Agricultural News
Hunting Season Begins with a Review of Safety Tips
Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:32:27 CDT
With hunting season here, Noble Foundation consultants have a few safety tips to ensure hunters remain safe while preparing for and during a hunting trip. People are injured every year in hunting-related activities. Accidental firearm discharge, falling from tree stands and a shooter misidentifying the target are the main causes of fatalities and injuries. "As a certified hunter education instructor, I stress the following tips to participants in hunting courses, regardless of age or experience," said Steven Smith, wildlife and fisheries consultant.
· Always point the muzzle of the firearm in a safe direction. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
· Make sure a firearm is unloaded every time it is handled.
· Keep fingers away from the trigger except when ready to fire.
· A safety is a mechanical device that can fail.
· Use ammunition or arrows that are appropriate for the gun or bow.
· Positively identify your target as well as what is behind it before shooting.
· Wear hunter orange when hunting for upland birds and big game, such as deer.
· Always use a full-body safety harness when hunting from a tree stand. Always use a climbing rope when installing a hanging tree stand.
· Make sure a helper is present when installing a hanging or ladder tree stand. Always inspect trees to make sure they are healthy with no dead branches or trunks before climbing or installing stands.
· Use the three-point method of contact: two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot in contact with steps. Go slowly when climbing a tree.
· Before crossing a fence, unload firearms or place any arrows in the quiver and place them on the ground under the fence or hand them to someone across the fence.
· Do not substitute a scope mounted to a rifle for binoculars.
· In the event a firearm is dropped, make sure it is unloaded and then remove dirt or other obstructions from inside and outside the barrel.
· Wear gloves when field dressing game.
· Wear a helmet when riding an ATV.
· Inform someone about plans and locations before hunting.
"Always follow local hunting laws and regulations, and always practice safety first," Smith said. "Once a shot is fired, it can never be taken back."
For more information about hunter education, go to the International Hunter Education Association website by clicking here. For specific information about hunter education in Oklahoma, visit the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website by clicking here.
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