Safe & Ethical Turkey Hunting
- Be sure of your target. After you pull the trigger, it’s too late.
- ALWAYS ask permission to hunt on private land. Most landowners are cooperative if you ask.
- Do not attempt to stalk a turkey. That gobbler you’re stalking may be another hunter.
- Unless absolutely necessary, don’t use a gobbler call. This call can be productive, but also very dangerous. Use this call when all else fails and then sparingly.
- Never wear any red, white, or blue clothes. These are the colors of the gobbler’s head, the primary target of the turkey hunter.
- Never presume what you hear is a turkey. Many hunters are convincing callers.
- Select a calling site that gives at least 40 yards of vision in all directions and sit with your back to a large tree.
- If another hunter is working a bird, don’t spoil it by calling or spooking the bird.
- Make sure that the gobbler is within sure range of the shotgun and shoot only the neck and head.
- Call out in a loud, clear voice if you see another hunter (especially if they are close to your “line of sight”).
For more information, see The Basics of Turkey Hunting in Washington at wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01803.
