Two hunters have been shot in Kansas. By the article I read they were fanning / reaping "behind a real turkeys fan feathers". Said injuries are life threatening. Horrible

Here is link to the story:

http://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_ne...f11aa1bebc.html

I hate to say it, but these type stories were bound to happen when folks started using fans. Terribly sad.

I disagree. There's no excuse for shooting a person.
Especially in shotgun range.
I used to teach hunter education. We spent lots of time on positive target recognition and what's beyond it.

Agree with Outback.

I killed a turkey behind a fan earlier this season..ain't no way I looked enough like an actual turkey to get shot.

that's the shooters fault 100%

I'm not gonna get behind a fan and find out.

I didn't say it was excusable, just saying I knew it would happen. People were getting shot before the use turkey fans. I just expect it will happen a tiny bit more now that guys are trying to imitate male turkeys.

Yeah, fanning looks fun but there's no way I'm gonna try it. I knew this would happen.

Fanning turkeys is nothing new. Just more people are finding out about it due to social media.

Fanning... ....Sit...I wish someone would fan on me... ... Stupid Turkeys fall for anything....

No excuse for not knowing what you are shooting. Period.

he didn't say it was excusable, just that it was going to happen. Seems it did.

X10000

is kansas one of those states that allows rifles for turkey?

Most of the new breed these days simply crawl in and either fan the bird or spook him. Write it down someone will die on Skyline in years to come.

Something tells me that isn't going to work on our turkeys. I've seen those dumb Midwestern birds, always wanted to go hunt them. I think they'd commit suicide for a good hunter.
But our birds are a bit more crafty.

I will admit I have fanned and have been very successful at it. It's very effective at the right time and situation. That being said, I only use this tactic when the time presents itself and most importantly, I hunt my own private property and know and communicate with my neighbors. It's actually more alarming that this accident happened on private property.
As we all know hunting accidents do happen and it's very unfortunate. I 100% agree that the shooter (especially with a scattergun) is held responsible as identifying the target before the trigger is pulled is a commandment in hunting itself. More so, maybe a lack of hunter education is to blame as well. I pray for both the victim and shooter.

Not saying it changes anything, but - was it just a fan? Or was it a full plastic strutting decoy? Or a full strutting real turkey decoy?

IF it was just a fan - I just don't get it. Who just throws a pattern at a fan at first glance?

I hate it for the guys shot. I don't want any more laws as a result. People should decide for themselves whether it's worth the risk.

It's not the fan. It's stupidity. What happened to the head shot. That moron was making a butt shot at best. No excuse, he should lose his hunting rights for stupidity. No excuse for shooting anything you are not sure of, especially in shotgun range.

I just put my fan in the truck for the Am.

It does work here...given the right situation

I can see where it might work around here, sometimes. A terraced field with sparce or thin cover.
Maybe open woods with little cover. But in most cases, if I can't remain hidden or perfectly still, I'm gonna get busted.

I told my brother just last week that it was bound to happen some time. No excuse whatsoever, though.

some body didn't like some body, don't sound like an accident.

I've no desire to try fanning, but this past weekend a guy from Texas hunted a place I got invited as well and he used a fan. His had a head on it and a prop for his gun. I'll stick to calling.

My father grew up in the Loxley, Al area and used to tell us a story about a friend of his that was gobbling behind a bush and was shot and killed. This was probably in the 50's. Just wondering if anyone here remembers that.

I don't personally know any facts, about it, but have heard that same story told dozens of times and that poor guy has been killed in dang near every county. He's been a nephew, brother in law, sister's son in law, next door neighbor and second cousin to someone in each story.

May be the shooters fault, but I'm not gonna strap a set of antlers to my head and start running through the woods on opening day of gun season. Just saying.

This, inexcusable. Nothing wrong with fanning birds, that being said I'd be wary of doing this without knowing exactly who was around. Too many idiot hunters around. But for the life of me I have no idea how somebody shoots a man behind a turkey fan

Good luck buddy..anyone gets to shooting at you..shoot back. Seems theres some dumb arses that cant tell a fan from a gobbler in the world!

Ive fanned for a long time..and will more. Heck..getting that new fan ready from yesterdays gobbler to use this week.

Guess i better shuck my turkey vest and wear a kevlar one..cause some folks are dumb as heck!

It definitely works but given the hunters in the woods today I dang sure wouldn't have my decoy or fan out unless I'm 100% sure of who's around.

I carried my killer B full strut decoy while we were in Florida hunting and was nervous even though we were on private land. I tote mine by the head with the fan pointed down so if Amanda shoots me and claims she thought it was a gobbler y'all better make someone investigate! Lol!

Who shoots at a fan!? Or a decoy for that matter? Who ever pulled the trigger is an idiot. I'm in tunnel vision focused on that gobblers head when I'm hunting, crazy to think someone would not know the difference. Just my .02

You seem to have contradicted yourself and answered your own question. "Tunnel vision" while hunting + fan decoy with realistic colored head/body = bad news.

We all seem quick to judge with very little facts.

Said to still be in critical condition

I agree with this.

Its definatly a dangerous tactic to use. Just sitting around talking at hunting camps listening to stupid stuff people have done will make you think more than twice about trying to look like a gobbler in the woods.

All three of the hunters are from Arkansas and were hunting land they had leased. One of the injured hunters is Justin Wiles, 34 years old, and his wife is 8 months pregnant. Justin was on a breathing machine until three days ago. Apparently he was hurt bad enough the doctors had to place him in a medically induced coma. There is a GoFundMe page for his medical expenses.

https://www.gofundme.com/3n94gaw

The other injured hunter is Gary Dienst, 32 years old. I couldn't find any information about his injuries or status.

Terrible story. I can see it being somewhat easy to happen. Just say you been calling a turkey for a hour and all the sudden you ease your head around and out of the corner of your eye you see the fan just outside the woodline. If you make the decision to swing and shoot... Everybody just has really pay attention.

I've been hunting for a long, long time. My Daddy was a very hard but fair safety instructor when it came to shooting and hunting, and one of the things he drilled into my head was DO NOT shoot at anything unless you are sure of your target! Do not shoot at a rustle in the bushes. Do not shoot if you THINK you see part of a deer (or turkey or whatever). I always have a clear picture of a deer, or turkey, or duck, and where my shot is going or I don't shoot. Shooting "from the hip" is a good way to hurt or kill someone. All that being said, in this case, these three fellows were probably unfamiliar with the new lease, were excited to be hunting in a new spot, and were closer to each other than they thought. Add a fan and someone shooting in an instant, and you have two men shot, at least one seriously. And you have the shooter that is probably wishing right now he could take the place of either of them, and that he could somehow re-do that shot, but once the trigger is pulled, there is no recall. A tragedy, for sure.

That's kinda like pulling out in front of a semi on a motorcycle. When it's over the fact you had the right of way is irrelevant.

If I ever turkey hunt I will let Yekrut hold the fan...sorry buddy