VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — With deer firearm season beginning soon, there are several things for hunters and wilderness goers to keep in mind.
Deer firearm season leads to the closure of various wooded areas and trails. Vermillion Trail Alliance Board of Directors member Tom Milligan says the best way to stay safe is to stay out of the woods altogether, but if you must enter, there are several things to keep in mind, such as wearing bright orange just like the hunters do.
“Just be aware of your surroundings all the time, have a fully-charged cell phone and take your headphones and your earbuds out so you can hear what’s going on,” Milligan said. “Just let somebody else know that you’re going to be out there, go out with a friend. There’s lots of things people can do to be safer out on the trails.”
Last year there were 19 hunting-related accidents reported in the State of Indiana. Indiana State Police PIO Sgt. Matt Ames says that hunters practicing gun safety plays a major role in preventing these tragedies.
“Every time that you have a weapon in your hand, you need to make sure that you’re treating it as if it is loaded,” Ames said. “Make sure that it’s always pointed in the right direction, in a safe manner, and make sure that when you get ready to lift up the muzzle and you get ready to aim at a target, make sure that you know what you’re shooting at and make sure that you know what’s beyond what you’re shooting at, so that when the round does go downrange, you make sure that you’re hitting the actual target.”
Deer firearm season will last from November 16 to December 1, but Milligan says it is always important for trail users and hunters to be familiar with their location.
“One of the things that you need to know about the trail is you need to know where you’re at,” Milligan said. “If you do have some kind of a concern, so when you make your 911 call that you can tell them where you’re at, so know your location, that’s another good fact for trail safety.”
Sadly there has already been one fatal accident connected to hunting this year. Investigators say a Terre haute man fell out of a tree stand and died last month. They encourage hunters to double check their safety equipment and always make sure they use a harness if they are in an elevated location.
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