SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Deer hunters have already been in the woods for over a month with their bows, but now they are reunited with their favorite tree stands and rifle with gun season underway. With so many people heading into the woods, it is important to be as safe as possible to avoid serious hunting accidents.
During the 2018-2019 calendar year, there were 20 total hunting related accidents in the state of Alabama including three fatalities.
Here are a few things hunters can do to avoid those tree stand accidents:
- Hunters should always check their stands before making the climb to make sure it is in proper condition.
- Hunters should always secure themselves to the tree with a full body harness to avoid a fall.
- If using a climber, hunters should practice at home before taking the stand into the woods with no one around.
According to hunter-ed.com, the four main causes of hunting accidents are hunter judgment mistakes, safety rule violations, lack of control and practice and mechanical failure.
Here are some other gun safety tips for hunters:
- Hunters should make sure that nothing is blocking the barrel, like mud, udring discharge do avoid backfire.
- Hunters should always unload a gun before crawling under a fence or climbing into a stand to avoid misfire.
- Hunters should never mix guns with mind-altering drugs or alcoholic beverages.
- Hunters should always be sure of their target and know what is in front of and beyond their target.
For more tips on staying safe during hunting season visit outdooralabama.com
