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Prepare for a safe turkey hunt
turkey
A hunter carries a tom away from a successful hunt. - photo by Stock photo

Successful hunting trips require a combination of skill, patience and most importantly, preparation. As turkey season rapidly approaches, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division encourages preparation first.
“Hunters should be 110 percent certain of their target and what is beyond it before pulling the trigger and should never shoot at sound or movement,” Walter Lane, Hunter Development Program manager, said. Hunters are encouraged to review the following turkey hunting season safety precautions before the season opens March 26:
• Never wear red, white, blue or black clothing while turkey hunting. Red is the color most hunters look for when distinguishing a gobbler’s head from a hen’s blue-colored head, but at times it may appear white or blue. Male turkey feathers covering most of the body are black in appearance. Camouflage should be used to cover everything, including the hunter’s face, hands and firearm.
• Select a calling position that provides at least a shoulder-width background, such as the base of a tree. Be sure that at least a 180-degree range is visible.
Turkey hunters must possess a valid hunting license and a big-game license to legally hunt turkeys in Georgia. If hunting on a Wildlife Management Area, hunters also must possess a WMA license. Hunters must always obtain permission from the landowner before hunting on private land.
Only male turkeys may be harvested, and the season bag limit is three gobblers per hunter.
For more turkey hunting information or turkey hunting safety tips, go to www.gohuntgeorgia.com, contact the nearest Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement office or call (770) 761-3010.

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