Provided by the Outdoor Wire
Turkey hunters need to start patterning their turkey guns, checking their calls and thinking about turkey hunting safety.
May first is almost as important as the opening of firearms deer season, and while spring turkey hunting accidents are uncommon, extra precautions are needed. Camouflage or drab colored clothing is helpful to outwit a keen sighted gobbler. Unfortunately, camouflage has the same affect on other hunters as it has on the turkeys.
“Almost all turkey hunting-related shootings are caused by hunters who don’t positively identify the target before they pull the trigger,” said Vermont’s Hunter Education Coordinator Chris Saunders. “And the victim is usually another hunter, often a friend, trying to stalk a turkey call.”
With the opening of spring turkey hunting season near, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department urges hunters to review the following safety tips:
• Never try to stalk a gobbling turkey. Your chances of getting close are poor, and you may be sneaking up on another hunter.
• Stick with hen calls. A gobbler call is intended for special situations and might attract other hunters.
• Don’t be patriotic. Avoid red, white or blue. A tom turkey’s head has similar colors.
• Avoid unnecessary movement. This could alert turkeys and attract hunters.
• Don’t hide so well that you impair your field of vision.
• Wrap your turkey in some blaze orange cloth for the hike back to the car.
• Always sit with your back against a tree trunk, big log or a boulder that is wider than your body. This protects you from being accidentally struck by pellets fired from behind you.
• If you use a decoy, place it on the far side of a tree trunk or a rock so you can see the birds approaching from all directions, but cannot actually see the decoy. This prevents you from being directly in the line of fire should another hunter mistakenly shoot at your decoy.
• Never shoot unless you’re absolutely sure of your target. Since only turkeys with beards are legal during the spring season, lack of positive identification could result in shooting an illegal bird, or worse, another hunter.
• Consider wearing hunter orange while moving from set-up to set-up. Take it off when you are in position.
Remember, only turkeys stalk turkeys! Keep hunting safe and make it even safer.
Once you’ve practiced these safety tips and gotten your gobbler, be sure to enter USA’s 2nd Annual Turkey Contest. Click the link to found out how to enter and to check out the competition!