05-02-2008, 08:17 PM
The Idaho spring general turkey hunt opens April 15.
Turkey populations are higher than ever and so is the turkey hunting population. As hunter numbers increase, so does the likelihood of encountering another in the woods, perhaps another hunter after the same bird you are calling.
In the wild, a gobbler calls to attract hens for breeding. The hen covers the distance to the gobbler. In hunting, we try to reverse this and make the gobbler come to our hen calls. Sometimes stubborn toms will "hang up" out of range, and hunters often try to close the distance by sneaking closer and calling again.
Such actions rarely cause problems. However, a risk arises when a hunter attempts to stalk to within a shooting distance of 30 to 40 yards. Upon seeing the turkeys, which in most cases have seen the hunter and begin to run, a shot is taken in haste without full knowledge of the background where another hunter may be concealed.
Hunting turkeys is most successful, most rewarding, and safest when the bird is called in and taken while the hunter is in a concealed calling position.
Another dangerous practice is the use of decoys. While they can be highly effective at bringing gobblers in close, they can also decoy another hunter. Most hunters use hen decoys and only bearded turkeys are legal game in the spring.
But some hunters have begun using decoys of bearded gobblers. That is simply asking for trouble. Another hunter sighting a realistic decoy with a beard is likely to take a shot, and the shot will likely be in the direction of the concealed hunter who placed the decoy in his own shooting lane. While the shooter is always responsible for his or her shot, the hunter who places a bearded tom decoy is increasing their risk of becoming an accident victim.
Turkey hunters should never wear the colors red, white, or blue while in the turkey woods. The head of a gobbler is red and white. A hen will have a blue-grey head. With hunters looking for these colors, they are colors to avoid wearing when hunting.
A good practice is to carry an orange hat to wear when moving from one location to another. Some hunters tie an orange band around the tree they are sitting against as a notice to other hunters that they are in the area.
If you are hunting from a concealed position, and you see another hunter approaching, do not wave or stand up to attract their attention. Call out to the other hunter so the hunter can determine your location. Waving from the general area that another hunter thinks a call came from could lead to a shot being fired in your direction.
When shooting at a turkey, keep in mind the most vulnerable area is the head and neck. Heavy, tough feathers covering the remainder of the body make body shots ineffective unless very heavy shot is used. Lead #4 or #6 pellets at the base of the neck will bring down a turkey within 30 yards every time.
Phil Cooper is the regional conservation educator in the Panhandle Region.
Turkey populations are higher than ever and so is the turkey hunting population. As hunter numbers increase, so does the likelihood of encountering another in the woods, perhaps another hunter after the same bird you are calling.
In the wild, a gobbler calls to attract hens for breeding. The hen covers the distance to the gobbler. In hunting, we try to reverse this and make the gobbler come to our hen calls. Sometimes stubborn toms will "hang up" out of range, and hunters often try to close the distance by sneaking closer and calling again.
Such actions rarely cause problems. However, a risk arises when a hunter attempts to stalk to within a shooting distance of 30 to 40 yards. Upon seeing the turkeys, which in most cases have seen the hunter and begin to run, a shot is taken in haste without full knowledge of the background where another hunter may be concealed.
Hunting turkeys is most successful, most rewarding, and safest when the bird is called in and taken while the hunter is in a concealed calling position.
Another dangerous practice is the use of decoys. While they can be highly effective at bringing gobblers in close, they can also decoy another hunter. Most hunters use hen decoys and only bearded turkeys are legal game in the spring.
But some hunters have begun using decoys of bearded gobblers. That is simply asking for trouble. Another hunter sighting a realistic decoy with a beard is likely to take a shot, and the shot will likely be in the direction of the concealed hunter who placed the decoy in his own shooting lane. While the shooter is always responsible for his or her shot, the hunter who places a bearded tom decoy is increasing their risk of becoming an accident victim.
Turkey hunters should never wear the colors red, white, or blue while in the turkey woods. The head of a gobbler is red and white. A hen will have a blue-grey head. With hunters looking for these colors, they are colors to avoid wearing when hunting.
A good practice is to carry an orange hat to wear when moving from one location to another. Some hunters tie an orange band around the tree they are sitting against as a notice to other hunters that they are in the area.
If you are hunting from a concealed position, and you see another hunter approaching, do not wave or stand up to attract their attention. Call out to the other hunter so the hunter can determine your location. Waving from the general area that another hunter thinks a call came from could lead to a shot being fired in your direction.
When shooting at a turkey, keep in mind the most vulnerable area is the head and neck. Heavy, tough feathers covering the remainder of the body make body shots ineffective unless very heavy shot is used. Lead #4 or #6 pellets at the base of the neck will bring down a turkey within 30 yards every time.
Phil Cooper is the regional conservation educator in the Panhandle Region.