How to Pattern Your Shotgun for Turkey Hunting

Are you a new turkey hunter or hoping to be a hunting mentor? We put together this package to encourage those interested in turkey hunting to try it this year.

We welcome all who are interested in hunting to participate -- from new to experienced hunters. Please share this with someone you think would like to get started.

Hunting wild turkeys can be overwhelming for any beginner, but the right information and gear can go a long way. The hunting location, the local hunting regulations, and the gear involved are the main ingredients you need to get started. Turkey hunting is always more fun with a friend along. The strategy and scouting can become a lot easier and the shared success is truly something that makes the hunt more memorable. Don't regret having to say "you should've been there" or "you had to see it to believe it!" Your participation in this giveaway will also make sure you're in the loop for other giveaway opportunities in the future. From a camo hunting blind to trail cameras for scouting to eye and ear protection, we’ve got a standard list of beginner gear ready for one lucky turkey hunter! Will you embrace the +ONE®️ mentorship mission and either try hunting for the first time or invite someone new on a hunt? It's the best way to give back as a hunter.

More Help For Turkey Hunters

A great resource for turkey hunting is the National Wild Turkey Federation. They've got tips, events and a great community to get active in to learn more. It's extremely rewarding to get your own wild turkey and make great meals for yourself and others from the lean and organic wild game meat. We wish you the best luck in this giveaway and while hunting this year!

With the fall hunting season upon us, it's an ideal time to reinforce the importance of responsible, ethical, and secure hunting practices.

NSSF^® and CarbonTV have announced a cooperative HuntSAFE partnership to promote hunting and firearm safety during the fall hunting season, starting with a new video, “Safety is Always in Season.” We are grateful to be joined by CarbonTV in spreading this critical message.

In the realm of firearm ownership and hunting safety, HuntSAFE stands as a beacon of guidance and responsibility. It's a vital component of the NSSF's Project ChildSafe^® initiative, dedicated to promoting safe firearm handling, secure storage, and preventing unauthorized access. The acronym S.A.F.E. succinctly sums up the principles: Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Always practice firearm safety; Focus on your responsibilities as a firearm owner; and Education is key to preventing accidents.

https://youtu.be/X8z9H_cKNJ0

This video, "Safety is Always in Season," features Julie McQueen, President of CarbonTV and host of "Outdoor Weekly." She shares seven "rules to live by" when using or handling firearms at home, on the range, and especially in the field.

7 Hunting Safety Rules

  By Julie McQueen, President of Carbon TV and host of "Outdoor Weekly." For everyone who enjoys our hunting heritage, wants to share it with friends and family and wants to see participation in hunting grow, I'll be blunt: we've got to model every aspect of hunting safety. The fact is, whether in the field, at the range or in your house, firearm accidents are preventable. I want you, your friends and your kids to always be safe and responsible Hunters so Carbon TV has partnered with the National Shooting Sports Foundation's project ChildSafe program to provide these hunting safety tips. I know you and your hunting partners will keep them top of mind before, during and after the hunt. The rules of hunting safety are pretty simple, but because of that, some people can get too casual and that's when accidents can happen my advice is don't just think of these as tips but as actual rules to live by.

1. Keep the Muzzle Pointed in a Safe Direction

   Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction is the foundation for preventing gun accidents. This means always being aware of where the muzzle is pointed and never grabbing, moving or passing a gun by the barrel.

2. Always Assume a Gun is Loaded

   Always assume a gun is loaded even if it looks like the magazine is out there may still be around in the chamber, so don't take any chances. Always check before handling a gun and keep your fingers off of the trigger.

3. "Safety On" is Not Enough

   Having the Safety on is not enough. Of course, you should always keep the safety on until you're ready to shoot, but don't rely on it as the only way to prevent a gun from going off. The safety is a mechanical device and it can fail, so remember rule number one and two and watch the muzzle and keep your finger off the trigger until it's time to take the shot.

4. Be Certain of Your Target

   Be certain of your target two things here: Firstly you want to be absolutely certain that what's in your sights is legal game, it is no fun telling a game warden that you accidentally shot a doe if you're only allowed to shoot a buck you also don't want to accidentally shoot another hunter; Secondly, you want to be certain of your target and what's behind it, centerfire bullets can travel well over a mile so make sure the area behind the target is clear of other animals other hunters, structures and vehicles.

5. Identify Yourself

   You don't want to be mistaken for game by other hunters, so wear blaze orange in the field, avoid colors or patterns that can be confused for game, use a flashlight if you need to and make sure you're easily identifiable. This is especially important if you're packing out a deer or other animal where the antlers on your pack could become a target.

6. Unload Your Firearm at Obstacles

   A trigger can get caught on just about anything, so clear the chamber or unload the gun completely before you have to climb across a stream or over a log over a fence legally, of course, or when you're passing a gun back and forth to a companion and again never pull a gun towards yourself by the muzzle.

7. Tell Someone Where You Will be

   Make sure someone knows where you're going to be and when you're supposed to be back, especially if you'll be hunting alone. Emergencies do happen and time is of the essence if you need to be rescued, make sure searchers know where to start and it can absolutely save your life.

One last thing to remember when the hunt is over: store all your guns securely, storing your guns in a locked container is the number one way to prevent them from being picked up by a child in your home or stolen from your house or car. Using a cable lock also adds another level of security to a gun safe or a lock box. Learn more about storing firearms securely in your home here. A successful hunt isn't just about harvesting game a successful hunt means that you and everyone in your party gets home safely. You can't pass on the hunting heritage if you're not here it's just that simple. Make these safe hunting rules a priority and pass them on no matter where or when you hunt. Safety is always in season. Learn more at CarbonTV.com/firearm-safety   This message was developed in partnership with CarbonTV and the National Shooting Sports Foundation^® in support of NSSF’s Project ChildSafe^® firearm safety program and HuntSAFE initiative.   You may also be interested in: https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/hunter-education/back-country-hunt-survival/ https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/hunter-education/staying-alive-out-there/

  National Hunting and Fishing Day is this Saturday, September 23, and NSSF, as a major sponsor, encourages all sportsmen and sportswomen to participate.  

Celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day!

On the fourth Saturday of every September, NHF Day recognizes generations of sportsmen and women for their contributions to the conservation of our nation’s rich sporting heritage and natural resources. One of the main goals of National Hunting and Fishing Day is to recruit new hunters and anglers by encouraging participation and increasing public awareness of the connection between hunting, angling, and conservation. Through self-imposed fees and excise taxes, sportsmen and women have raised more than $57 billion--that’s more than $100,000 every 30 minutes being raised for conservation. Now on its 51st year, NHF Day is the largest, most effective grassroots movement ever undertaken to promote outdoor sports and conservation. Launched by Congress in 1971 and heavily promoted by NSSF for decades, NHF Day is now administered by Wonders of Wildlife Museum and has consistently recognized hunters and anglers for their leadership in wildlife and conservation. Find national, state, regional and local organizations hosting related events.  

Get Started

Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports are not just great American pastimes – they are the very foundation that supports the model of wildlife conservation created more than a century ago in this country. By introducing new audiences to these activities, we ensure that wildlife and wild places will be protected for generations to come. Hunting is a useful and beneficial wildlife management tool that ensures and maintains the health and abundance of game species and the balance of our natural resources. There are a number of species, from upland birds to big game animals to hunt. Learn more about these species from game bird and game animal organizations.  

Take the Pledge

Take the pledge to take someone hunting, fishing, or shooting this year and be entered into the NHF Day Giveaway!  

Share Your Images

Upload an image of you hunting, fishing or target shooting and tag @NHFday on social media using the hashtag #GuideToOutside or Upload an image to be featured here!