On another topic someone mentioned getting shot while turkey hunting. Ever happen to you or friends? How could you have avoided it and what do you do to avoid it now? Funny story-- I knew a game warden who was Spring turkey hunting on his day off and a guy snuck up on him and shot his hen decoy!
My wife's uncle got shot on private land by poachers. They thought he was turkey
Got shot at once, not hunting related.
Have had 2 friends shot when hunting. Odd thing is all 4 involved in 2 separate instances are related. First one was when somebody was unloading and second not identifying his target and he shot and nearly killed his brother who took him out that day on his first turkey hunt. It was discovered later that the younger of the two that were turkey hunting needed glasses quite badly. The first one were their uncles and one shot the other when unloading the firearm.
Several years back I had a hen decoy shot. Pellets flew through the trees by me. I immediately followed up with a shot , not toward the guy but into a tree a few feet away from me to my hard left. It did get his attention.
I've had at least three different hunters point their guns at my decoys over the years but no one ever fired. I'm getting where if I even use a decoy at all it a funky chicken-no one want to shoot one of those.
Never been shot or shot at turkey hunting. I have taken pellets in the face pheasant hunting on public land. 3 times hunters snuck on my turkey decoys, no shots. Plenty of yelling and or whistling
I brought this up on another thread that it happened to me. I would love to tell a full account, but there are aspects of the accident that I have sworn to not tell as part of an agreement. So all I can tell without legal ramifications is I was fall hunting and moving on a flock when another hunter accidentally shot me with a crossbow through the upper thigh. The mechanical broad head cut 1 1/2 inch path through my thigh, but missed the femoral artery by a couple milometers as it rotated around it. Every major muscle in the back of my thigh was cut along with a major vein. Blood poured from this wound like water from a bottle. I knew I had minutes to stop the bleeding and packed the wound with my gloves and used my belt as a tourniquet. My buddy and I had gone in by John boat and was a mile from my truck. He came to me and went to get the boat. I managed to hobble to a point for him to pick me up. We decided there was not time to wait for EMS rescue and he drove me the 17 miles to a hospital. Once there I was given transfusions and life flighted to a major trauma center. There surgeons treated me and I began a recovery that lasted many months. In the process I suffered damage to both my heart and lungs that compromise me to this day. All I can say is this all happened because someone wasn't paying attention to details and being sure of what they were doing. I truly hope this never happens to any of you.
When I worked for DNR I had two different accidents happen I was able to know the circumstance of because my office was used as a work center for law officers. One was a brother shot and killed his brother. He had heard a turkey calling and snuck up to the bench. He saw movement that he thought was the gobbler and shot. The movement was his brother swatting a mosquito. He took the full load in his temple. Killing him instantly. The shooter became a mental patient and spent much of his life in legal fights and therapy. The other was actually a wildlife employee walking a forest road and someone saw movement and shot. He lost an eye.
All three were senseless and someone paid a big price. I have forgiven my shooter and moved on. For years I couldn't hunt around other people and would get so scared I'd just leave the woods. Still if I hear a call I keep my distance. I finally learned to enjoy turkey hunting again, but it was tough. I am grateful to friends who got me back in the game. One came and got me two weeks after I got home and a landowner friend told us he had birds in his pasture. My buddy drove me to a dozer pile and sat me on a log and took his turkey dog and busted the flock and a long beard came by me and I shot it. That was the first step. If he hadn't done that I may have quit forever. That was 10 years ago and I still contemplate on it. What it did do for me is help me enjoy the hunt just for the hunt experience and the joy of good friends sharing time afield. When I read sir-dealalot's hunt story the other day I confess I cried, because I understand how monumental that one bird was to him after all he'd been through.
Dear brothers, sisters, young and old; above all things be aware practice safe hunting, identify your target. Don't get so hung up on numbers, trophys and methods that may cause poor decisions. When it's all said and done it's the experience that matters, when you pull the trigger it's mostly over. I praise God that he gave me more days on this earth and I have cherished them all. For without his hand I would now be in his arms.
Holy cow eggshell. Thats terrible. Im glad you made it through that.
It is so terrible to read these stories
The only time I've been shot at is during a deer drive. Happened twice and I wont be involved with another drive and I avoid any and every drive that I see going to take place.
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Quote from: donjuan on May 23, 2019, 07:07:16 PM
It is so terrible to read these stories
I agree. It's enough to make you be sure to tell everyone about safe, responsible hunting every chance you get. Maybe someday it will prevent an accidental shooting. Actually, I wouldn't call lots of shootings "accidental". The shooter saw something move and didn't identify it. That's not an accident, that's pure negligence.
Thank god you are alive eggshell. This is why I am on the defensive in the field.
Quote from: zelmo1 on May 23, 2019, 08:06:15 PM
Thank god you are alive eggshell. This is why I am on the defensive in the field.
this is exactly why i get defensive when others crowd in on me. i do not want shot nor do i want to shoot a bird and hit someone.
Eggshell, being a member of OG for several years I have read your account of being shot a few times. It always reminds me of how quickly our lives can be changed forever! I personally have never had a close call while turkey hunting. I've had a few birds shot out from under me over the years and that is always a little unsettling. Had a pastor that was a avid and passionate turkey hunter that was mistakenly shot and killed while spring turkey hunting several years ago. My home state of Missouri for several years used to require a "Be Safe" sticker be placed on your gun that is visible while sighting down the barrel. The state has since repealed that law a few years ago. I always thought that was a good reminder before pulling the trigger.
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ozarks, I wonder sometimes if I should stop telling it, but if it saves one person from a horrible accident i'll tell it a thousand times. I try to bring it up a few times every season just to make people think. I hope it's received well and everyone knows my intentions are to prevent future injuries
A picture is worth a thousand words. Here are two taken 5 days after I came home.
these pictures only show the entrance wound, you all know what a broad head does coming out. The exit side was not pretty.
Eggshell, I think you definitely need to keep telling your account as a reminder to us all!
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Quote from: Ozarks Hillbilly on May 23, 2019, 09:51:50 PM
Eggshell, I think you definitely need to keep telling your account as a reminder to us all!
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I agree. Glad your doing well now. This is exactly why I won't take my daughters on public land. Even on private, you always need to be super alert. Had a poacher sneak in on my wife's grandmother's land and shot a decoy. Thank God he was behind me and off to my left, and all the pellets went past me. After serving in the Marines and deployed to Iraq, I can say that any instance where you have been shot at or in close range is not fun and will make you count your blessings. Again eggshell, I am glad that the good Lord gave you another chance on life.
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Wow Eggshell, you went through a lot. My first accident in 88 I came out of much more mature and able to appreciate life and what I had more. I was young and dumb and that accident was partially my fault, nothing like what you went through when it was no fault of your own. I am glad you got back out into the woods, it is such a incredible loss when it is taken from you. Not saying you did not appreciate it but at 18 I certainly did not appreciate life and all it has to offer, I am lucky God saw fit to give me another chance and glad he did you as well.
No turkey hunting stories...
I have been "peppered" while dove hunting and pheasant hunting from careless hunters shooting at low birds. Hurt bad enough that I cursed, but kept hunting.
My father got shot while quail hunting twice. The last time was with me and another friend of mine, and my buddy was simply careless... About 30 yards away and my father took pellets to the head and hand (his hand luckily was blocking his head and took multiple pellets).
The other time, he was hunting a public area and some other hunters shot him (and then ran off). he took a pellet to the orbital bone surrounding the eye, but suffered no vision loss.
Another friend was shot chuckar hunting, and took a load at about 30 yards to the chest and head... No life-long injuries, but it sure ruined his day.
Someone else I know shot his own foot off duck hunting... He was chasing a cripple, held the bird up for his brother to see, the gun slipped (and somehow spun), and in trying to catch it, he discharged the gun.
Someone was killed at a club near us, shot himself in the chest. Older gentleman, and it was thought he was using the gun as a cane of sorts.
Eggshell, thank you for sharing...
Had shot hit the side of my face while pheasant hunting.
Had a buddy swing and kill a Woodcock that died in front of me. I seen it coming and hit the deck.
Had a guy pointing his gun a me and a buddy while calling turkeys in the Fall. Another guy in our group watched him do it. When I told the guy what was going on,he said he was aiming at turkeys.
Know a guy that was Spring turkey hunting near a road. A truck stopped, the passenger got out and ran to his hen decoy and shot it. In shock the hunter yelled at the guy about gobblers only. The shooter replied, "It's turkey season ".
Was Fall archery turkey hunting in KS near a road. Had a truck back up when the driver spotted my decoys. I yelled, don't shoot my decoys and the truck took off.
On the flip side of this,I was walking and calling Fall turkeys when I stopped to wait for my buddy. I had been there long enough that things settled down when I noticed a man sitting stone still at the base of a tree. He didn't move a muscle until I made eye contact with him. He too hunted this area for Fall turkeys. I'm glad he was a seasoned hunter.
On another hunt,my buddy and I roosted some Fall birds. He was to go north at the fence so I knew where not to shoot. I shot a bearded hen that came in quiet after flydown. I shot due west. Imagine my surprise when my buddy showed me his setup that was over the hill DUE WEST. I apologized and he said it was his fault for not going where he said he was going.
All of these hunts took place on public ground in three different states.
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This is terrible that it happens but we as hunters need to see and hear this. This is a reminder that we are participating in an activity that is dangerous. We need people like Eggshell to share their stories to remind us that we ALL should take precautions and remain vigilant when we are in the woods when hunting any bird or animal. Thanks for sharing Eggshell! Please post this up next spring to remind us ALL of the risks we encounter when hunting and to remain safe and vigilant.
was moving in to set up on a roosted gobbler. The turkey flew down in very low light the earliest i have ever seen one fly down the turkey landed on ridge above me while i was still walking he moved to other side of ridge and someone on other side of ridge rained shot over my head it was really close call.
My turkey hunting pants have a cargo pocket that holds nothing but a wadded up orange vest-the perforated type that rifle deer hunters wear. When I change pant that's the first thing that gets swapped out. Anytime I see another hunter in the woods I take it out and hang in in a branch near me until he looks over and sees it. They typically walk away at that time which is just what I was hoping for. Also I'll usually wear it on the walk out if I'm carrying a dead turkey or even a decoy.
Spring season about 15 years ago a very good friend was peppered in the face about 75 yards when another hunter crawled / stalked into my buddy's decoy setup location and shot the inflatable jake deke. The shooter never made a call. Fortunately my friend was wearing his prescription safety glasses as one pellet shattered the lens but stopped it from hitting him.
Another reason I never carry and use a deke.
I have been Peppered several times from a long distance while pheasant hunting in New York. On the Preserve- everyone has to wear safety glasses.
I know a guy here in MS. that was walking out in a wide open field with his 8 or 9 year old son when he was shot in the head, thankfully he survived but his son never hunted again, the story is in Bobby Dale book Double Gobble. The OP ask if some might have been prevented, you cant fix STUPID!
WOW eggshell that is some story, thanks for sharing and hopefully will be a an eye opener for someone else. In my old job, I had the opportunity to see hunting accidents first hand with many sad circumstances some fatal. The only turkey hunting one I was involved with was a 12 year old that shot his father in the face blinding him in one eye an he was VERY LUCKY! The dad had heard a bird and left his son to work the bird then crawled back to the boy. As he crawled out of a shallow ditch he waved at his son wearing brown jersey gloves and the boy was sure that he was shooting at a turkey that was near and gobbling. The boy had not had hunter safety.
This young man Josh Carney has a sobering story about getting shot while turkey hunting as a boy by his dad and a tremendous testimony. He also has unbelievable ability to use his voice to call turkeys and other animals that resulted from the accident.
Be sure to watch these and some more out there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyAC8umfKVs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNKqbaRmEUE.
I watched the video and the young man is very impressive in his attitude. The dad had to be devastated. The feelings and thoughts he described immediately after the accident are things I felt as well and were quite moving for me ( not particularly good feelings). when you think your dying you find out what you cherish in life and it's not turkey hunting that is your treasure. You think of those you love deeply and how their life will be without you. If your a person of faith your relationship with God becomes very real. Your not sure just what is going to happen next. Physical pain is a very real part of the experience, but often when injuries are so serious it's not as prevalent as one might think. However, later pain is horrible as your body resets to recover and everything starts to work towards healing. It hurts to breath, it hurts to move and some days it hurts to think. This is when you make up your mind to either sink into self pity or get to work at getting better. This young man got to work.
As much as we love turkey hunting, no turkey is worth a human life or injury. You must always know what your shooting and have a realistic knowledge of what is beyond your shot. After I was shot, I plead with the Lord to let me see my wife and kids again, I didn't give a damn if I ever turkey hunted again!!! I still pray every season for all my friends safety in the woods. That is why turkey hunting is still a passion of mine, but is only a recreational joy of God's great earth. I realize it's not my treasure. That is why I purged all my beards, spurs and trophies. I realized the real joy is not on the wall, but with the fellowship of friends and the wonders of the woods and fields. After the kill it's over except for a good meal and good memories. Please understand I don't think mounts and trophies are wrong, I just say the hunt isn't about the bragging rights for me. I actually enjoy looking at good mounts and they inspire good memories. I just realized I was hunting for what I could show off and missing a lot of what was real. For many they can do both, but I didn't. At one time I would ditch family just to turkey hunt. My oldest daughter's birthday is mid April and I missed many of her early birthdays just to turkey hunt. As an adult she still tells people, "dad was never at my birthday parties, he was turkey hunting". Perspective people, that is what we need to focus on. How do you see your sport against life? That is what each person has to answer for themselves. For me that all changed the day I almost died!
Another great post Eggshell, I think this thread is a great safety reminder along with being a gut check as to what we should hold nearest and dearest.
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Eggshell,
Your posts are very inspirational, especially the last one above, also very important information that should be thought about every time we are in a hunting/shooting situation, regardless of the type of weapon. What we doing in out hunting efforts is building memories, some good, some bad and some terrible like you experienced. If you think about it have you ever seem a hunting story that starts with I killed X animal/bird and then going back to the when, where, and how. Thank you for relating the information of your tragedy and keep posting it less someone forget how life can change in an instant.
Eggshell,
Thanks for taking the time to tell your story, and thanks for posting
the videos of Josh Carney. What an amazing and inspirational young man!
Thanks again,
Jim