Make safety part of your spring turkey hunting plan

As hunters plan their spring wild turkey hunt, safety reminders need to be included to ensure a fun outing.

Kyle Gaston, hunter education coordinator with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, reminds hunters to practice the four basic rules of firearm safety.

“With the excitement of a new season beginning, never let your emotions distract you and get in the way of a safe hunt this spring,” Gaston said.

The four basic rules of firearm safety are:

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded;
• Always point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe direction;
• Be sure of your target, what is in front of it, and what is beyond it; and
• Keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you are ready fire.

The youth shotgun turkey season opens April 5 and the regular shotgun season April 12. Archery season opened March 25. All spring seasons close at sunset May 31.

Spring turkey hunters also should practice these safety tips:

• Never shoot at movement, always positively identify your target, and check your surroundings for other hunters before picking up or moving your decoys.

• If you encounter another turkey hunter, remain still and speak in a loud clear voice to announce your presence. Avoid making sudden movements to alert others that you’re there.
• When hunting turkeys in the timber, sit against a tree or stump wider than your shoulders and taller than your head.
• Do not wear white, blue or red while turkey hunting, as these are the colors of turkey’s head in the spring.
• Carry decoys and any harvested birds in a bag when moving or packing in or out of your hunting spot. Wear a blaze orange cap and vest when you’re on the move to increase your visibility to other hunters.

“Be sure to review these basic safety practices with your friends and family before you hunt this spring,” Gaston said. “It will mean being able to relive the hunt and the great memories it provides – until your next turkey hunt.”