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Last Updated: Nov 14, 2008 - 12:49:26 PM |
Though hunting season has been in since the first weekend in October, I thought that I would share some points that, if heeded, may prevent an abrupt end to your hunting season like I experienced in November 2002 when the tree stand ladder that I was climbing came loose from the ground, causing me to fall and fracturing my collarbone on the top of my left shoulder. Safety has been major part of my career as a firefighter, and though I thought about it in my hunting before, after the accident, safety is paramount. Here are some things that we all need to think about:
• Make sure that you know the weapon(s) that you are using. Knowing your weapon means that you have sited it in before the season began or at least before you hunt with it, and that you know, to the best of your knowledge and experience where every bullet will go.
• Make sure that you have as many means of communication as possible, in the event that one fails. I have my cell phone, and a small two-way radio. We also have a sign-in book and a board that we put our nametag in the location that we will be hunting. Another piece of communication is making sure that someone knows your plan for the day.
If you hunt from an elevated stand, remember these things:
• Check the stand and the tree before you climb it. If you find anything wrong, and I do mean anything, do not climb it until the issue is corrected.
• A full-body harness is the safest type of harness to wear. Wearing a harness is an absolute must for elevated stands.
• Before climbing the ladder, check the stability of the ladder.
• Just as climbing any ladder, you must maintain at least three points of contact with the ladder, and four, if at all possible.
• Keep your gun unloaded until you are tied off to the tree, and everything else is in place. Hoist your gun by tying a clove hitch on the narrow part of the stock, and a series of half hitches up the barrel.
• Be careful with your movements, as well as preparing for any recoil that your gun may have, especially when sitting or standing on an elevated stand.
• When you are ready to leave your stand, reverse the process that you took to enter the stand.
• Be extremely careful when using hunting knives.
• When shooting your weapon, be absolutely sure of what you are shooting at. If you cannot make a clean and ethical shot, do not take the shot. Also, you must know where others are. In other places that I have hunted, I have experienced, more than once, buckshot whizzing past the stand that I was on. Thankfully, the club that I hunt with now takes a strong stand on safety, and works to correct any safety issues immediately.
• Expect the unexpected. I never expected to fall from that stand on my first opportunity to black powder hunt in 2002. You must have a plan for all circumstances. Here are some thoughts:
• What will you do if you get lost?
• What will you do if you get hurt?
• What will you do if your vehicle gets stuck in the mud?
• What will you do if you need help tracking or dragging?
I could write a novel on this subject, but hopefully this has gotten you to thinking how to make your hunting experience safe and enjoyable for everyone; you, the person on the next stand down, and your family. My prayer is that you have a great hunting season. Remember to enjoy and take care of God’s creation.
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