Safety first when turkey hunting this spring

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VTFW) offers safety tips for the spring turkey hunting season. VTFW hunter education coordinator Nicole Meier strongly encourages all hunters to have a safe turkey hunt. Enjoying time afield, whether a turkey is brought home or not, marks a successful hunt.

With spring turkey season open now through May 31, VTFW recommends:

• Never shooting unless absolutely sure of the target and what is beyond it. Look for a beard as only turkeys with beards are legal during the spring season;

• Never stalk a gobbling turkey. The chance of getting close is poor, and another hunter could be tracking the same bird.

• Avoid red, white, blue or black in clothing and equipment; a tom turkey’s head has similar colors.

• Stick with hen calls. A gobbler call can draw in other hunters.

• Avoid unnecessary movement. This alerts turkeys and attracts hunters.

• Don’t hide so well that the field of vision is impaired.

• Wrap turkeys in blaze orange for the hike back to the vehicle.

• Always sit against a tree trunk, big log or a boulder that is wider than you are. This prevents being accidentally struck by pellets fired from behind.

• Place decoys on the far side of a tree trunk or a rock in order to avoid being directly in the line of fire should another hunter mistakenly shoot at the decoy.

• Wear hunter orange while moving from set-up to set-up. Take it off when in position.

• If another hunter is spotted, call out but don’t move until receiving a response. It may ruin the hunt, but can help avoid injury.

• Be aware of the effective range when shooting. For the most clean and ethical shot, make sure the shotgun is patterned and shots taken are within the effective range.