For the second year in a row, Wyoming hunters have recorded an outstanding safety record with only two firearm related hunting accidents reported in 2007.

According to hunter education coordinator Jim Dawson, as with almost all firearm related accidents, both incidents could easily have been prevented by following safe firearm handling practices.

In Laramie County, two young men were riding down a county road on a coyote hunting trip. The truck hit a bump in the road and the passenger’s rifle discharged, hitting the driver in the left arm taking out the tricep. Dawson said this accident could easily have been prevented by not having a loaded gun in a vehicle.

The other accident occurred in Fremont County when a 13-year old boy was shot in the lower left leg by his 14 year old brother. The two were hunting deer and after shooting at a deer, the two went to recover the game. The older brother tripped on a rock, fell, and the rifle went off. According to the ambulance crew, the boy’s life was saved due to emergency first aid rendered by the supervising adult on the hunting trip.

Dawson said that while every incident is tragic, considering the tens of thousands of hunters that take to the Wyoming outdoors every year, the few accidents confirm that hunting is a very safe activity.

“The goals of the Hunter Education Program are to reduce hunting related accidents and violations, promote safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunting, and enhance hunting traditions and values,” Dawson said.

“We now have more than 400 instructors, who include game wardens, volunteers and professional educators. These volunteer instructors certify an average of 3,500 students each year.”

Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Division Chief Keith A. Snyder is reminding hunters, trappers and other outdoors enthusiasts to plan well to avoid hypothermia.

“Anyone heading afield for late fall and winter hunting and trapping seasons should be aware of the threat of hypothermia and how to combat it,” Snyder said. “Hypothermia occurs when exposure to the wind, cold and wetness drain heat from the body faster than it can be produced.

“Extreme cold is not required for hypothermia to develop, and most cases occur when the air temperature is between 30 and 50 degrees. The best way to combat hypothermia is to dress properly and avoid getting wet.”

Non-absorbent, wicking long underwear of polypropylene or a similar synthetic base layer, covered by a layer of wool or other insulating material, such as fleece, followed by a breathable waterproof outer shell would be good in most wet-weather situations. The rain gear can be carried in a small pack, but should be put on before the other clothes become wet because once a person gets wet, he or she risks hypothermia. A warm hat and gloves also help to prevent heat loss.

“Wet clothing should be exchanged for dry clothing as soon as possible, especially if it is windy,” Snyder said. “Getting out of the wind and rain promptly can mean the difference between a safe outing and a life-threatening ordeal.”

One of the most important defenses against hypothermia is recognition and treatment of the early symptoms. Uncontrolled shivering is the first signal of the onset of hypothermia. It also is one of the few symptoms the victim may recognize.

As hypothermia sets in, slurred speech, frequent stumbling, loss of manual dexterity, memory lapses, exhaustion and drowsiness occur.

Often a victim will not notice these signs, so hunting partners should watch each other when wind, water or cold create the potential for hypothermia.

“It is wise to get out of the wind and cold, remove wet clothing, and warm the body before hypothermia sets in,” Snyder said. “Once the telltale symptoms are recognized, these steps are absolutely critical: Stop, take shelter, remove wet clothes and warm the body.”

If only mild impairment is evident, warm drinks and dry clothes will probably solve the problem. High-energy foods can help provide fuel for metabolic heat production. Powdered sweetened gelatin mixed with warm water makes a high-energy emergency drink. A warming fire or other heat source can help speed the recovery. Wrapping a blanket or crawling into a sleeping bag, if available, also will speed recovery.

In advanced cases of hypothermia, drowsiness may lead to unconsciousness and, ultimately, death, unless action is taken to provide warmth. In these cases, emergency medical assistance is needed as soon as possible.

The early warning signs of hypothermia result as the body shuts down circulation to the limbs and nonessential organs in an attempt to maintain the core temperature. As more energy is drained, survival becomes dependent upon stopping the outflow of heat and supplying warmth from external sources.

“Awareness of the signs followed by prompt attention to the problem can save lives,” Snyder said. “Keep hypothermia in mind whenever you are outdoors and the weather turns wet or cold.”

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds hunters to park their vehicles in a place that will not block roads or approaches to farm fields.

Kevin Kading, private land section leader, said this has become an issue for landowners who are enrolled in the department’s Private Land Open To Sportsmen program, and for those who are not enrolled in PLOTS.

“This serves as a good reminder for hunters to pay attention to farm equipment, and to park their vehicles in a place that will not block a roadway, field approach or gate,” Kading said.

During hunting season, farmers and ranchers are busy with fall farm duties, including harvesting crops, moving cattle and hauling bales. “Some landowners may have land enrolled in the Working Lands PLOTS program,” Kading said. “These lands may contain crop or hay fields, or pastures with cattle. The farmer or rancher needs access to those fields or pastures, especially this time of year.”

One landowner mentioned to Kading that it was difficult for him to get his equipment past a hunter’s vehicle that was parked on the side of the road. “We are just asking hunters to make it easier for landowners by being aware of the surroundings when parking a vehicle,” he said. “You can find a place to park that won’t infringe on the landowner.”

Kading also asks hunters to practice proper etiquette, such as picking up trash and empty shells, and not to clean game in the road ditch or by PLOTS signs. “Hunters must respect the landowners and the land,” Kading added. “This is private property. Keep the land the way you would want it if it was your own.”

A Tama man is recovering from injuries suffered while pheasant hunting in rural Poweshiek County today, state conservation law enforcement officials said.

James Harris, 37, was hunting approximately three to four miles north of Grinnell when the accident happened around 3:15 p.m. today. Authorities said the group had shot a bird, which landed across a fence on adjoining property. Harris reportedly went to retrieve the bird, placed his gun on the ground and crossed the fence near the muzzle end. When he crossed the fence, hunting dogs stepped on the gun, which discharged and struck Harris in the left calf at a distance of roughly three feet.

Harris was treated at Grinnell Regional Medical Center and later transported by helicopter to University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.

The incident remains under investigation.

Fall is typically the time when big game animals are on the move, all the more reason for motorists to pay special heed to “Deer Crossing” signs.

“Deer-automobile accidents reach their peak in October through December,” said Art Smith, wildlife damage management program administrator for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “Deer are restless in the fall through their rut and as they prepare for winter. Drivers should never overdrive the road conditions, and one of the conditions we can expect is deer on the move.”

Often when a motorist sees a deer or other big game animal on the road, there isn’t much time to react. The most severe accidents don’t occur when the vehicle hits the deer but when the motorist swerves to avoid the animal and hits a tree or another vehicle or suffers a rollover.

“A driver who tries to save an animal by swerving may not be choosing the safest option,” Smith said. “When a collision is inevitable, don’t swerve. Hold on to the steering wheel and hit the brakes firmly. Stay in your lane and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.”

Drivers should be vigilant during this peak season for deer/vehicle collisions and follow these suggestions from The Insurance Information Institute:

• Be particularly attentive between sunset and midnight and during the hours shortly before and shortly after sunrise. Most deer-vehicle collisions occur at those times.
• Drive carefully in areas known to have high deer populations.
• If you see a deer, slow down. Others are probably nearby.
• Use high-beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will reflect in a deer’s eyes and warn you of its presence.
• If a deer is in your lane, brake firmly but stay in your lane. The most serious accidents occur when drivers swerve.
• Don’t rely on deer whistles, deer fences or reflectors to deter deer.
• Always wear seat belts.

When a vehicle strikes a big game animal, the driver needs to make immediate contact with law enforcement.

Hunters in South Dakota’s fields are likely to find plenty of pheasants this weekend. They are also going to find unusually wet fields and roads.

“Recent rains have caused some fields and roads to become saturated,” said Tony Leif, game program administrator for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “In these wet conditions, vehicles can cause a great deal of damage.”

GFP is cautioning hunters to drive carefully on gravel roads and consider alternative routes in areas served by dirt roads. “Please respect the land,” Leif said, “and walk into and out of fields.”

It may take several days of sunshine to dry out fields and roads. In the meantime, hunters should use caution.

The opening day of pheasant season is a time to enjoy the outdoors and renew old acquaintances. However, all of the activity and excitement of the hunt shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way of safety.

“Hunters can’t let their enthusiasm for opening day cloud their better judgment,” said Curt Robertson, hunter safety program specialist for the S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks. “They need to practice safe hunting techniques at all times.”

To that end, Robertson offers a list of Top 10 safety points that hunters should always keep in mind. They include:

• Watch that muzzle!  Keep it pointed in a safe direction at all times
• Treat every firearm with the respect due a loaded gun. It might be loaded, even though you think it isn’t.
• Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it. Know the identifying features of the game you hunt. 
• Know the location of all your hunting partners at all times.
• Keep your finger outside and alongside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.  This is the best way to prevent an accidental discharge.
• Check your barrel and ammunition. Make sure the barrel and action are free of obstructions and carry only the proper ammunition for your firearm.
• Unload firearms when not in use. Leave actions open; carry firearms in cases and unloaded to and from the shooting area. Unload firearms before you enter a vehicle and leave the action open.
• Wear blaze orange hats, shooting glasses and hearing protection. Keep yourself safe as well as others.
  Don’t run, jump or climb with a loaded firearm. Unload firearms before crossing fences or jumping a ditch.
• Stay straight to shoot straight. Shun alcoholic beverages before and during the hunt.  Also avoid mind- or behavior-altering medicines or drugs.
• You are responsible!  When you discharge a firearm, you are responsible for the results.  When in doubt, don’t shoot. 

GFP brood counts indicate a near record pheasant population in South Dakota this year. “There are plenty of pheasants out there,” Robertson said, “so be patient and always take the safe shot.”

Hunters in Iowa came through 2005 with one of their safest years on record. Though marred by a tragic fatality in Johnson County, the overall figures continue a several year trend toward fewer incidents. Safety officials say they can pinpoint the obvious reason; Iowa’s mandatory hunter education program.
“We do a thorough job of investigating incidents that occur and we take that information and we put it into the hands of our 1,800 volunteer instructors,” says Rod Slings, safety education coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “I attribute it their hard work and dedication in getting that education into the classroom.”
In 2005, a December 4 shooting took the life of Scott Knebel, of North Liberty, in the first shotgun deer season, near Oxford, in Johnson County. Through the rest of the year, 23 other hunters were injured in shooting incidents. While 2005 figures actually show an upturn, they follow the safest hunting year on record. In 2004, there were no deaths and just 17 injuries. In 2003, there were two fatalities and 41 injuries. In 2002, there was one hunting death, with 25 injuries. And though any shooting is one too many, the recent numbers show a trend headed in the right direction. From the mid 1960s through the early ’70s there were up to 10 to 20 deaths and from 60 to 140 injuries in many years. There were more hunters 30 and 40 years ago, but not nearly the number to account for those figures.
That’s also about the time hunter education classes became mandatory for incoming Iowa hunters. Last year, 11,614 students went through 403 classes around the state learning everything from safe firearm handling to first aid and wildlife identification. “It’s been one of the most successful safety programs on record; reducing the number of hunting related shootings,” says Slings. “Whenever you pick up a firearm, you are picking up a responsibility.” Still, that hunter education certificate does not guarantee a safe hunt. Shooters in 16 of Iowa’s 26 incidents had completed the course.
While the fields and woods are much safer these days, there are still breakdowns. You don’t have to be a quail hunter in Texas to slip up. In fact, nine of Iowa’s 23 injuries in 2005 were similar to the Cheney-Wittington shooting that sparked headlines for a week. “Swinging on game is when the gets up and the shotgun is swung to the left or right, following that bird,” recites Slings. “Make sure you don’t violate your zone of fire; that ‘V’ out in front of you. Also, know where your hunting companions are at all times.”
Any hunter education effort is geared to record no incidents. However, humans aren’t infallible. Several steps can reduce the risk of problems in the field, though. Blaze orange-particularly blaze orange required for upland bird hunters now-makes us more visible through partial cover as a bird or other game animal flushes. The old reliable standard, of course, is knowing where your muzzle is pointed at all times.
“The key is to plan your hunt…and then hunt your plan,” stresses Slings. “If you say you are going to be in a particular area during a deer drive, for instance, stay in that area. Remember, the people you choose to hunt with are your family and closest friends.”
Hunter Education Courses Pick Up in March
If you are looking for a hunter education course ahead of spring turkey season, start checking for late winter/early spring offerings. Instructors in many counties offer a course or two, ahead of the April to May gobbler seasons. Most courses are listed on the Iowa DNR website . Click on safety education, in the upper right corner, then click on ‘hunter’ for a listing of courses in your region.

LITTLE ROCK - Hunting is one of the safest sports a person can participate in, but incidents still occur. Most hunters in Arkansas play it safe while enjoying their hobby and that’s reflected in the number of hunting accidents this season. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials say there have been fewer people hurt in hunting accidents, but the number of fatalities in hunting accidents has risen slightly at this point in the 2005-2006 hunting season.
Four hunters have died in accidents so far this year compared to three fatalities last year. But it’s not all bad news for hunter safety. Hunting-related accidents are down compared to last year. There have been 21 reported accidents during this hunting year compared to 23 accidents at this time a year ago.
Falls from tree stands are again the major contributor to hunting accidents in Arkansas. Last year, there were 7 reported tree stand incidents involving hunters. This year that total has increase to 8 tree stand accidents. Thirteen of the 21 reported incidents have included the discharge of a firearm. That number is down from 16 a year ago.
Using a tree stand is a popular way to hunt, but it also presents some special safety issues. Make sure your stand is well constructed and you know how to fasten it securely in place. Use safety belts when in the stand or climbing to and from the stand. Don’t climb with your weapon. Raise and lower it, unloaded, with a safety strap or rope.
According to AGFC hunter education coordinator Joe Huggins, educating hunters is the reason for the low number of accidents. “Education plays a big part in reducing the number of hunting accidents each year,” Huggins said. About 14,000 students of all ages successfully complete hunter education courses in Arkansas last year.
With spring turkey season beginning April 8 in Arkansas, Huggins said there a few things that hunters need to remember to have a safe and successful hunt.
Always follow basic gun safety rules.
Keep good muzzle control. Make sure you identify your target before you shoot. Once a shot is fired, you can’t call it back.
Wear blaze orange when moving around in the woods. A hat and vest are the best safety equipment to be used during turkey season.
If a hunter sees another hunter, don’t startle the other hunter. Let the hunter know in a calm voice your location.
One of the most important habits to get into as a hunter is letting other people know where you’re going to hunt and when you’ll be back.
“Each person has to do their part while they’re hunting. Identify what you’re shooting at because once that shot is fired, you can’t call it back,” Huggins said.
Some other safety measures include:
Do a pre-hunt safety check. Does the safety on your firearm work? Is the barrel clear of obstructions? Are all parts in good working order?
Make sure there are fresh batteries in your flashlight and turn it on when entering or leaving the woods in the dark, whether you need it to see or not.
Plan your hunt and hunt your plan. Know where other party members will be and don’t leave your assigned area.
Unload idle guns or when crossing obstacles.
Never assume other hunters are safe hunters. Watch the gun handlers around you to make sure they keep muzzles pointed in safe directions.
To reduce the number of accidents in the field, the AGFC constantly preaches safety. Since 1985, successful completion of a certified hunter safety course has been required for all hunters born after 1968. Most hunter education courses are held in the fall, but there are classes being conducted in different location around the state year round. Persons interested in attending the course can find course dates and locations on the AGFC website at www.agfc.com or call 482-5795.

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. - Tree stands are a continued favorite piece of
equipment for hunters as they search for ways to remain undetected by game.
However, tree stands also are the leading cause of hunting incidents according to
the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division .
Fifty-two percent of the hunting incidents over the past ten years, and forty
percent of hunting-related fatalities, were tree stand use related.
“Hunters must be intimately familiar with how to put up, take down and properly
climb into a tree stand,” says WRD State Hunter Safety Coordinator Capt. James Bell.
“We encourage ALL hunters to practice climbing into and out of their stand several
times prior to the opening of the hunting season.”
There are many different types of tree stands, climbing and non-climbing portable
stands, portable ladder stands, permanent stands and others. Each type requires the
user to be familiar with their variations to ensure safety. People who use tree
stands should thoroughly review the proper way to set up the stand and make sure
that all parts are stable and in good working order. Following are some tips:
When using a non-climbing portable or ladder stand, be sure to securely fasten the stand to the tree and install ladders or steps according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Use a safety belt or harness to secure yourself to the tree - not to the tree stand. In the event that the tree stand breaks or collapses, the harness will keep you from falling to the ground. Hunters should have a plan on how to get down from the tree should the tree stand fail and leave them hanging from their harness. Make sure the harness is attached to the waist, allowing for 10 - 12 inches of slack between the tree and yourself. A full body harness is recommended over a simple harness or safety line.
Use an equipment haul line to pull your gun or bow into or out of the stand. Make sure that the firearms or bow is unloaded before pulling it up.
Be careful not to fall asleep. Be aware of medications that cause drowsiness and avoid taking them before hunting.
Never use alcohol or drugs before or while you hunt as it is against the law.
Always tell someone where you will be hunting and what time you expect to return.
For more information on tree stand or other hunting-related safety, contact the
nearest WRD Law Enforcement Office, go to www.gohuntgeorgia.com or call
784-3068.

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Division of Parks and Recreation is taking steps to reduce visitor contact with mosquitoes through a public awareness campaign of informational leaflets, magnets and posters.
“The best prevention is to become knowledgeable on the subject,” says Doug Hofer, director of the Division of Parks and Recreation. “By implementing just a few steps to decrease personal contact with mosquitoes, we can make outdoor experiences much more enjoyable this summer.”
To help educate the public, materials such as informational bookmarks, magnets and kids’ coloring sheets are available at state park entrance booths. Posters have been posted on park bulletin boards. These materials, provided by the South Dakota Department of Health, contain information on mosquitoes, West Nile Virus and tips for decreasing contact with mosquitoes.
The Division of Parks and Recreation is also taking steps to decrease the number of mosquitoes in the area by treating stagnant water with larvaecide and eliminating other areas of standing water.
“These steps help to reduce the mosquito population of an area, but personal prevention is the most effective,” says Hofer.
To prevent mosquito bites, the South Dakota Department of Health suggests the following steps:
When outdoors, use mosquito repellent containing DEET, according to directions.
Spray repellent on both skin and clothes, but avoid applying repellent to the hands of children, as it may irritate the eyes and mouth.
Wear light colored long-sleeve shirts and pants.
Be aware that mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn and when the air is calm.
West Nile Virus disease is a mosquito-borne infection that can cause a mild flu-like illness or, in a small number of cases, severe encephalitis. It was first identified in South Dakota in 2002 and is transmitted to humans only through a bite from an infected mosquito. Animals can become infected, but can not pass it on to humans, nor is it acquired from person-to-person.
For more information on mosquitoes and West Nile Virus, visit the Department of Health’s website at www.state.sd.us/doh. Information on South Dakota state parks can be found online at www.sdgfp.info/parks or by calling the division office at 773-3991.