Rules for Turkey Hunting

For safety, follow these simple rules when turkey hunting.

• Never wear red, white, blue, or black, the colors of a male wild turkey. Dress defensively, and wear hunter orange when moving in the turkey woods.
• Positively identify your target. Be absolutely certain it’s a legal turkey before pulling the trigger. Never identify only by sound or movement.
• Never stalk turkey sounds or attempt to sneak up on wild turkeys. Always call the turkey to you.
• Make sure the shot path to the bird and beyond is safe.
• Never shoot at a turkey that is beyond the effective range of your shotgun or bow.
• Think defensively, and assume that other hunters are nearby.
• Shout “STOP” at approaching hunters to reveal your presence. Don’t move, wave, whistle, or make turkey calls to get their attention.
• Assume that any sound you hear may be another hunter.
• Avoid using gobble calls that might attract other hunters to your location.
• Avoid using tail-fanning techniques. Even if you are out in the open where there is little additional cover, fans may be large enough to hide you while you are lying down. Another hunter might think the tail fan is a gobbler and shoot.
• Put decoys in an open area, and use extreme caution to avoid attracting other hunters.
• Protect your back by sitting against a large tree or other natural barrier that will shield you from a hunter approaching from the rear.
• Never carry harvested turkeys in the open. Cover them with a hunter orange vest, or put them in a game bag.