...Nice bird be grateful you got him, just think if it was you on the other side of the field
try not to get high headed,over a turkey..

Can't tell what I'd do, but why didn't you call?? With any type of call--pushbutton, box, locator, diaphragm, etc. If you are going turkey hunting, you MUST HAVE had a call with you!! That might have alerted the other hunter without spooking the turkey

The other thing, and I know I'm not the one to talk about this particularly, because I've been blessed with great turkey hunting success over the years, is what is this sport all about, if not about sportsmanship? Is it only about killing a tom? Then why did treeclimber have such a great day, never even firing a shot?? (See his post Had A Great Day On The Island, Never Fired A Shot.) I think there is much more to the sport, and the sad thing about killing a turkey is that once you shoot your turkey, your season is over. Most people are not likely to go out and sit under a tree and listen to gobblers at sunup or call to turkeys when their hunt is over.

From that perspective, I might very well have passed on killing that tom. Not killing this particular "ethical dilemma" bird gets me the opportunity to hunt another day.

A reason I am not certain what I would do in your situation, however, is I do not know what the other hunter thought. Was he sitting there because he's a jerk and was mad that you beat him to the spot?? Then I'd probably take the bird. Was he there unknowingly "on top" of you and your set up? Then I might have let the bird pass.

I don't think I would have been silent when he (the other hunter) came out, though, and I don't believe the tom was on top of you when the other hunter came out, because if the tom was, the other hunter would have spooked a normal turkey. So there must have been some time you could have let the other hunter know of your setup. And for me, I'd have said something for my own safety, even if it DID mean spooking a turkey. Getting shot from 40 yards away can hurt you pretty good, if it doesn't kill you. I'd never risk getting shot like that. (And I have been shot, so I know it can happen.) Sitting there, silently (not calling either for the turkey or to the other hunter) was IMHO a pure invitation to disaster. What if that turkey had walked so as to be on the line between you and the other hunter?? You shoot the other hunter or he shoots you??

I'd have to agree w/ Snowdog. I'm not sure what I'd do unless I was in that situation. But my initial thoughts are that I love the chess game that's played between myself and the gobbler. Calling - changing calls - hanging up - the whole deal....that's what makes the hunt for myself.

I know the bird doesn't "belong" to anybody therefore you have done no wrong. But knowing that this other guy was calling and the bird was moving towards him....I may have passed on that bird to enjoy another hunt.

I should have made this clear in my first post, my mistake. When i showed up to hunt sunday afternoon, His truck was parked at the other end of the farm, this is why I went to this part. Also, the barn sits right at the peek of a small hill, so the tom was on one side, and the other hunter was on the other, hence they could not see each other, but I could see both. And one last thing, the tukeys out here on this farm are extremely call shy. I don't know why, but they are really not interested in coming to calls. This turkey was going to head to this guy sooner or later, because he was at the corner where they like to roost. I did mention that this tom ignored his calls, and then began feeding his way towards roost, which is where this guy was. I don't know, maybe i shouldn't have shot the tom, but that part is over.

Good question,

whatever you chose to do was not wrong either way. Some may have done it another way, doesnt mean the way you chose to do it was wrong. I think I may have took that bird also, however one can not be sure unless he is in that situation.

If I were you, I would be happy to have taken a such a nice bird and forget about the rest! Afterall, Spring Turkey season is but once a year!

AH