safety of stalking birds

The last couple years have seen a real boom in products to stalk turkeys--fans you hide behind, decoys you stalk with, videos on how to etc.

the NWTF explicitly does not recommend this type of hunting ever due to it being very unsafe.

Am I the only one worried about the combination of new shells claiming you can shoot to 60+ yds and lots of new products hitting the market for stalking birds?? Just a matter of time before some hunter takes a load of shot to the face while stalking or hiding behind a turkey decoy...

Well, for one, I would like to think that hunters could easily tell if someone is crawling behind a decoy as it wouldn't look very natural... If not, then they shouldn't be hunting let alone handle a firearm...

But I digress, it's not hard to underestimate the power of stupidity...

Every year you hear stories of hunters shooting other hunters. One of the first things I ever learned be 100% of your targets identity and what lies behind it.....

Yet, every year someone shoots another turkey hunter. I just don't understand it!

There are accidents every year and this is before stalking turkeys has been widely promoted. Historically the safety mantra has been you never stalk turkeys

So. Who bought a turkey fan from the deer and turkey expo?

I've got plenty of fans on the wall but that's where they stay. I wouldn't recommend using this technique if you think there is a chance other hunters are nearby. I don't even want a jake decoy near me, but usually I'm in the woods with no dekes anyway. Occasionally I use a lone hen. There is a difference between stalking and repositioning. Just be careful out there. I've backed off many a public land gobbler when I hear hoot flutes and loud calls coming from other hunters. Just not worth the risk.

You're not the only one, I am also concerned about this issue. Yes, it is very dangerous, there have already been such cases, it seems to me that they simply were not pumped in fatally ..