Turkey hunting can be a dangerous sport.

Turkey hunting can be a dangerous sport. If you turkey hunt, this article could save your life or prevent you from taking a life. I don’t know directly or indirectly a person who has been shot deer hunting but I know indirectly through a friend that a hunting partner of his was killed and directly a friend of mine was shot but survived while turkey hunting. Here are some tips to prevent you from being shot or accidentally shooting someone else. • No. 1 rule, always completely and positively identify your target before you pull the trigger. All turkey hunters know to make the best kill shot, you must aim for the head of a gobbler. Shooting the body of a gobbler may only wound it. Never shoot at movement. • Since the colors of a gobbler’s head are red, white and blue, never wear those colors in the woods. Wear full camo so a hand or face isn’t mistaken for a gobbler’s head. • When setting up for a turkey to call, always try and set against a big tree that will protect your back and head. • If using a decoy, try and position the decoy and have a tree between you and the site of the decoy to prevent another hunter from sneaking up and shooting at the decoy and you being in the line of fire. • Never use movement to identify your location. If you see another hunter approaching, use your voice to let him know you are in the area. Never wave at him. Once they hear your voice, they will not be in the hunting mode and could fire at motion. Direct them to see where you are by using voice commands before you do any movement. • Use caution when calling if using a gobbler call since that is the sound turkey hunters identify with their target. If another hunter is stalking the call, he is on high alert and could shoot at any movement thinking that is the gobbler. • Never try to stalk a turkey. Stalking is bad for you and other hunters. If you are stalking, you could be shot by another hunter. Again, movement is not good for you plus turkeys will spot movement better than humans. While you are stalking, you could be coming up on a hunter and your senses are high on shooting. It is very critical when stalking to be 99.9% sure before you pull the trigger. Setting up and calling the gobbler to you is the best and safest method. • If you are successful, you now must leave the woods or field with your gobbler. For years, I’ve used a hunter orange bag to carry my gobbler out of the woods. You can buy these commercially. If you have a hunter orange vest or ribbon, use those getting out of the woods or even carry a hunter orange cap and wear out of the woods. Abide by these rules and the woods will be a safer place for you and other turkey hunters in the woods.