FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further
information, contact: Carl Mowry, 724-285-5124, Don Heckman, 717-761-5925
Pennsylvania Chapter of the
National Wild Turkey Federation
Turkey hunter education proposed instead of
more orange regulation
August 18, 2003
The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has thoroughly studied the proposal to require fall turkey hunters, archers, coyote hunters and muzzleloader deer hunters statewide to wear 250 square inches of hunter orange at all times and require spring hunters to wear solid orange hats while moving introduced at the June Pennsylvania Game Commission meeting. A review of information on hunting related shooting incidents from some notable turkey hunting states in which orange is not required shows that they have incident rates similar to those in Pennsylvania. All of these states have sizeable turkey populations, many turkey hunters and annual harvests that, in some cases exceed the number of birds taken in Pennsylvania.
In 2002, Texas reported a hunting related shooting incident rate for spring turkey hunting of about 5.4 incidents per 100,000 hunters and Pennsylvania reported an incident rate of 3.9. In the same year, Virginia reported an incident rate of 4.9 per 100,000 participants, Michigan 2.0 incidents and Wisconsin reported 3.8 incidents per 100,000 participants. Texas reportedly had nearly 74,000 turkey hunters, Pennsylvania about 230,000, Virginia 60,800, Michigan 98,306 and Wisconsin 159,500 in 2002. In 2003, Missouri (125,000 hunters) reported a spring incident rate of 3.2 incidents per 100,000 hunters, Pennsylvania (230,000 hunters) reported 4.3 incidents, Wisconsin (168,700 hunters) reported 0 incidents per 100,000 hunters, Michigan (98,306 hunters) reported a rate of 2.0, Virginia (60,800 hunters) reported a rate of 3.3 incidents, Georgia (42,181 hunters) reported a rate of 2.4 and Texas (74,000 hunters) reported a rate of 2.0 incidents per 100,000 participants. The national average for spring turkey hunting related shooting incidents is 2.95 incidents per 100,000 turkey hunters.
Reviewing these data leads us to determine that incident rates are variable and that many factors may affect those rates. Indeed, a review of incident numbers in Pennsylvania shows that the number varies substantially year to year. This information further suggests that the mandatory use of orange by spring turkey hunters in Pennsylvania has not resulted in incident rates that are consistently lower than those in states where no orange is required. While we have not acquired fall incident rate data from all of the above-mentioned states, the fall 2002 incident rate for Texas was 2.7 incidents per 100,000 hunters, for Wisconsin 2.7 incidents per 100,000 hunters and for Pennsylvania 6.25 incidents per 100,000 hunters. Based on this information, we would submit that the requirement of orange for fall turkey hunters in Pennsylvania has not resulted in a wider margin of safety compared to that of other states where orange is not required of fall turkey hunters. We conclude, therefore, that an approach other than requiring more orange for turkey hunters is needed.
The members of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation firmly believe that the reduction of turkey hunting related shooting incidents is dependent on reaching hunters with important and common sense safety messages. This approach will be more effective and more palatable to turkey hunters than placing additional regulatory burdens on turkey hunters by requiring increased use of orange. Turkey hunters are well aware that wild turkeys can perceive color and that wearing or displaying orange while moving or hunting will significantly reduce their chances for success. At the same time, they are mindful that safety is an important issue. Regulations requiring turkey hunters to wear or display orange in effect since the early 1990’s have failed to effectively improve the safety of our sport.
Therefore, we suggest the following alternatives to fluorescent orange requirements for turkey hunters:
- PGC should work to improve the quality and quantity of turkey hunter safety materials for use in HTE classes.
- Develop a mailing list of turkey hunters and distribute safety materials directly to turkey hunters prior to each season
- Focus on the safe use of decoys and blinds as part of the safety materials used in HTE classes and mailings to hunters
- Consider distributing and requiring a safety reminder sticker placed on the sight plane of each hunter’s firearm reminding hunters to properly identify their target
- Emphasize turkey hunter ethics heavily as part of the safety materials and in HTE classes
- Establish wild turkey management and hunting technique seminars across the state similar to those done for deer hunting in recent years. Safety messages could be worked in to the techniques portion of the program.
- Reprint PA NWTF and PGC cooperative posters for use during the turkey hunting seasons
- Provide advanced turkey hunter education courses for older, more experienced turkey hunters (mandatory or optional)
- Examine turkey hunter safety materials in use in other states to determine applicability to Pennsylvania
- Contact NWTF to determine the availability of NWTF turkey hunter safety materials and information developed by the Turkey Hunting Safety Task Force
- PGC should work with the legislators to increase the penalties for hunting related shooting incidents, especially those classified as mistaken for game
- The Bureau of Law Enforcement should place more emphasis on illegal harvest and other game law violations that have potential to impact the resource rather than concentrating on compliance violations (orange, amount of orange, no orange)
- Develop a Power Point presentation on turkey hunting safety to be used by HTE instructors incorporating still photographs and video clips to maintain student interest
- Endeavor to develop additional funding alternatives to cover the costs of implementing these suggestions
Our members realize that new programs take time to develop and that such programs will have costs associated with them. It is our opinion that the suggested options will be more effective than addressing this problem with more unpopular regulation. Our membership is willing to work with the Game Commission in the exploration of funding options. Our membership wishes to partner with the Game Commission in addressing the safety issue in a more effective manner.
For further information about the Pennsylvania Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation, and our position statement and informational material on the proposed orange regulation, visit our web site at: www.panwtf.com
Send mail to panwtf@go2pa.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Pennsylvania Chapter- National Wild Turkey Federation
Last modified: November 20, 2003