Make sure what you are shooting at is a turkey

[pianoman9701]

 

[Rainier10]

Turkey hunting is the most dangerous of the hunting sports.  I know when I used to help teach hunter ed, it always had the highest rate of mistaken for game incidences reported across the nation.  You have guys either set up for turkeys or stalking them in full camo with decoys.  Be safe so and know your intended target.

Exactly. One invisible/full camo'd guy making turkey noises with fake turkeys set up 20 yards in front of him with another guy stalking the turkey noises. Come over a rise and see turkey making noise, shoot other guy in the face.

It's actually amazing it doesn't happen more.

[Mfowl]

Do not use this method of turkey hunting! Seems fun and effective but extremely dangerous for yourself and others in the field, private or public!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DU9WT9qhH-yg&ved=0ahUKEwjplszDwsLTAhUB8mMKHRZJBpsQwqsBCDkwBg&usg=AFQjCNFsN3xkh3-jPqU7qrGzyaCf8R-btQ&sig2=f3m3rmyopCq8TzT_FDXn7A

[kselkhunter]

I remember in hunters ed back in the early 80s we had to watch a video of a re-enactment of a guy turkey hunting dressed in brown with a red head scarf making turkey gobbles, getting stalked by a hunter and shot in the head.  Not sure if that is still in the education videos these days, or if videos are still part of the required regiment. But it made a lasting memory for me.

Page 6 of the Washington turkey regs has a clear summary on what not to do under "safe and ethical turkey hunting". Always seemed common sense to me. 

[Rainier10]

I remember in hunters ed back in the early 80s we had to watch a video of a re-enactment of a guy turkey hunting dressed in brown with a red head scarf making turkey gobbles, getting stalked by a hunter and shot in the head.  Not sure if that is still in the education videos these days, or if videos are still part of the required regiment. But it made a lasting memory for me.

Page 6 of the Washington turkey regs has a clear summary on what not to do under "safe and ethical turkey hunting". Always seemed common sense to me.

That video is still used today in some classes.

Just started another thread about hunting safely and last year's hunting incidents.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,212443.0.html

[JDHasty]

I was on a pheasant release site on Ft Lewis and saw what appeared to a black bear walking away on the far side of a blackberry thicket, turns out it was a teenage girl out hunting with her dad, actually just tagging along, who was wearing a fur hat with ears on it.  It takes the damnedest of damn fools to think up some of these dumb tricks.   

[bearpaw]

Do not use this method of turkey hunting! Seems fun and effective but extremely dangerous for yourself and others in the field, private or public!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DU9WT9qhH-yg&ved=0ahUKEwjplszDwsLTAhUB8mMKHRZJBpsQwqsBCDkwBg&usg=AFQjCNFsN3xkh3-jPqU7qrGzyaCf8R-btQ&sig2=f3m3rmyopCq8TzT_FDXn7A

Get on youtube and search "turkey fanning" or "turkey reaping". Or google "Be the Decoy"!
These techniques are actually being pushed pretty hard.

[Mfowl]

Do not use this method of turkey hunting! Seems fun and effective but extremely dangerous for yourself and others in the field, private or public!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DU9WT9qhH-yg&ved=0ahUKEwjplszDwsLTAhUB8mMKHRZJBpsQwqsBCDkwBg&usg=AFQjCNFsN3xkh3-jPqU7qrGzyaCf8R-btQ&sig2=f3m3rmyopCq8TzT_FDXn7A

Get on youtube and search "turkey fanning" or "turkey reaping". Or google "Be the Decoy"!
These techniques are actually being pushed pretty hard.

I have seen this style being pushed on a few hunting shows since last season. I wonder if it will end up being outlawed after enough incidents arise. You will not catch me doing it, ever!

[bearpaw]

especially on public ground...

[Skillet]

Its akin to walking through the elk woods in full camo with last year's rack strapped to your head.

Pretty dumb.

[h20hunter]

Plenty of stupid people out there. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the person behind the trigger.  You own every pellet, arrow, or bullet. In the end doesn't matter how big of a mistake the other person makes, its your mistake for shooting.

[pianoman9701]

Agreed but I'm not about to bet my life there are no stupid shooters out there, regardless of whose responsibility it is.

[h20hunter]

Yep, I'm with you.

[Whitenuckles]

A guy in a red Chevy shot me about 10 years ago. I was hunting on private land. He drove through a private road, saw my Tom decoy and shot at it. I happened to be 20 behind it in the line of fire. Only 3 BB penetrated my skin, but I was pissed. Got up running at him. I've never seen the truck again. Be careful everyone, even on private property it can still happen.

[idaho guy]

Agreed but I'm not about to bet my life there are no stupid shooters out there, regardless of whose responsibility it is.

  agreed you need to know your target and beyond that was the rule I had to memorize back when I took hunter ed in Montana  35 plus years ago!   the shooter is 100% at fault but why set yourself up for to be target practice for a fool? There are more than a few out there