In wisconsin hunters safety, they teach a rule that i think covers all the basics: TAB-K
1) T- Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
2) A- Always point your muzzle in a safe direction.
3) B- Be sure of your target and what's beyond
4)K- Keep your finger outside the trigger gaurd until your ready to shoot.

when you are running and gunning and are going to set up under a tree, check for snakes, alot of turkey hunters get bit on arms and face because they drop down on one hand and knees and aren't looking at the ground.

I hunt public land exclusively. One of the things you see a lot is multiple hunters on one bird. The first thing ALL hunters should do is respect others that are hunting in an area. If someone is parked in an area, don't park next to them if you don't know where they are. And don't try to figure out how you can get to the same area by coming in from a different direction.

If you are setup on a bird and you hear another hunter calling or coming to the bird you are on, give three distinct yelps to let them know you are there. It happened to me last year where another hunter was coming in off a ridge blowing a crow call getting the bird I was watching to gobble. I gave him three loud yelps (had to do it 3 different times) before getting his attention. The gobbler was only about 100 yards from me and was in sight. It never spooked the birds but it let the hunter know I was there.

The first part is common sense - Don't leave your ethics in the truck.

However!

Sorry - calling to another hunter with 3 loud yelps is not a safe way to hunt. You may run into the new hunter who thonks he might be on a hot turkey anyway you look at it!

JW

Don't get lazy and or complacent,
Many accidents happen when veteran hunters start taking short cuts,
Or don't pay attention to the basics because starts to be routine.
Treestands come to mind where hunters who climbed a stand a thousand times,
Maybe forgot their harness in the truck and don't feel like going back,
And happens to be the day they missed a step.

Hiking rough terrain, one foot in front of the other,
Stop paying attention to your step, is when your twisting that ankle.

So what do you do? I've got a guy coming off a ridge at more than 250 yards away. I first gave him three blows from my crow call. When he kept making his way forward I gave him three yelps...not like I was calling a turkey kind of yelps ...YELP ......YELP .....YELP ....loud and spaced out. There was NO way to confuse what I was doing with an actual bird.

So what do you do? I have a bird (birds, actually) that I am looking at that is moving my way and is just at 100 yards away. I have another hunter that is much further out that is making his way toward me.

I'm not going to stand up and yell or say something unless I first try to get his attention by making it obvious that another hunter is there.

Now if there is a guy that is much closer, yeah, I let him know I'm there. But until he closes that gap to an unsafe distance, I am going to try and let him know I'm there before I spook my bird. I'm open to suggestions.

As I said, I hunt public land EXCLUSIVELY. I have had run-ins more than once. Only twice have I had someone actually try to get setup on a bird I'm working and both times they got the same treatment....Three LOUD, well spaced yelps. Both times have worked.

I would like to hear what others think.

Good topic to post on the main turkey forum. But how about the hunter who does not stop and does not call back but continues to come in and you can't see them?

Stalking a bird is NOt illegal in most states.

JW

That's where common sense enters the picture. Like has been said here already, pick a good tree, be aware of your surroundings, and don't be stupid.

My advice is more of how to keep safe while not ruining your hunt.

If it gets to a point where another hunter has gotten to an unsafe range I would give them a whistle first. If they continue I just tell them I'm there. No sudden movements or yelling. Just a simple "Hey".

make 100% sure you identify your target and whats beyond it. once that trigger is pulled there is no way to reverse it. and that can have devastateing consequinzes

very well said it can never be stressed enough once you pull that trigger you cant take that bullet back whether you like it or not anything on the opisite end of that barrel is going to die..