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Pennsylvania State Chapter - National Wild Turkey Federation
Safety Issues

Turkey Hunting Safety and Ethics

Turkey hunting safety and ethics has been described and written about in all the major hunting magazines for several years. Hunter safety and ethical turkey hunting always starts with you and me. Firearms and archery safety and hunting safety awareness are key to enjoying your turkey hunt. Practice these safety precautions, whether at home, on the shooting range, or with other turkey hunters, will never cause a turkey hunting accident.

The National Wild Turkey Federation has produced educational information on turkey hunting safety through the NWTF Hunt Safely program. Posters, brochures, flyers and safety stickers promoting Hunt Safely describe turkey hunting safety habits and techniques. The following safety information can
be used by novice turkey hunters as well as the experienced turkey hunter to improve your hunting sport.

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Firearms Safety

Safety in hunting starts with the safe handling of your firearm or bow equipment. Knowing your firearm or bow and how the equipment works is an important step in developing individual safety common sense. The following rules apply in firearms or bow safety:

Always have control of your firearm or bow and keep it pointed in a safe direction.

Be positive of your target before shooting.

Unload your firearm before crossing a fence or water, moving up or down a steep bank, or moving across hazardous terrain.

Always keep the gun safety on till you are ready to shoot.

Do not mix alcohol and drugs with hunting. They don’t belong in your sport and can impair your judgment.

When you are finished hunting or target shooting, always unload your firearm.

Know the capabilities of your firearm or bow, what ammunition goes with your gun, what distance you can safely shoot, keep your broadheads covered at all times.

Be prepared and take the time to fire a safe shoot. If you are in doubt about the shot, don’t shoot.

Pattern your firearm or bow and know their limitations and yours.

Follow the defensive turkey hunting techniques in the turkey hunting section and you will have a safer shooting or hunting experience.

Turkey Hunting Safety

After you become familiar with firearms and bow safety requirements, their are special turkey hunting safety guidelines that apply to spring or fall hunting. Turkey hunting safety can not be taught. Your can only teach the techniques of firearms safety, safe gun and bow handling, and hunting safety. You have to practice what you learn and then help educate others using your knowledge and experience.

Turkey hunting accidents can happen to anyone. There is no shield or blanket of prevention unless you practice what you are taught. Turkey hunting accidents are caused by one hunter mistaking another hunter for a turkey, or a firearm accidentally discharges and wounds or kills the handler or someone nearby, or the careless use of a firearm. The basic rules of hunting safety are handle your gun with care and to positively identify your target before pulling the trigger. Keeping this in mind, and using common sense, will prevent the great majority of turkey hunting accidents.

Camouflage - Dress for Success

Never wear pieces of clothing that contain the colors of red, white, or blue because they can be mistaken for colors found on wild turkeys.

Be sure that accessories you carry that are red, white, or blue (e.g. diaphragm calls, box call chalk, candy wrappers, apples, cigarette packs) are not visible to other hunters.

Camouflage your gun. If not, at least cover up white diamonds or other red or white markings.

Always keep your hands and head camouflaged when calling.

Don’t use a headnet that cuts down your vision.

Wear dark-colored socks and pants that are long enough to keep your bare skin from being exposed.

Do not "over-camouflage" by setting in vegetation so thick that it obscures your vision.

Read and obey your state game laws for blinds and hunter orange regulations.

Proper Use of Decoys

Unless the use of decoys is prohibited by law, the following guidelines
apply:

A decoy should never be visible while being transported. Never carry an uncovered (identifiable) decoy any distance.
Whenever possible, set-up by a "stand" tree that is greater in diameter than the width of your shoulders.
From your seated position, identify the clearest line of vision to your front. Establish a "sight line" that allows you 100 yards visibility. Then set your decoy(s) approximately 20 yards from your position on the line.
Should you see another hunter (especially if he/she is close to your "line of sight") call out to them in a loud, clear voice. Their presence has already compromised your calling location and a "soft" call may only confuse them, rather than alerting them to your presence.
If you are calling over decoys and then elect to move to a new location, check carefully to ensure no one is stalking your decoys. Check before leaving your "stand" tree. Should you see someone in your area, rule 4 applies.

Your safety is your responsibility - hunt defensively!

Safe Hunting Techniques

Turkey hunting is a unique sport that, unlike other small game or big game hunting, requires you to sit at the base of a tree or other type of large object. Most turkey hunting is done by calling and the least bit of movement on

your behalf will cause the wild turkey to flush, run or disappear. There are hunting techniques that can help you have a safe and successful hunt if you practice what you learn. Several safety tips are:

Always call in terrain that is fairly open and allows you to see at least 50 yards in every direction. This will allow you to see other hunters approaching your calling location.

Call from a position where you are protected from the back. Keep your back against a large tree truck, large stump, rockpile or tree larger than your shoulders and higher than your head.

If you see another hunter approaching your calling location, whistle or call loudly, sit still till he recognizes your position. Never make a turkey call, wave your arm, or stand. These signals could be mistaken for movement and cause him to fire.

Never try to sneak in on or stalk a wild turkey. There is a chance another hunter could mistake your movement for a turkey and cause him to fire.

Never shoot at sound or movement. This can’t be stress enough. Here is where the majority of turkey hunting accidents occur. Positively identify your target as a wild turkey before releasing your gun safety.

Check your background before shooting. Be sure there is no chance for a line-of-fire accident to happen. This is another high occurrence hunting accident situation.

When walking in the woods before first light, use a flashlight. Not only does this identify you to other hunters, you can watch your step so you don’t fall and cause yourself injury.

Be aware of turkey fever. This can and does happen. In the excitement of the hunt, hunters have been known to hyperventilate in close encounters with turkeys. Stay calm, be sure you keep your senses and don’t be tempted to take unnecessary risks or shots. Get your breath and stay calm.

Don’t get caught up in "peer pressure" and the idea you have to kill a turkey. Clear thinking, a positive attitude, and using common sense will benefit you more than having a friend stress killing a turkey.

Some situations require you to run, such as breaking up a flock of wild turkeys. Be sure of your footing and control the muzzle of your gun.

When hunting with friends or family, know each others location and area of travel. Avoid areas of high hunting pressure.

Choose safe and ethical hunting companions. Hunt defensively and be alert for those who don’t. Don’t be afraid to correct a friends safety mistake. You might safe a life sometime.

Never mix alcohol or drugs with hunting. Check your vision to ensure you eyesight is not impaired. Your health is as important as safety.

Discuss safety techniques when talking about turkey hunting. Make safety as much a part of your conversation as calling, location, and set-up.

Know your target. Can you identify a gobbler from a hen. Learn the characteristics between a gobbler and a hen. Study their habits and listen to their vocabulary. There is more to turkey hunting than the kill.

Know and obey your state game laws. Turkey hunting is a privilege that can be enjoyed without breaking game laws or disregarding hunting ethics.

Turkey Hunting Ethics

Safety is just one consideration in hunting ethics, which encompasses all the responsibilities a hunter has to other hunters, landowners, the general public, and the game. Governments require certain generally accepted ethical behavior through hunting laws, gun laws, and regulations. In other cases, the hunter himself has the obligation to decide what is right, what is wrong, and hunt according to those standards.

Some ethical questions are simple: Any responsible turkey hunter would abhor shooting a nesting hen or roosted birds at first light. Others are more complex and open for debate: Is it acceptable to shoot a wild turkey that lands on a tree limb as they fly into your calling location?

Should I try to call to a turkey that another hunter is working? I hear a gobbler just on the other side of a "No Trespassing" sign - should I go for it? A turkey hangs up and just before flushing do I take a shot - is a wounded bird worth the price?

Most ethical questions can be resolved by answering the questions, is it legal, or, is it fair to everyone concerned, including the game and myself? There are standards to follow, but ultimately, you must decide.

Passing Along the Tradition

If you’re a hunter in the truest sense, you will eventually reach a point where you derive the most hunting satisfaction from introducing others to the sport.

It may be acquainting a friend with hunting, taking a boy or girl on their first turkey hunt, or volunteering to be an instructor in a hunter education program.

Talk with the new hunter about hunting, the hunting tradition, game laws,
and the ethics that all hunters should abide. Show respect for the game by never taking a chancy shot, by making every effort to recover a wounded bird, and by never wasting bagged game. Show them how important it is to treat landowners and the general public with respect, to prevent prejudice against hunters. Instruct new hunters early on firearms safety, hunter safety, ethics, and responsibility because their respect and appreciation of our hunting heritage will determine the future of hunting.

You might want to become involved with a Local Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and do your part to put something back into your sport. Local Chapters conduct hunter safety seminars, participate in hunter education courses, provide free hunting literature and wild turkey material to local schools, and work on habitat improvement projects on public ground. They attend and support local sports shows and provide information on safe and successful turkey hunting.

The Pennsylvania State Chapter - National Wild Turkey Federation would like to thank the National Rifle Association, Quaker Boy Turkey Calls, Winchester, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission for providing their support to educating turkey hunters and the general public on safety and ethics. Their influence and association has led to several partnership programs conducted by the Pennsylvania State Chapter and its Local Chapters that help educate the hunting public through hunting seminars, hunter education programs, and distribution of firearms and hunter safety material.

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