With hundreds of thousands of hunters set to converge on the state’s fields and woods for the Saturday, Nov. 8 firearms deer opener, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that safe hunts are successful hunts.
Hunting is a safe activity that leads to lifelong memories when hunters prepare ahead and take safety precautions. In the days before the firearms deer season kicks off, the DNR urges hunters to:
- Brush up on the key tenets of safe firearms handling, and make sure their firearms are in good working order.
- Ensure they have sufficient blaze orange or blaze pink clothing.
- Ensure their hunting party has a plan on where everyone will be hunting.
- Know where your target is and what is beyond. It’s important to be alert for both hunters and non-hunters in the area.
- Check all tree-stand-related equipment for wear and tear, including safety harnesses, haul lines, the stand itself, and steps or ladders. Practice climbing into and out of the stand before the season starts.
“The firearms deer season is a tradition unlike any other in Minnesota,” said Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the DNR Enforcement Division. “Most hunters will end the season with good memories, and some will have venison in the freezer. Our goal is that the number of people who end the season injured, or worse, is zero. Prioritizing your safety, and that of the people around you, is the only way to make that happen.”
The leading cause of injury among hunters is accidents involving tree stands. The number of hunting related firearms fatalities has dropped significantly over the past 60 years – largely due to safety training requirements for young and new hunters – but even one fatality is too many.
Read more about safe firearms handling, tree stand safety, and blaze clothing requirements on the DNR website.