In turkey hunting, little things can make big differences. For instance, consider pushing off your shotgun’s safety when a gobbler moves in close. Many hunters have guns that make a noticeable “snap” or “click” when the safety is pushed off. It’s an unnatural mechanical sound, and it’s one that a gobbler can hear when the woods are quiet. I’ve seen times when this noise has caused gobblers to duck and run!



To keep this from happening, hunters should learn to take their safety off so it makes no noise whatever. To do this, reach behind the trigger guard with your thumb, and apply backpressure to the safety when you push it off with your index finger. With this backpressure, you can ease the safety off and totally eliminate the clicking sound.

The successful turkey hunter is the one who stacks the odds in his favor. This method of taking the safety off is just a minor detail, but sometimes it can make a difference. Practice easing your safety off instead of snapping it off. It’s a habit that can mean the difference in going home with a bird instead of a sad story.