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(MDC) — As the fall hunting season begins, outdoorsmen throughout the state are preparing to take down deer, waterfowl, furbearers and game birds. Now is the time to get permits in order and hunting gear ready.
This popular outdoor activity requires you to be focused, skilled and patient, but more importantly, it requires you to be careful, said Miller County Conservation Agent Eric Swainston. Hunters who do not follow hunting safety precautions put themselves and other innocent people at risk.
Every year, hunters suffer injuries while out on their hunting trips, Swainston said. These injuries can be avoided by following some safety tips.
Tip #1 – Practice gun safety
Every hunter should follow proper gun safety practices. Always treat guns as if they were loaded at all times, Swainston said. Even if you personally unload the gun, treat it with the respect and care of a fully loaded weapon.
“The most important hunting safety advice I can give is when you are handling a firearm, always keep the muzzle of the firearm pointed in a safe direction,” Swainston said. “Anyone who has taken a hunter education class knows this is the number one rule. This applies ANYTIME you are handling a firearm, whether in the field, in your vehicle, at home, at the range, anytime. As long as you have the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, if anything happens that causes that firearm to discharge, no one or nothing will be hurt or damaged by the accidental discharge. Remember, once the firearm is discharged, you are responsible for that bullet or shot until it comes to a stop. And once you pull the trigger, you cannot stop or call back that shot.”
Keep the gun’s safety on until you are ready to fire, Swainston said. He also advised keeping your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Tip #2 – Know your target
Be sure you completely identify what you are about to shoot, Swainston said. Also be sure what lies beyond the target. Never take a shot unless you are certain it is safe.
Tip #3 – Take a hunter safety class
In Missouri anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1967 cannot purchase a firearms hunting permit unless they have taken and passed an approved hunter education course. There are exceptions, though.
For example, if someone is 16 years of age or older and born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, he or she is eligible to hunt under the Apprentice Hunter Authorization Permit, as long as he or she is hunting in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult who is hunter education certified. This permit can only be purchased for two years, which allows the person to decide if he or she is interested in hunting and would like to pursue becoming hunter education certified.
(MDC) — As the fall hunting season begins, outdoorsmen throughout the state are preparing to take down deer, waterfowl, furbearers and game birds. Now is the time to get permits in order and hunting gear ready.
This popular outdoor activity requires you to be focused, skilled and patient, but more importantly, it requires you to be careful, said Miller County Conservation Agent Eric Swainston. Hunters who do not follow hunting safety precautions put themselves and other innocent people at risk.
Every year, hunters suffer injuries while out on their hunting trips, Swainston said. These injuries can be avoided by following some safety tips.
Tip #1 – Practice gun safety
Every hunter should follow proper gun safety practices. Always treat guns as if they were loaded at all times, Swainston said. Even if you personally unload the gun, treat it with the respect and care of a fully loaded weapon.
“The most important hunting safety advice I can give is when you are handling a firearm, always keep the muzzle of the firearm pointed in a safe direction,” Swainston said. “Anyone who has taken a hunter education class knows this is the number one rule. This applies ANYTIME you are handling a firearm, whether in the field, in your vehicle, at home, at the range, anytime. As long as you have the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, if anything happens that causes that firearm to discharge, no one or nothing will be hurt or damaged by the accidental discharge. Remember, once the firearm is discharged, you are responsible for that bullet or shot until it comes to a stop. And once you pull the trigger, you cannot stop or call back that shot.”
Keep the gun’s safety on until you are ready to fire, Swainston said. He also advised keeping your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Tip #2 – Know your target
Be sure you completely identify what you are about to shoot, Swainston said. Also be sure what lies beyond the target. Never take a shot unless you are certain it is safe.
Tip #3 – Take a hunter safety class
In Missouri anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1967 cannot purchase a firearms hunting permit unless they have taken and passed an approved hunter education course. There are exceptions, though.
For example, if someone is 16 years of age or older and born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, he or she is eligible to hunt under the Apprentice Hunter Authorization Permit, as long as he or she is hunting in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult who is hunter education certified. This permit can only be purchased for two years, which allows the person to decide if he or she is interested in hunting and would like to pursue becoming hunter education certified.
“In my opinion, however, everyone should take an approved hunter education course. It is a good reminder for everyone of the safety rules when handling firearms. Also, if you plan to hunt in another state, some states require all adults, regardless of age, to have taken an approved hunter education course,” Swainston said.
Tip #4 – Wear hunter orange
Even if you are hunting on private land, you may not be the only hunter out there. You want to be as visible as possible and be sure that you are identifiable as a person, Swainston said. Wearing hunter orange during firearms deer season is required.
The following persons are required to wear a cap or hat and also a shirt, vest or coat of hunter orange so that the color is plainly visible from all sides. (Camouflage orange does not satisfy this requirement.)
• Firearms deer hunters during all five portions of the firearms deer season.
• Adults accompanying youths hunting deer on a firearms deer hunting permit.
• Archery hunters during the youth portion statewide and during the urban counties and antlerless portions in open areas.
• All hunters (except migratory bird hunters) during the urban zones, youth, November and antlerless portions in open areas.
• Fall firearms turkey hunters must wear hunter orange in some areas Oct. 7–10
The following firearms deer hunters are exempt from the hunter-orange requirement:
• Hunters using archery methods within municipal boundaries where discharge of firearms is prohibited.
• Archery permittees hunting during the muzzleloader portion of the firearms deer season.
• Hunters on federal or state public hunting areas where deer hunting is by archery methods only. (However, hunter-orange is recommended for archery hunters who are hunting close to areas open to firearms methods.)
Swainston said safety-conscious hunters will wear hunter orange even when it is not required.
These hunters wear hunter orange when walking to and from their stands or when carrying harvested game, especially turkeys. When using a camouflage blind, they will put hunter orange on all sides of it, Swainston said. This helps other hunters see them from all sides.
Tip #5 – Use common sense when hunting from a tree stand
Any hunter who has been in the woods hunting for the elusive big buck knows a tree stand is a useful hunting tool. It allows an elevated view of the surroundings and keeps the hunter from being detected by the deer’s keen sense of smell. However, used incorrectly a tree stand could be very dangerous and even deadly.
“Always use tree stands that are manufactured, certified or tested to Treestand Manufacturer’s Association (TMA) standards,” Swainston advised. “You also want to make sure you use an approved safety harness that is rated for your weight and the weight of all your worn gear while using the treestand. A full body harness is best and should be worn from the time you begin your climb until you are back on the ground.”
Tip #6 – Hunt with a friend
Hunting with a partner does not increase your chances for an accident, Swainston said. If either of you has an accident, the other can assist or go for help.
When hunting with a partner, make a hunting plan and stick to it. Be sure to know where your partner is hunting. If the plan changes, let your companion know.
“Knowing where your hunting companions are will let you know what directions not to shoot, no matter how big the deer is,” Swainston said.
