TURKEY HUNTING CAN BE DANGEROUS SPORT

JEFFERSON CITY -- Every year during Missouri's spring turkey hunting season, several hunters are injured in firearms hunting accidents. Most are wounded by shotgun pellets when they are mistaken for game. A few die. It doesn't have to be that way, according to Bob Staton, protection programs supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).

Last year's spring turkey season produced a near-record harvest of more than 37,000 turkey gobblers. It also produced one of the highest numbers of turkey hunting accidents in recent years. Fourteen hunters suffered gunshot wounds during the '95 season. That number included a hunter who died when he was caught in another hunter's line of fire.

In the past five years, says Staton, 50 turkey hunters have been wounded while turkey hunting, and two have died of gunshot wounds while turkey hunting. "A certain number of these are self-inflicted injuries that result from careless firearms handling. We also have a fair number that involve hunters who just happen to be in the line of fire when another hunter shoots at a turkey. But by far the most common cause of turkey hunting injuries and deaths are classified as 'victim mistaken for game' accidents."

Staton says the nature of turkey hunting makes participants more prone to accidents. Turkey hunters camouflage themselves to avoid detection by the wary birds. Furthermore, they imitate a wild turkey hen's calls to attract gobblers. "It's easy to make a mistake unless you are constantly on your guard," he says.

Staton says the shooter who fails to identify his or her target positively bears ultimate responsibility for such accidents. But the victims usually have failed to observe rules that could have saved them devastating disruption of their lives, years of suffering, or even permanent disability. He urges turkey hunters to remember and observe the 10 commandments of turkey hunting safety:

1. Always identify your target positively before slipping off the safety. Force yourself to wait until you see the entire bird rather than shooting at a turkey "head," which could turn out to be another hunter's hand, a handkerchief or brightly colored item of clothing.

2. Never hunt in areas that other hunters may be using. Trespassing on land where you do not have permission to hunt exposes you to accidents because legitimate hunters may assume they have the land to themselves. Never assume this yourself.

3. If you see another hunter, shout to identify yourself. Never wave. The movement of your camouflaged form could draw fire from a careless shooter.

4. Choose calling sites that offer an open field of view ahead and to the sides. This will give you a clear shot at any turkey and permit you to see approaching people. (Also, turkeys' keen vision gives them a natural advantage in thick cover.) Exercise extreme caution if you use a gobble call or a turkey decoy. These may draw fire.

5. When calling, sit with your back against a tree or other solid object that will protect your blind side from injury.

6. Wear a hunter-orange vest and hat when moving through the woods. When setting up a stand to call, wrap the vest around the tree where you will be seated to warn other hunters of your presence. Thousands of successful hunters have proven that turkeys are not spooked by a motionless orange hunting vest on a tree. When carrying a turkey out of the woods, wrap it in orange or cover it completely to avoid drawing fire.

7. Avoid any item colored red, white, blue or black, the colors associated with a turkey gobbler.

8. Don't try to stalk a turkey. You could be stalking another hunter, who could shoot you by mistake. Besides, it is virtually impossible to sneak up on a turkey. Sitting still as a stone is the only effective way to get close to a turkey.

9. Remember safe firearms handling rules. Keep your gun pointed in a safe direction at all times. Leave your gun unloaded and keep the safety on until you are ready to shoot. Never run with a loaded firearm.

10. Don't let excitement or peer pressure cloud your judgement. Wait to see the entire bird before shooting. The consequences of shooting another person are too awful to risk.

Here's another practical tip for turkey hunters. This is the first year that the Missouri Department of Conservation has issued turkey hunting permits under its automated "point-of-sale" system. The process takes a little longer for first-time permit buyers, so those who wait until April 21 to buy their permits could be standing in long lines. Buying early could save you time and frustration. Hunters should remember to pick up transportation tags when purchasing their permits.