DNR warns turkey hunters about safety

The first of Iowa’s four wild turkey hunting seasons opens today, and about 60-thousand Iowans will hit the woods in the coming weeks hoping to bag big birds. Lon Lindberg, district supervisor of the D-N-R’s Law Enforcement Bureau, says hunters need to use common sense or they’ll end up dead ducks.Lindberg says hunters should always have permission to hunt on the land. He says don’t assume if you had permission to hunt a piece of land last year, that permission is granted this year. Talk to the landowner again. Lindberg says camouflage is fine for in the field, but once you’re heading out with your bird, don’t just fling it over your back and hike toward your truck. He says good hunters will carry some sort of blaze orange along so they’re easily identifiable as they head out of the woods.Last year, there were three shooting incidents during the spring turkey hunting season. Lindberg says there are certain rules of hunting behavior that need to be followed, as you approach or are being approach by others. He says you should announce yourself in a loud voice rather than waving your arms and being an accidental victim of a gunshot wound.Hunters should keep in mind turkey season is about the same time as mushroom season. For safety reasons, mushroom hunters are encouraged to wear blaze orange in the woods. Also, file a hunting plan someplace so people know what you’re doing and where you are. The spring turkey seasons are: Season 1, April 15 – 18; Season 2, April 19 – 23 (residents only); Season 3, April 24 – 30; Season 4, May 1 – 19.