Identification

The wild turkey has red, white, blue, and black coloring on its head. Wearing these colors while hunting is like painting a target on your back. Many turkey-hunting shooting incidents occur because hunters think they see a wild turkey. In reality, many of these incidents happen because the hunter sees movement and shoots. If someone is wearing wild turkey colors, such as a red handkerchief around the neck, a blue T-shirt, or dark-colored camouflaged clothing, that person could be mistaken for a male turkey.

It is very important to be sure of your target before you pull the trigger. In Pennsylvania, there are two wild turkey hunting seasons. One season occurs in fall, and the other is in the spring. During the spring wild turkey season, only bearded turkeys can be shot. You must be able to identify the basic physical characteristics of a male wild turkey.