The final spring turkey hunting season for combination gun/bow licenses in Iowa begins tomorrow.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer for Washington and Keokuk counties Wes Gould advises to always let someone know in advance when and where you’re going to be hunting, and if you’re going on private property, you’ll need the go-ahead from the landowner first, “We need to have permission on private property, that’s not only the law, but it’s also a good idea because you might find out that somebody else is in there hunting at the same time and you would be aware that there’s somebody else in there.”

Gould adds whether it’s private or public land, whether you know if other hunters are present or not, you should always be ready for that possibility, “If you don’t know who else is in the timbers, that can become highly dangerous. You can walk up on somebody and they can have a decoy out and you think that’s a turkey or making the sound of a turkey and we shoot and it wasn’t a turkey and unfortunately it was a hunter in camouflage that we couldn’t see and that’s where accidents happen.”

Gould advises hunters to not shoot for a turkey unless you actually see a turkey. The third spring turkey hunting season ends today and the final season runs tomorrow through May 16th. Turkey hunting for resident archery-only licenses also runs through May 16th.