distance away but was in direct line with the shot. I was able to get his attention on time and he never fired ...Never hunted this property again.

You know what the biggest problem is with having life experience...unfortunately the lesson always come first.

Like many on this forum I love turkey hunting and spent a lot of time in the bush but being shot while moving in on a gobbler while holding a fanned decoy is not a topic of discussion I want my family and friends to have on the day of my funeral.

But it is just me...whatever you decide to do make sure you get home at the end of the day !!!

You guys that are crawling across open fields must live where sandburrs don't exist lol. I did a lot of sneak hunting or ambush hunting on turkey when I was younger but as I got older it got less and less enjoyable after a morning of hunting to spend the evening digging stickers out of my knees and elbows.

sand burs used to be a thing here almost completely gone , the fields they are crawling through are like a carpet of green hay about 8-10 inches deep.

Boy that would be wonderful. I wouldn't know what to do in a world without stickers. I've been thinking about sending some to China as payback lol.