I don't know about you but I am getting ready for hunting season. I have my bow, my guns, my tree stand and all of my gear packed and ready to go. Although it is a little early, it never hurts to be prepared!
I was recently on the Wisconsin DNR website and they have some excellent advice to make your turkey hunt memorable, legal and safe.
I thought the turkey hunting safety tips were very important, although we all believe we are careful, someone who is new to your party or new to hunting may not be aware of these tips. The tips below are from the Wisconsin DNR. Please see their page for more information about hunting rules and regulations.
Turkey Hunting Safety Tips:
If you're heading out in the woods for turkey hunting, be extra careful
because you're dressed in camouflage. Most turkey hunting shooting
accidents occur because one hunter mistakes another hunter as game.
It's a good idea to wear a blaze orange cap or gloves while walking.
And find a hunting spot that allows you to rest your back against a tree or
some other object that is as wide as your shoulders. This helps protect you
from not only an errant shot, but from the good vision of the turkey.
Follow these simple rules for a safe and successful hunt.
*Use gobble calls only to locate a tom, not to attract one. Some other hunter might think you're a turkey.
* Keep hands and head camouflaged when calling.
* Never stalk a turkey and don't try to approach closer than 100 yards to a gobbler.
* Select a calling site from which you can see at least 40 yards in all directions.
* Never carry or move an uncovered decoy.
* Follow the four rules of basic firearm safety –
TABK.
T = Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Never assume a firearm is unloaded and never treat it that
way, even if you watch as it is unloaded. Make it a habit to treat guns like they are loaded all the time.
A = Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. About one third of all hunting incidents are self
inflicted injuries. That means the muzzle was pointed at some part of the hunter’s body. A safe direction
is a direction where the bullet will travel and harm no one in the event of an unwanted discharge. There
are no accidental discharges with firearms, only unwanted discharges.
B = Be certain of your target and what’s beyond it. Positive target identification is a must. To shoot
at something you only think is a legal target is gambling. In the case of human injury, that means
gambling with human life. You must be absolutely certain and correct in judgment before deciding to
shoot. Otherwise, it’s reckless behavior. In addition to identifying the target, a hunter must know that a
safe backstop for their bullet is present in every shooting situation. We don’t always hit our target, and,
in some cases, the bullet passes through the target. A safe backstop guarantees that no one will get hurt.
K = Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. If a hunter stumbles with a
firearm in one hand and nothing in the other, whatever that person does with their free hand will
automatically happen with the hand holding the gun. If a finger is inside the trigger guard, that hand is
likely going to close around the pistol grip of the gun and on the trigger causing an unwanted discharge.
AS ALWAYS KEEP TRACK OF YOUR HUNTING PARTY, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION AND A PLANED PLACE TO MEET AT THE END OF EACH DAY. BRING ALONG A FLASHLIGHT TO LIGHT YOUR WAY ALONG THE TRAILS!
MOST IMPORTANT BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!
If you need any gear for your hunt, such as a knife, flashlight, multi-tool or radio holder please give Stallion Leather a call at 414-764-7126 or check out our web page. You can reach it from the link above.
Also, come over and like us on Facebook! We are new to that social media site but will be posting sales and one day events in the future.
Have a great day!
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