justnorth posted on November 05, 2008 11:28 :: 1153 Views
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is urging all hunters heading afield for the firearm deer season beginning Nov. 8 to hunt safely this fall, especially during deer drives.
“Many times, the victim and offender know one another. In fact, they’re hunting together,” Capt. Mike Hammer, Education Program coordinator, DNR Enforcement Division. “The excitement of the hunt can quickly cloud a hunter’s judgment and perception, and make him or her momentarily forget about surroundings, even hunting partners.”
To ensure safety, deer hunters should establish hunting plans that define who will shoot and when during drives. Each hunting party member should have a predetermined zone of fire and always know where fellow hunters are located in the field. Deer drives are when hunters walk through a field hoping to flush out deer.
“Every hunter assumes an incredible responsibility when he or she picks up a firearm and heads afield,” Hammer emphasized. “It’s up to the hunter to make sound shooting decisions. If there’s even the slightest hint that something isn’t right, please don’t shoot. There will be other opportunities. Wait for the next chance and take pride in knowing that you made the right choice.”
Hammer reminds hunters to hunt defensively, and to assume every movement or sound that they hear is another hunter until they can prove unquestionably otherwise.
They should also remember to scan the area behind the target, positively identify their target and be absolutely sure it is a legal deer before taking the safety off and pulling the trigger.
In addition, wearing blaze orange clothing is required in areas open to deer hunting with firearms.
“Know the location of your partners and others, know your zones of fire, make your position known to other hunters, be sure of your target and what’s beyond it, and wear blaze orange clothing,” Hammer said. “It’s not only a common sense thing to do, it’s the law.”
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