Although hunting is a far safer sport than it was just a few decades ago, Pennsylvania continues to see nearly 100 shooting accidents each year, and turkey season

TURKEY HUNTING SUCCESS BEGINS WITH THE 3 S’s

Although hunting is a far safer sport than it was just a few decades ago, Pennsylvania continues to see nearly 100 shooting accidents each year. And, turkey season – which begins Saturday, Oct. 30, in most turkey management areas – continues to be one of the leading periods when those accidents occur.

Last year, which was one of the safest on record with 91 incidents, the deer seasons led the way with 32. But turkey hunters also accounted for 19. At the same time, Pennsylvania offers turkey hunting opportunities today that weren’t even imagined 20 years ago, drawing unprecedented interest and participation from hunters new to the sport.

To take advantage of Pennsylvania’s wild turkey heyday, while avoiding accidents, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recommends the 3 S’s of turkey hunting – scouting, safety and sight.

Scouting results in knowing where the birds are before the season, where they roost, where they feed and what travel routes they follow. Pre-season scouting is invaluable for locating turkeys later, after the season opens.

Safety involves proper gun handling, always pointing the firearm in a safe direction and keeping the safety on until ready to shoot. Wearing the required blaze orange is also an integral part of safety in turkey hunting.

And, sight reminds hunters to absolutely identify the target before pulling the trigger.

"No turkey is worth shooting someone or being shot," said Don Heckman, executive officer of the Pa. NWTF. "It could cost you your life or someone else’s life. And, no turkey is worth being crippled and left to die because of a mistake in shooting judgment.

"Safety is the No. 1 issue when turkey hunting."

He offered the following checklist of turkey hunting safety guidelines:

Positively identify your target. Use binoculars to ensure that you are looking at a wild turkey. Never substitute a rifle or shotgun scope for binoculars.
Do not shoot at movement or turkey sounds.
Do not stalk turkey sounds or try to sneak in on wild turkeys for a shot.
Share the concepts of responsible turkey hunting with others and work for wild turkey conservation.
Shrug off peer pressure that places priority on getting a turkey over basic hunting and gun safety.
Be aware of the dark side of "turkey hunting fever." Be sure of what you are looking at before pulling the trigger. The right attitude, placing safety at the forefront, greatly reduces turkey hunting accidents.
Never wear the turkey colors of red, white or blue.
When setting up to call, make sure you back is protected by a tree trunk wider than your shoulders.
If you see another hunter approaching your calling location, remain still. Use your voice, or a whistle, to communicate. Never wave, stand or make a turkey call to get the other hunter’s attention.
When hunting with others, be certain of your companions’ locations. Discuss and emphasize safety together.
Always aim for the turkey’s head and neck. Keep your shooting range to 30 yards or less.
If you harvest a wild turkey, complete the turkey tag and attach it to the bird, then wrap the bird in blaze orange material to carry it out of the woods.
Wear blaze orange as required. In the fall, across most of the state, that means at least 250 square inches on the head, chest and back, visible from all sides, when moving, and at least 100 square inches, visible from all sides, within 15 of your location when in a stationary calling location. In Turkey Management Areas 1-A, 1-B and 9-B, where hunters are limited to shotguns and bows and arrows, the requirement is at least 100 square inches on the head, or at least visible from all sides, when moving.
When using a turkey decoy, place it so that you are not in the line of fire from other hunters and not in danger of being shot.
Use extra caution when moving to head off a flock or trying to break up a flock in the fall. Be sure of your footing and control the muzzle of your gun.
When hunting turkeys with a rifle, be especially careful of the long-range capabilities of your firearm and acutely aware of what is on the other side of your target.
Even with a shotgun, be aware of your target’s background and absolutely identify your target as a wild turkey.

In addition, the following guidelines will make turkey hunting more enjoyable for all

involved:

Respect the land and landowners. Obtain permission to hunt on private or posted land.
Obey, respect and support the Game Law and wildlife conservation officers, and report all Game Law violations.

The Pa. NWTF, one of the leading wildlife conservation organizations in the state, conducts many program to educate and inform turkey hunters of safe hunting guidelines and the hunting ethics that every turkey hunter should be familiar with and practice in the field.

The organization also has been a key player, with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, in the remarkable comeback the wild turkey has made from the early years of the century. Proven turkey management practices, such as trap and transfer, turkey management areas, and seasons and bag limit management, along with abundant habitat, have produced excellent opportunities for today’s turkey hunter.

For more information about the Pa. NWTF, visit the website at www.go2pa.com/panwtf or send an e-mail to panwtf@go2pa.com.