Head shot turkey hunting - me not the turkey!

[jackelope]

Rainier - yes you can use this story and x-ray. If it prevents just one person from getting into a bad situation, that would be good. If it saves somebody's eyesight, that would be good. If it saves a life, that would be even better. My wife never wants me to hunt again. Turkey hunting is my passion and I so look forward to opening day. I've got years worth of successful turkey hunting pics, but this years pics are x-rays and the ER visit.

Curious to know what you'd tell a young hunter to prevent something like what happened to you from happening again in the future.

[DaveMonti]

Rainier - yes you can use this story and x-ray. If it prevents just one person from getting into a bad situation, that would be good. If it saves somebody's eyesight, that would be good. If it saves a life, that would be even better. My wife never wants me to hunt again. Turkey hunting is my passion and I so look forward to opening day. I've got years worth of successful turkey hunting pics, but this years pics are x-rays and the ER visit.

Curious to know what you'd tell a young hunter to prevent something like what happened to you from happening again in the future.

I think it's a great example of why you should "Be sure of your target and beyond", as I was taught 35 or so years ago. 

[Bob33]

We show a video in our hunting education classes that includes a very similar incident: a hunter stalking a "turkey" which turns out to be another hunter. The stalking hunter shoots and kills the other hunter by mistaking him for a turkey. We engage the class in discussing (a) what the shooter did wrong, and also (b) what if anything the victim could have done differently.

[DaveMonti]

We show a video in our hunting education classes that includes a very similar incident: a hunter stalking a "turkey" which turns out to be another hunter. The stalking hunter shoots and kills the other hunter by mistaking him for a turkey. We engage the class in discussing (a) what the shooter did wrong, and also (b) what if anything the victim could have done differently.

Isn't this a bit traumatic for todays youth?  You might have to start providing a "safe space" for the pupils!  And counseling!

I figure the victim should not be wearing a turkey decoy on his head.  That will get you into trouble every time!

[Bob33]

We show a video in our hunting education classes that includes a very similar incident: a hunter stalking a "turkey" which turns out to be another hunter. The stalking hunter shoots and kills the other hunter by mistaking him for a turkey. We engage the class in discussing (a) what the shooter did wrong, and also (b) what if anything the victim could have done differently.

Isn't this a bit traumatic for todays youth?  You might have to start providing a "safe space" for the pupils!  And counseling!

I figure the victim should not be wearing a turkey decoy on his head.  That will get you into trouble every time!

We provide counseling after the video. State provided, of course.

In the video the victim does were a red bandanna which is obviously not very wise when turkey hunting. While the emphasis is always on the shooter being ultimately responsible, there are some things that can be done to reduce the risk of being a shooting victim.

[2MANY]

I'm teaching my son to always identify a willing target and back out prior to shooting.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Glad your alive to tell the story. I would think some Hunter Orange may have prevented this incident. Wasn't Hunter Orage Mandated from westside hunting incidents?   

[Yelper Guy]

We revisited the scene of the incident with two Gamies that are investigating the accident (nice Guys).
From where we were sitting, to where the final shot was taken, there was no line of sight, so hunter orange wouldn't have helped a bit. The hill was kind of bench-like, sloping down. He was totally out of sight. 

[Rainier10]

Rainier - yes you can use this story and x-ray. If it prevents just one person from getting into a bad situation, that would be good. If it saves somebody's eyesight, that would be good. If it saves a life, that would be even better. My wife never wants me to hunt again. Turkey hunting is my passion and I so look forward to opening day. I've got years worth of successful turkey hunting pics, but this years pics are x-rays and the ER visit.

Curious to know what you'd tell a young hunter to prevent something like what happened to you from happening again in the future.

That is a great question especially since he just experienced it.

The shooter should have know what was beyond his target.

I think Yelper had said earlier that he should have shot off a round to alert the other hunter when he heard the first shot or maybe someone else said that.

I am not sure what I would have done differently but my guess is Yelper has thought about it a lot and I too would love to know his thoughts.

[Yelper Guy]

Exactly Rainier - when we heard the first shot we should have yelled or touched-off a round to alert the other hunter of our presence. I've only read about shouting out to another hunter coming into your set-up. I've never read anything about close encounters like this before. Absolutely I have re-thought the entire encounter. If someone is close to my set-up and shoots (if I ever get to go again) I will scream , yell, shoot or do whatever it takes to let them know they are not alone. Spread the word!

[Rainier10]

Exactly Rainier - when we heard the first shot we should have yelled or touched-off a round to alert the other hunter of our presence. I've only read about shouting out to another hunter coming into your set-up. I've never read anything about close encounters like this before. Absolutely I have re-thought the entire encounter. If someone is close to my set-up and shoots (if I ever get to go again) I will scream , yell, shoot or do whatever it takes to let them know they are not alone. Spread the word!

I figured you had gone over the days events a time or two..... thousand.

[Machias]

When I was nearly shot in the face, I turned my head and screamed at the top of my lungs "Don't Shoot"!!!  Of course at that point I would have already been shot in the face, but I was afraid he might try and finish him off if he flopped around.  I was also pretty sure when I checked myself I was going to find holes, either in my clothing or in my skin. 

Sure glad you did not lose an eye.

If you want to read up on turkey hunting accidents and their causes, check out Missouri, they usually have 10 to 15 shooting accidents a year.  Most are shooting at red white or blue objects, shooting at movement when you think a bird is coming in, waving at an approaching hunter is a good way to get shot.  Always shout, never move to reveal your presence.   Now it is normally a little more open in Eastern WA than it is in MO, brush wise, but stalking is such a bad idea for so many reasons.  Just a great way to get shot or shoot someone you are unaware.

[DaveMonti]

I'm teaching my son to always identify a willing target and back out prior to shooting.

I got that one.  You'd better teach him to make sure there's a barrier between him and his willing target!

[2MANY]

LOL.

It's a far cry from my dad's advice.

"If it feels good........ do it!"

[Jester052]

Sorry this happened to you. I'm glad your okay. We're you sitting against a tree? Did the shot come from in front or behind you? Scary none the less.