Stay visible to others during turkey season

Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are reminded to be aware, and stay safe during the 2024 spring turkey season, which is April 17 through May 28. The hunters and public land users may share fields, and forests during the season, and need to be aware and alert of others in their area.

Hunters should follow safety rules, and non-hunters enjoying public lands should consider wearing blaze orange or other high-visibility clothing.

Camouflage is an important part of hunting turkey, but it may also present a problem. The better camouflaged and concealed they are, the less likely another hunter will be able to see the camoflaged hunter and the more likely it is they could be mistaken for a turkey.

“The most common mistake we see is hunters not being being certain of their targets,” said Lt. Michael Weber, DNR hunter education administrative warden. “It’s essential for hunters to positively identify they are shooting at a turkey and that it’s a safe shot.”

Wearing the wrong color could put turkey hunters at risk. It’s especially important to avoid wearing red, white or blue. If a fellow hunter sees a flash of those colors through the brush, it could be mistaken for a turkey.

Be sure accessories carried that are red, white or blue (decoys, diaphragm calls, box call chalk, candy wrappers, apples, cigarette packs, etc.) are not visible to other hunters. Do not “over-camouflage” by sitting in vegetation so thick that it obscures vision.

If using a human-made blind or camouflage netting, maintain a clear field of view.