Turkey hunting has the potential to be inherently hazardous, and Maine has had a number of turkey hunting incidents and at least one serious shooting. This is because amazingly realistic bird decoys are set up in open places where other hunters can see them from a long distance. Combine this with the fact that camo-clad hunters, who can’t be readily seen, are hunkered down not far from their lifelike decoys. These hidden hunters then spend the morning making sounds that, in some cases, emulate the real McCoy.

A few years ago an Arundel man spotted what he thought was a turkey from the highway. He got out of his truck, stalked the bird from a distance and then discharged his shotgun at what was in fact another hunter’s decoy – 80 yards away! The hunter concealed behind his decoy was badly injured by a charge of turkey loads.

What the Arundel shotgunner did was not turkey hunting. Ethical turkey hunters don’t hunt from pickup trucks. Nor do they attempt to stalk a bird. Turkey hunters who deserve to be called sportsmen get into the woods at daybreak and, with or without decoys, try to call the Tom turkey to them. Concealment and the calling in of the bird is, after all, the very essence of the turkey hunt. Above all, an ethical and responsible turkey hunter never, under any circumstances, would attempt to shoot a turkey from a distance of 80 yards! That distance is more than twice the effective range of any turkey load.

If you are a new Maine turkey hunter, you are urged to keep this bad example in mind. The only reason Maine has a limited turkey hunt is concern about safety. There are plenty of birds to go around. But enforcement people and state biologists, mindful of the hazards, are afraid that an uncontrolled turkey hunt will generate safety issues. If turkey hunters behave themselves, and demonstrate an appreciation for sound ethics and safe gun handling, we will get the chance to hunt without waiting for a lottery draw that much sooner.

The state of Vermont, from whence our original wild turkeys sprang, has been dealing with this safety issue for many more years than Maine. Here is what Vermont Fish and Wildlife folks tell their spring longbeard hunters about keeping safe in the turkey woods of the Green Mountain State.

Wild turkeys have a keen sense of sight and can easily detect out of place colors or movement in the woods, which is why camouflage clothing is essential for turkey hunting. But, camouflage not only reduces a turkey’s ability to detect the hunter, it also makes it difficult for other hunters to see you when you are turkey hunting. It happens during turkey season every year somewhere in the U.S. A hunter mistakenly shoots another hunter. Fortunately, these accidents are rare in Vermont because hunters are better educated today than they were when turkey hunting began three decades ago. Several factors are involved in these accidents, but most often hunters are sneaking up on other hunters who are calling, and hunters are wearing turkey colors such as red, white, blue or black. Hunter education experts all agree there are three solutions to these problems: • Don’t stalk. Call the turkey to you. • Don’t wear the colors red, white, blue, or black on anything that might be exposed during your hunt. • Don’t hide where your view is obstructed. Here are some other precautions to follow while turkey hunting. First and foremost, be completely sure of your target before you shoot. Only use a hen call, never a gobbler call, while turkey hunting. Do not sit in a thicket or brush pile. Choose a place to sit where you have good visibility so you can clearly see another hunter approaching you, and make sure you sit in front of a large tree or rock that completely protects your back, neck and head.

One final suggestion: I always carry a hunter orange bandanna in my daypack. Any turkeys that I carry out of the woods will sport this bright bandanna as a signal to any other hunters nearby that this bird is taken.

Done right, spring turkey hunting can be as much outdoor fun as you will ever have. Once you have taken your first gobbler, you’ll be hooked forever. Have a safe hunt.



The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is paul@sportingjournal.com.

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