A hunting-related shooting incident results when a hunter is injured or even killed by the discharge of a firearm or other sporting device such as a bow while hunting. It's typically the result of carelessness or negligence. Causes have been grouped into several categories. In the case of turkey hunting, some of these categories are listed below, along with the number of incidents occurring in each category.

Sample Summary of Turkey Incidents — 1990s * Cause of Incident
Sporting Arm Defective	1
Failed to Positively ID Target	199
Hunter Dropped Sporting Arm	2
Hunter Slipped or Fell	6
Victim in Line of Fire	37
Stray Shot	9
Ricochet	4
Unintentional Discharge	5
Sporting Arm Dangerous Position	2
Other	4

* figures taken from a popular turkey hunting state

As you can see from this summary, the primary cause of turkey-hunting incidents is a failure to positively identify the target as being a safe and legal turkey before shooting. Some behavioral scientists have described the chain of events that lead up to these mistaken-for-game incidents and call it "premature closure."

In many cases the offending hunter:

• Hears sounds believed to be made by a turkey. These can be turkey calls or simply the sound of rustling leaves.
• Sees movement in the direction of the sounds. This movement is perceived by the hunter as being made by a turkey.

In his or her mind the offending hunter is convinced that the sights and sounds are made by a turkey. Before positively identifying these sights and sounds as being from a turkey, the offender's sensory processes close and the decision is made to shoot. The result can often be a terrible shooting incident and a seriously wounded hunter! Before any shot is taken, the hunter must fully and clearly see the bird, identify it as being a safe shot and a legal turkey. In most cases during the spring season, the hunter must also be able to see the beard on the gobbler.

If hunters practiced this one rule of safe turkey hunting, most turkey-hunting shooting incidents could be avoided: ALWAYS positively identify your target!