Since I hope to be heading to turkey camp tomorrow evening and won't be on here, I just wanted to wish everyone a safe and fun season!
And, on the subject of safety, it is worth taking a step back and thinking about a few of the issues that have turned turkey hunting into one of the deadliest shooting sports. The number one issue to me is the change in mindset from calling in a bird to point blank range to trying to fill a 3-4 bird limit in the least number of days afield. Many years ago, with fewer turkeys and a bag limit of 1-2 birds, it was a little more laid back deal. Since you were limited in the number you could kill, if you enjoyed the sport, you didn't want to submit to gimmicks to try to end your season prematurely. Now, with our four bird limit, it seems the "game" is to kill them as fast as you can so you can poke out your chest and say I'm limited out.
That is leading to some very unsafe practices such as the fanning game, full-strut decoys, etc, etc. With the trespass issues that are out there, never assume that you are alone on a property, even if you own or control the access. It might be worth the self question of whether or not it is really worth it to use the fans, as there have been hunters shot while doing so.
Another deal for folks in my age bracket that isn't usually considered is white on the head. And, I'm speaking of the hunter and not the gobbler. White hair and beards poking up over a log you are sitting in front of can look a lot like a gobbler head to an excited and uneducated hunter. It is a safer bet to make sure all of that is under some camo when out there. Red and some other colors are issues as well. With the expansion of the use of the super shot where some hunters are convinced they can ethically kill at 80-90 yds, mistakes are more apt to happen than the calling one in to 25 yds scenario I mentioned at the top.Just as the super shot is more lethal to turkeys at extended ranges, it is more lethal to shot hunters as well. So, be sure of your target if you are the shooter. As you learned in hs, once you pull that trigger, you can't take that shot back.
Stay safe, and I hope everyone gets to play with some hard gobbling birds.
scn
And, on the subject of safety, it is worth taking a step back and thinking about a few of the issues that have turned turkey hunting into one of the deadliest shooting sports. The number one issue to me is the change in mindset from calling in a bird to point blank range to trying to fill a 3-4 bird limit in the least number of days afield. Many years ago, with fewer turkeys and a bag limit of 1-2 birds, it was a little more laid back deal. Since you were limited in the number you could kill, if you enjoyed the sport, you didn't want to submit to gimmicks to try to end your season prematurely. Now, with our four bird limit, it seems the "game" is to kill them as fast as you can so you can poke out your chest and say I'm limited out.
That is leading to some very unsafe practices such as the fanning game, full-strut decoys, etc, etc. With the trespass issues that are out there, never assume that you are alone on a property, even if you own or control the access. It might be worth the self question of whether or not it is really worth it to use the fans, as there have been hunters shot while doing so.
Another deal for folks in my age bracket that isn't usually considered is white on the head. And, I'm speaking of the hunter and not the gobbler. White hair and beards poking up over a log you are sitting in front of can look a lot like a gobbler head to an excited and uneducated hunter. It is a safer bet to make sure all of that is under some camo when out there. Red and some other colors are issues as well. With the expansion of the use of the super shot where some hunters are convinced they can ethically kill at 80-90 yds, mistakes are more apt to happen than the calling one in to 25 yds scenario I mentioned at the top.Just as the super shot is more lethal to turkeys at extended ranges, it is more lethal to shot hunters as well. So, be sure of your target if you are the shooter. As you learned in hs, once you pull that trigger, you can't take that shot back.
Stay safe, and I hope everyone gets to play with some hard gobbling birds.
scn
