END OF DISCUSSION>>>>Centerfire rifles are legal to harvest turkey here in Florida, as long as it bullet capacity is not greater than 5. Only Shotguns and Rimfire are allowed on WMA's.Afew do not allow even Rimfire, each WMA has its own guidelines. I would love to see everything other than a bow, BP SHOTGUN, and Shotgun made as illegal to use. I know and have seen the birds some guys I know have shot, even with a 204, just this year, THERE IS NOTHING LEFT WORTH EATING WHICH MEAN IT WAS SHOT JUST TO SAY,"I SHOT A GOBBLER WITH A BEARD". It's legal and you can shoot em all on your property if ya want, but you will not experience the REAL thrill of a turkey hunt until you call one in to shotgun range and harvest him. Sure you will get aggravated when he flies the other way or stays out there at 60-70 yards with hens and you can't shoot, but if you want to shoot, WAl-Mart sells turkey targets cheap and you wont be wasting meat and a hunt thatsomeone else can use.
This is a very good post and I agree with most of it. However, Who are we to say this guy can't kill one with a Rifle?? Maybe FL has to many turkeys and are wanting to get rid of so many. They don't have enough of Turkey Hunters to get rid of them so they need these guys to use a Centerfire, I don't know? I don't care if he Uses a Canonor Drops a Bomb from a plane if its Legal. I don't think a person should kill a Gobbler in the Fall. But some do. Shoot one off the Roost, but some do. I have been so discourged that I might have done just that.
Just think how it looks to him. Setting up a blind and calling the Bird to 20 Yards. How, easy that must be? Shoot one's head off at 250 is much more sporting, giving the bird a chance! It can be argured both ways, but you and I know the best way is to call in that Old Bird, let him answer our calls and watch him come that 200 Yards in Full Strut. Don't be so hard on the guy!
Just my 2 Cents
TF