Interesting, and mostly expected responses. I was a little shocked myself that a game warden suggested it, as a legal means of hunting. But I think it's fine, and I agree that killing a bird is the reason hunters hunt. The one and only reason I hunt is for food. If I'm out there as a naturalist/photographer/ bird watcher/ guide, I won't have a gun along. When I take a gun, and take a life, it is only to sustain my own life. When I hunt, to put turkeys in the freezer, I will choose the most eficient method possible. It is not a sporting event for me. So I will take my game wardens advice and try it. I love the calling, the strutting, the challenge of it all too, and I'm damned good at it, but thats just a game I create in my head, a cat and mouse game, to make killing fun.
I love nature and enjoy being out there for all the non-turkey related sights and sounds. But when I'm hunting, not just out for a walk, but hunting for a holiday meal, it's serious business, I only want to kill a bird. I don't have time for too many days afield and I want them to count. It's a lot of effort to kill those birds, when $15-20.,would buy one at the store. But I get two birds for a $17. tag in my spare time, and I can walk out and do it. My hunting gear was paid for years ago, including enough ammo to last my lifetime, in anticipation of being old someday on a fixed income, and still needing to eat. So to get the food I need, with as little time and money spent as possible, I will try anything.
I really think sport hunters, who spend so much time /travel and money to try and get a bird, don't really know the real meaning of having to kill for food. They're just rich guys on vacation, enjoying the sights and sounds. There is nothing wrong with that at all, I make part of my living guiding them, and if I had enough money I would travel and hunt for sport too. But the true nature of hunting is killing and eating.