Deer Hunting Safety + ATV/UTV Safety
MADISON - Wisconsin is one of the safest places in the world to hunt deer,
and this is no accident, said recreational safety officials with the state
Department of Natural Resources.
"Wisconsin has such a passion for deer hunting, and this passion extends
from generation to generation," said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. "Through
hunter education programs and important lessons being passed down to younger
hunters, Wisconsin continues to stand out as a great example of safe and
ethical hunting."
Experts trace the state's culture of hunting safety to 1967, almost a half
century ago, when the department launched a six-hour course stressing
firearm safety. The course was voluntary, and while the impact was not
momentous, the number of firearm injuries during the gun deer hunt began to
slowly fall off.
In 1980, hunters were required to wear blaze orange during gun deer hunts,
and the number of firearm incidents dropped more dramatically. Then, in
1985, an expanded hunter education certification program became mandatory
for all hunters in Wisconsin born or after Jan. 1, 1973.
The state's ingrained hunter safety culture was created and is sustained by
the program's dedicated, experienced volunteer instructors who have
instilled skills, responsibility and ethics in more than one million
students. About 28,000 new students are trained each year.
In 1966 in Wisconsin, the hunting incident rate was 44 injuries for every
100,000 hunters. Now the rate, based on a 10-year-average, is 4.04 incidents
per 100,000 hunters, a reduction of more than 90 percent. Wisconsin has
experienced four gun-deer seasons free of fatalities, (1972, 2010, 2011 and
2013) with three of them occurring in the past four years.
Conservation Warden Jon King, who leads the Hunter Education Program, said
hunting in Wisconsin is a safe, fun activity for the entire family.
King credits the expanded course and outstanding instructors as the main
factors behind Wisconsin's safety record, but there are others. "Trends in
hunting patterns have changed," King said. "There are fewer deer drives. The
tendency is for gun hunters to go out and sit. It's more like bow hunting,
where you sit for a couple hours
King is confident more incidents can be prevented by following these four
basic principles of firearm safety - known as TABK:
* Treat every firearm as if it is loaded;
* Always point the muzzle in a safe direction;
* Be certain of your target and what is beyond it; and
* Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.
For tree stand users, here are some easy tips to follow:
* Always use a full-body harness;
* Always unload your firearm while climbing into or out of the
stand; and
* Maintain three points of contact during the ascent or descent --
two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand.
Each deer drive should be planned in advance with safety as the top
priority, King said. "Everyone involved in the drive should know and
understand the plan."
If you plan to participate in a deer drive:
* Review the four firearm safety principles;
* Reconfirm you have positively identified your target;
* Reconfirm you have a safe backstop for your bullet; and
* Review and stick to your hunting plan. Make sure all in the
hunting party honor it.
"By keeping these tips in mind and being dedicated to using them, it will
become second nature and safety becomes a reflex," King says.
The department would like to thank Wisconsin hunters, who continue to serve
as an example for ethical and safe hunting.
For more information regarding hunter education and tips for safe hunting in
Wisconsin, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "safety
tips<http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/huntsafetytips.html>."