GOOD REMINDER

[nastygunz]

VERMONT AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES
PRESS RELEASE

Turkey Hunting-Related Shooting is Being Investigated

WATERBURY, VT -- Vermont State Game Wardens are investigating an apparent hunting-related shooting in Pomfret .

Two parties of two hunters each were turkey hunting after separately viewing and stalking the same turkey in a field off South Pomfret Road in Pomfret. The shooter fired one shot from his 12-gauge shotgun, striking two other hunters approximately 60 yards away, in the hand, torso and head with number 5 shot. Both of the victims were transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with non-life threatening wounds.

One of the victims, a man from Thetford Center, was released, while the other man, from Barnard, underwent surgery to remove pellets from his head and torso. He is expected to remain in hospital for a few days.

"This is the first turkey hunting-related shooting in Vermont since 2006," said Hunter Education Coordinator Chris Saunders, "and it's an unfortunate reminder that stalking turkeys is foolish. Your chances of getting close are poor, and you may be sneaking up on another hunter."

Other turkey hunting safety tips include:

*       Stick with hen calls. A gobbler call is intended for special situations and might attract other hunters.

*        Don't be patriotic. Avoid red, white or blue. A tom turkey's head has similar colors.

*       Avoid unnecessary movement. This could alert turkeys and attract hunters.

*       Don't hide so well that you impair your field of vision

*       Wrap your turkey in some blaze orange cloth for the hike back to the car.

*       Always sit with your back against a tree trunk, big log or a boulder that is wider than your body. This protects you from being accidentally struck by pellets fired from behind you.

*       If you use a decoy, place it on the far side of a tree trunk or a rock so you can see the birds approaching from all directions, but cannot actually see the decoy. This prevents you from being directly in the line of fire should another hunter mistakenly shoot at your decoy.

*       Never shoot unless you're absolutely sure of your target. Since only turkeys with beards are legal during the spring season, lack of positive identification could result in shooting an illegal bird, or worse, another hunter.

*       Consider wearing hunter orange while moving from set-up to set-up. Take it off when you are in position.

[Frogman]

Good Reminder indeed!!
    While hunting at Redbird with Weedwalker and Al, we actually ended a stand early because other hunters came in behind where we were set up and began calling coyotes.  I was watching a coyote down over a steep hill when Al and Ed hollered at me to end the stand.  My hearing is so bad that I had not heard the other hunters.  After that stand Al and I started using our walkie-talkies to better communicate on stands!!  A coyote hunter on another forum recently got shot by his hunting partner on a night hunt.  One of them changed locations after the stand began and the dog came in between them.  The walkie talkies might have avoided this situation as well!!??.  We all need to be very careful!!!

Jim

[nastygunz]

Up where im from the turkeys really seem to bring the whackos out....its really the only hunting season where I am on edge because of people doing crazy stuff to get a bird...I think its because the birds are more visible then deer and other big game.....if theres a big tom in a field its like a friggin train wreck of vehicles out on the road stopping...i slap on my blaze orange ball cap when im moving to and from the hunt and when I am sitting in one spot I will stick my knife in a tree and hang the hat off it...turkeys see tape and fence and all kinds of stuff and I dont think it bothers them a bit but hopefully it will make some hunters aware I am around....I have had 2 times where I had hunters come up on me and I have yelled out im right here!.....another thing is I dont put my decoys in line with me and I have 2 hens and a jake and I wont even use the jake for fear some idiot will take a shot at it I just use the hens...I had more then one hunter give my jake the eye.... :shck:..so I hope everyone using the Pretty Boy decoys and such where you put a real fan on them and all is being REAL careful using them!

[nastygunz]

And deer rifle season?...........you could spot my orange 10 miles away.... ....Ive just seen too many idiots and unsafe hunters in my time.

[Silencer]

Up where im from the turkeys really seem to bring the whackos out....

Same for NEPA, every idiot is out there !!   Although PA passed the law where you dont need to wear an orange hat between stands I ALWAYS have mine, maybe not on but at least in my pocket where I can easily grab and wave it.