Delaware DNR promote safety tips for hunting season
The 2015 hunting season is underway and DNREC wants to make sure that hunters are taking all the necessary safety precautions before they go out in the field and even while they’re out hunting.
47 ABC spoke with Sergeant John McDerby of the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Natural Resources Police and he says, “It can be a very safe sport, unfortunately as in anything, there are accidents.”
Sergeant McDerby’s advice for a safe hunt is simple. Be aware and be prepared. Last year there were no hunting related deaths in Delaware and to keep it that way, Sergeant McDerby says hunters must do everything they can to make sure they’re visible to each other, which is why they are required to wear orange. This helps to avoid shooting another hunter.
Sergeant McDerby tells 47 ABC, “Hunting accidents across the country, there’s incidents where somebody’s maybe shooting to harvest a deer legally but on the other side of that deer is another hunter.”
Besides deer hunters, small game hunters are also required to wear orange. But duck or waterfowl hunters are the exception as they are allowed to wear camouflage.
Sergeant McDerby tells 47 ABC, “We don’t want any mistakes for somebody who mistakes another Hunter walking through the woods maybe sees a flash of white paper, a handkerchief and think it’s a deer walking through the woods.”
Another thing to be careful of are tree stands. Some hunters secure them in trees up to 30-feet off the ground. If you are doing so, Sergeant McDerby reminds hunters to always wear your safety harness, just in case you slip or fall, which does happen. McDerby says one hunter fell out of their tree stand last year and got seriously injured. While all these tips are important, Sergeant McDerby says the most important tip of all is letting someone know where you are at all times.
Sergeant McDerby tells 47 ABC, “Letting them know what time you’re planning on going into the woods what time you plan on being back out of the woods and having contact with them you know by cellphone or having your cellphone with you.”
Just in case something goes wrong. Because a successful hunt doesn’t just mean taking home a prize, but walking out of the woods alive.
Sergeant McDerby also says that all hunters born before Jan 1st of 1967, must take a hunter safety class in Delaware. Safety classes as well as additional hunting practice and training are offered through the Hunter Education Department.
For those who are interested in different continuing Education classes, they offer that as well. If you’re interested in learning more about the classes or want to see the current hunting season calendar in the first state you can visit http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/huntered/Pages/HunterEd.aspx
