Turkey hunting safety
April 4th, 2007 by Administrator
The National Wild Turkey Federation and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources suggest that hunters employ the following tactics:
Protect yourself when choosing a setup spot. Select a stump, blowdown, tree trunk or rock that is wider than your shoulders and higher than your head, and place your back against cover when calling. A hunter is more likely to spot another hunter when moving to the front or side than from behind.
Leave your patriotic colors at home: Eliminate white, red, blue and black from your hunting outfit. These are the colors of a gobbler’s head and neck.
Don’t hunt from a brush blind or thick cover. Select a calling spot in open timber that affords a clear line of sight and good shooting lanes rather than heavy brush. Staying still rather than totally hidden is the key to success.
Never shoot at a sound or movement.
Do not attempt to stalk a turkey.
Leave the gobbling to the gobblers. Hen calls attract gobblers. Gobbler calls attract hunters. If you feel the need to use a gobbler call, do so sparingly.
Stay alert. Game often will indicate if another hunter is close. A good woodsman can detect movement in the forest by watching other game or listening for the alarm cries of blue jays, crows, squirrels or woodpeckers. When songbirds, crows and your turkey shut up, there’s a good chance another hunter is moving in.
If you see another hunter, speak in a loud, clear voice. Never move, wave or make turkey sounds to alert another hunter to your presence.
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