New Hampshire is Wild: Wild Turkey Hunt Begins in May – Safety is Key

Many New Hampshire hunters have gotten bit by the turkey hunting bug.

 

https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/turkey-season.html 

Did you know New Hampshire Fish and Game says we have an estimated population  of 25000 turkeys! Wow!!

There are many web sites and YouTube videos that share techniques and use bow/crossbow or shotgun to bag your bird.

But Safety is prime.

https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/hunting/turkey-safety.html

Excerpt from the NH website above:

Turkey Hunting Safety
  1. Never stalk a turkey. It rarely works and increases the risk of an accident.
  2. Never wear red, white or blue or black over- or under-clothing, because these are the prominent colors of displaying gobblers.
  3. Never call from a tree that is thinner than the width of your shoulders. Small trees won’t hide slight movements of your hands or shoulders, which might look like a turkey to another hunter.
  4. Never jump or turn suddenly in response to a suspected turkey. When turkey hunting, assume that every sound you hear is made by another hunter.
  5. Never call from a site where you can’t see at least 40 yards in all directions.
  6. Never imitate a gobbler call while concealed in a stand.
  7. Never presume that what you hear or what responds to your call is a turkey.
  8. Never think that your camouflage makes you totally invisible. To ID yourself to other hunters, wrap an orange band around a tree.
  9. Never hide so well that you can’t see what’s happening around you.
  10. Never move or wave to alert approaching hunters; shout “stop” instead. 

Be Safe out There!