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.