Hunting safety

Nothing can ruin a hunt faster than an accident. Drowning, hypothermia, getting lost, or just spraining an ankle are among the perils awaiting hunters ill prepared for a trip afield. Because hunting involves firearms, knives, and arrows and is often conducted in cold and wet weather in some the state's wildest areas, hunters should take particular care to prepare before heading out for a day in the woods or wetlands.

Many hunters want to know more about how to plan their hunts to avoid accidents, injuries, and getting lost. In the DNR hunter education seminars, instructors spend one entire evening on helping people learn navigation and survival skills, and how to properly plan their hunts. Many hunters have experienced what it's like to be disoriented in the woods or to just miss taking a serious fall, and it's something they want to learn to avoid.

All hunters should consider taking an advanced hunter education class to learn the latest hunting techniques along with tips on coming home alive. Here are these five suggestions for a safe and successful hunting experience:

1. Get a detailed map of the area you are hunting, review it before you leave, and carry it with you in the field.

2. Carry a compass and know how to use it. Decide ahead of time the direction to head for if you get lost or disoriented.

3. Weather can change quickly in Minnesota, so hunters should carry a simple survival kit and be prepared for an unexpected overnight stay in the field. The survival kit should contain a rope, a knife, water, waterproof matches, an emergency shelter, and first aid supplies.

4. If you are on the water, make sure to wear a personal flotation device (life preserver).

5. Know your hunting partners' physical and emotional limitations, as well as your own, and don"t push your partners or yourself beyond those limits.