By Dan Papp, Wildlife Educator, IDFG - Southwest Region
In the United States, nearly three million hunters enjoy the outdoors pursuing wild turkey during both spring and fall hunting seasons. Given this fact, it remains remarkable that, in general, hunting accidents have continued to decline dramatically nationwide since the early 1980s.
Statistically, the National Safety Council claims that a person is more likely to be struck and killed by lightening than by another hunter's bullet. However, hunting incidents still occur. And because wearing camouflage is the name of the game when turkey hunting, turkey hunters - as a group - are at the greatest risk of being involved in a hunting accident.
Most turkey hunting accidents are visually-related; hunters are mistaken for game, they move into the line of fire, they were beyond the intended target, they were out of sight of the shooter, or the shooter was swinging on game and shot the hunter. In each case, individual turkey hunters did not adequately identify their target properly or check to make sure nothing was in front of or behind their target before they shot.
Of the 37 turkey hunting accidents recorded in the United States in 2004, 34 were vision-related. Although Idaho has had many fewer turkey hunting accidents than the rest of the nation, vision-related turkey hunting accidents are still the number one cause of hunting-related accidental shootings in the state. Since 1993, Idaho has had seven turkey hunting accidents, and all but one were vision-related. Five were categorized as mistaken for a turkey, and one involved a turkey hunter who had moved into the line of fire.
Turkey hunting accident victims are not necessarily without fault in these incidents. It is not uncommon for accident victims to be wearing red or blue handkerchiefs or shirts, blue, black or brown denim jeans, or white socks or t-shirts. They may not be wearing face paint or masks, and their hands may be exposed. From another turkey hunter's perspective, any of these visual cues can be mistakenly interpreted as a turkey approaching their hunting location.
Faced with these potential field situations, turkey hunters should always wait to see the entire bird before pulling the trigger. In addition, hunters should be certain that nothing is in the line of fire, or in front of or beyond their intended target.
On the flip side of these situations, partial camouflage does not get the job done. Turkey hunters should cover up from top to bottom, including face and hands. By not displaying colors that might be mistaken for a turkey by other hunters, you greatly reduce your chances of being shot while in the field.
If your spring plans include wild turkey hunting, good for you. There's nothing quite so thrilling as the earth-shaking gobble of a big tom turkey approaching your position. Just be smart when you do so, and consider this defensive and offensive measures checklist before, during and after your wild turkey hunt.
Recommended Defensive Measures
- Use camouflage correctly. Cover your entire head and body. An exposed hand or face can be mistaken for part of a turkey.
- Don't wear any color associated with a turkey. This means colors that are brown, red, blue, black, or white. At a distance, a brown shirt looks similar to the color and size of a turkey.
- Wear a "hunter orange" vest and hat when moving through the woods both to and from your hunting location.
- After harvesting a bird, immediately tag your turkey and place it in a hunter orange bag before moving through the woods.
- If you see another hunter approaching your hunting location, shout to identify yourself. Never, never wave, as the movement could draw fire from a careless shooter.
- Use caution when placing or picking up turkey decoys.
- Don't use the male gobbler call while hunting, as you may attract another hunter.
- Always sit with your back against a solid object to protect your blind side.
- Never stalk a turkey, as you might unwittingly be stalking another hunter's calling position.
- Never run with a firearm. After a successful shot, place the safety on, secure the firearm with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and then retrieve your bird.
Recommended Offensive Measures
- Wait to see the entire bird. Color, shape, sound, and movement are not enough to identify a turkey. Assume that anything that moves is another hunter until you can positively identify it otherwise.
- Make sure you have a clear field of view. Choose a location that enables viewing of the entire area where you expect to shoot.
- Locate a hunting spot that allows for a good backstop to avoid injury to someone beyond your intended target.
- Don't let excitement, nerves, or competitiveness cloud your judgment. Take a deep breath and think before you shoot.
- Make sure you have properly identified your target before you push the safety into the fire position.
- Keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times.
- When hunting with a partner, communicate effectively and stick to your hunting plan.
