Talk turkey this spring, but think safely
With spring gobbler season on the horizon, take time to think safety. Last week the Game Commission announced that 2006 was the safest season on record with only 30 shooting incidents reported.
The only fatalities came in deer season. One was self-inflicted, and the other was shot in mistake of game.
Of the 30 incidents, only nine involved turkey hunters. That’s a far cry from the 70’s, 80’s when so many hunters were being shot it created a public outcry.
I noted in an old accident report that 53 incidents alone involved turkey hunters in 1991 and two of those were fatalities.
Over the years the sport has gotten safer with the passage of laws that require wearing orange under certain conditions, posting an orange band to mark your location and legalizing the use of blinds for spring gobbler hunting have helped reduce the number of accidents.
Use common sense, and you should be OK.
In an effort to get more youngsters involved in hunting and the shooting sports, Pennsylvania introduces a whole new turkey hunting venture this Saturday when youngsters under 12 years of age will be able to go afield to hunt a spring gobbler without a license and even without taking a Hunter-Trapper Education course, under Mentored Youth Hunting Program guidelines.
Youngsters are to be schooled in firearm safety by their mentors who must be properly licensed and at least 21 years of age.
A one-mentor/one-hunter ratio is mandatory. When moving, the mentor must carry the firearm.
After reaching the hunting location, the mentor can turn the firearm over to the youngster, but the mentor must be no further than one arm’s length from the young hunter at any time. Mentored hunters can only hunt from a stationary position. They are not permitted to move about while in control of the firearm.
The hunter and his mentor must abide by all laws governing hunting of the species they pursue.
Some concern was voiced when the program was announced, but similar programs have been in effect in other states for years and have met with great success.
The good news is trout season began yesterday, and this year’s turkey forecast is upbeat with the spring gobbler season set to begin in earnest on April 28.
This year, hunters can bag their gobblers early and unpack the fishing tackle and ready their boats for the opening of walleye season on May 5.
Another season we want to keep in mind is mushroom picking season. Morels are due to start popping up. We’ve had the necessary rain, but some warmer nights would encourage them to sprout much sooner.
In getting back to turkeys, everybody has been sighting numerous and large flocks.
I, too, have been seeing larger flocks this year than I have for a while.
While the flocks are larger, a couple areas where it used to be easy to spot turkeys seem to be barren.
I don’t know what to blame that on. Maybe they are just more cautious and stay out of view due to the increased coyote population.
When out spring gobbler hunting, hunt safely. Don’t’ be a hero!
Don’t be afraid to yell or cough loudly if another hunter enters your space and is unaware of your presence.
Each year there are accidents during the turkey seasons that could have been prevented.
Most turkey hunting accidents involve a victim who is calling, moving or showing a flash of red, white or blue. To help reduce that danger, a few years back, the Game Commission legalized the use blinds for spring gobbler hunting because they conceal hunter movement.
I’ve always felt that no hunter should be allowed to move in the woods with a loaded gun during the spring season unless he or she is actively pursing a wounded bird. However, such a measure was proposed on more than one occasion and quickly shot down (no pun intended).
While some hunters see the good side of such a rule, they say that loading and unloading a shotgun can be a noisy process, especially in the case of auto-loading firearms.
With its keen eyesight and hearing, there is no way we can sneak up on a gobbler, so to avoid temptation and perhaps that shot you can never call back, carry your shotgun slung over your shoulder while moving.
All modern guns have slings, but those that don’t can be easily fitted with a slip-on sling, which also makes getting out of the woods after harvesting a gobbler much easier.
If you do not have a sling on your shotgun, at least carry it in a relaxed, not a ready position.
Pack it in the crook of your arm or on your shoulder.
Leave your safety on until you positively identify your target. Most safeties make little or no sound if you grasp it firmly and push it off slowly. A little gun lube will also make it work much easier.
Hunt smart. No gobbler is worth becoming involved in a hunting accident, either as the victim or the offender.
There are plenty of gobblers out there. If a certain big one doesn’t come in today, another one will be around tomorrow.
Remember. A safe hunt is a good hunt.
Herald-Standard outdoors editor Rod Schoener can be reached on line at rschoener@heraldstandard.com.