Safety First This Pheasant Hunting Season

Nothing can ruin a hunt faster than an accident. Drowning, hypothermia, getting lost, falls from tree stands or just spraining an ankle are among the perils awaiting hunters ill prepared for a trip afield. Because hunting involves firearms, knives, and arrows and is often conducted in cold and wet weather in some the state's wildest areas, hunters should take particular care to prepare before heading out for a day in the woods or wetlands. Shouts of "rooster, rooster!" spread through the fields as pheasant season shifts into high gear. While that excitement is part of the thrill of the hunt, Game, Fish and Parks officials also remind hunters to exercise caution and restraint, especially when flushing low-flying roosters. Several accident occurred last hunting season where hunters swung their shotguns at birds and inadvertently fired in the direction of people in the background, "said Hunter Safety Program Specialist Curt Robertson. "Its important to know what's beyond your target before you pull the trigger because someone's life may depend on it." Hunters using the "walkers and blockers" method need to be extra careful. Last year, several walkers and blockers were injured. Whether walking a cornfield, milo field or chest-high weeds, hunters in groups are at risk for injury from shots fired at low-flying roosters. "The shot string from a shotgun at a low-flying bird is typically at the upper body level," Robertson noted, "resulting in injuries to the head, neck, chest and arm." Robertson stated that hunters should always wear orange hats, vests and protective shooting glasses, and always get permission to hunt private property. "The key to a safe hunt is to know where all hunters in your party are at all times," he said. "If you don't know where they are, don't shoot."