On Thursday, April 26, NRP investigated a hunting accident that occurred at 6:30 a.m. on private property off of Mitchell Road.
Daniel Albert Bushey, 64, of Indian Head allegedly shot Robert John Quinn Jr., 61, of Mechanicsville while the two were hunting turkey together on the Hanson Hill Farm. The two were twenty yards apart when Bushey mistook Quinn for a turkey.
Quinn was struck in the shoulder and back area by pellets from Bushey’s shotgun. He was transported to Civista Hospital in La Plata and later transferred to Washington Hospital.
Bushey was charged with negligent hunting.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police suggest the following tips for a safer and more enjoyable spring bearded turkey hunting experience.
Fluorescent orange is not required for hunting turkeys; however, turkey hunters are strongly encouraged to use it while hunting.
Remember the rules for safe gun handling: Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Positively identify your target. The primary cause of turkey hunting accidents is hunters not identifying their targets properly.
Never wear any red, white or blue clothes. These are the colors of the gobbler’s head – the primary target of the turkey hunter.
Anytime you use a turkey decoy, you are increasing the chance of an accident. If you use a decoy, place it so that you are not in danger of being shot.
Do not attempt to stalk a turkey. That gobbler you’re stalking may actually be another hunter.
If another hunter is working a bird, don’t spoil it by trying to call the bird to you or spooking the bird. This is considered unethical and good turkey hunters just don’t do it.
In an effort to minimize violations, the NRP reminds hunters to be aware of the following regulations:
Hunting hours are from one half-hour before sunrise to noon.
Hunters must use shotguns and shot shells loaded with shot in sizes #4, 5 or 6.
A person may not hunt or attempt to hunt wild turkey by the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area. Baiting involves placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of shelled, shucked or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt or other feed that would lure, attract or entice wild turkeys to, on or over any areas where hunters are attempting to hunt them.
A person may not use recorded or electronically amplified calls or motorized decoys operated by batteries or any source of electricity.
Turkeys must be field tagged with the tag attached to a leg before removing from place of kill. Also, hunters must fill in the harvest portion of their hunting license.
After field tagging, a turkey kill must be reported using the Internet check-in site,
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