Pennsylvania Game Commission Offers Online Treestand Safety Tips
September 16, 2008
As treestand use is a popular part of archery deer seasons, as well as a growing part of other deer seasons, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is offering hunters the opportunity to take a free, voluntary online treestand safety course. To take the course, go to the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us
), click on “Education” in the left-hand column of the homepage, then click on “Treestand Safety Course” in the “Education” box in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
“Treestand safety has evolved over the years as new research and statistics become available,” said Keith Snyder, Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Division chief. “What were once considered to be ’safe’ treestand safety practices 10 years ago are simply not considered ’safe’ today.
“By reviewing this 15-minute interactive, narrated treestand safety course, a hunter will learn about the latest Treestand Manufacturers Association’s safety standards and guidelines.”
Snyder noted that, in 2000, the Game Commission incorporated a specific treestand safety segment into its basic Hunter-Trapper Education course, which is required for all first-time license buyers regardless of age, as well as its voluntary Bowhunter education course.
“One of the key messages is the importance of a have and using a full-bodied fall restraint device or harness,” Snyder said. “According to the Treestand Manufacturers Association, 82 percent of treestand-related deaths were attributed to the fact that the hunter was not using a fall-restraint devise.”
Snyder noted that other treestand safety messages include:
Stay away! - Avoid permanent stands; they weaken with age, damage trees and are eyesores.
Smart choice! - Used stands certified by the Treestand Manufacturers Association (TMA). They are commercially designed and tested to meet high standards.
Read the directions! - Read and follow manufacture’s guidelines. Practice with stands before hunting.
Look carefully! - Inspect all stands and climbing equipment before each use.
Choose wisely! - Select only suitable trees. Avoid dead trees or those with loose bark.
Buckle up! - Use a fall-restraint device, preferably a full-body harness, any time your feet leave the ground! This includes climbing up and down the tree. Choose a harness that will keep you upright and will not restrict your breathing.
Keep it short! - Make sure there is no slack in the fall-restraint tether when you are in a sitting position.
Hold on tight! - Maintain three points of contact with the climbing system, ladder or tree at all times while climbing.
Climb safely! - Use a haul line to pull up gear. If hunting with a firearm, make sure it is unloaded and the muzzle is covered! Never attach the line near the trigger or trigger guard.
Ask a friend! - Use 3 persons to set-up any ladder-type treestand.
Hunt with a plan! - In the event of a fall, be prepared to help yourself. Have someone contact authorities if you don’t return at an established time.
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RI DEM Announces 2008-2009 Hunting Regulations
August 18, 2008
PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces the hunting regulations for the 2008-2009 seasons. There are several changes this year, primarily regarding deer hunting. The DEM remains committed to managing the growing deer population by focusing on the harvest of female deer. Most of the other changes are strictly date changes reflecting the calendar shift.
The Department is encouraging more private landowners to allow hunters to hunt on their property during deer-hunting seasons. As a reminder to deer hunters, annual written permission is required for all deer hunting on private lands. DEM has developed a courtesy card, available on the DEM website, for hunters and landowners to sign, which gives the dates for permissions and contains A Hunter’s Pledge regarding principles of conduct.
This year the Department has modified the “All Outdoors” permit package. The package, which must be purchased from DEM’s Division of Licensing, entitles hunters to buy all nine mainland deer permits at one time for $112.50, and receive two additional mainland permits free of charge. The two permits are valid for either sex or antlerless deer during their respective seasons. New this season, hunters may utilize the six antlerless permits in any combination during their respective deer seasons with the appropriate archery or firearm equipment. Hunters that wish to purchase the “All Outdoors” package must show previous Rhode Island firearm and archery permits or proof of both hunter and archery safety course cards. A limit of 250 “All Outdoors” permit packages will be printed this year, with availability on a first-come, first-serve basis. Order forms will be available on the DEM website, www.dem.ri.gov, by mid-August. Permits are not yet available.
Regarding deer hunting seasons and bag limits:
- Muzzleloader hunters can purchase one mainland either-sex deer permit and two antlerless permits. The season for either-sex and antlerless permits is November 8 - November 30 on both state and private land. The antlerless deer permit is also valid on private land December 22 - December 25. All deer harvested during the first three days of muzzleloader season, November 8 -10, must be checked at a state-operated station. Vendor check stations may check deer during the remainder of the season.
- Shotgun deer hunters can purchase one mainland either-sex deer permit and two antlerless permits. Both permits will be valid on state management areas and private land from December 6 to December 14; and from December 15 to December 21 on private lands. Antlerless deer permits will also be valid on December 27 to December 28, and from January 3 to January 4 on private land. All deer harvested during the first three days of the shotgun season, December 6 to December 8, must be taken to a state operated station. Vendors may check deer during the remaining dates.
- Mainland archery deer hunters will be permitted to take one either-sex and two antlerless deer from October 1 through January 31. Hunters who harvest two female deer or deer with no visible antlers will be given affidavits to purchase a special “Earn-a-Buck” permit, at the Division of Licensing.
- The suite of deer permits for Conanicut/Aquidneck Islands will stay the same as last season. Hunters can purchase a total of three permits, one either-sex and two antlerless, for each of the three season types - archery, muzzleloader, and shotgun - for a total of nine permits. This effort is being proposed to reduce the Island herds, without impacting the number of permits available to mainland hunters.
- Prudence Island bow hunters will be allowed to harvest one deer of either sex from state or private lands and one antlerless deer from private lands during the season, October 24 through January 4. The quota has been reduced from the 2007-2008 quota of 75 on state land to 50, to reflect the decrease in the number of deer in the management areas.
In other hunting regulations:
- Prudence: There will not be a lottery this year for hunts on state lands on Prudence and Patience Islands. However, permits will be required for all state land hunters. Requests for permits are available by sending a SASE to Prudence Permits, RI Division of Fish and Wildlife, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892. As in the past, proficiency is required of all Prudence and Patience Island hunters. Counter-signed permission from the Portsmouth Chief of Police is also required on private land. A lottery will be conducted for the Heritage parcel. Requests for lottery applications are available by sending a SASE to Heritage Lottery, RI Division of Fish and Wildlife, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892.
- The lottery will no longer be held for the TNC’s Francis Carter Preserve. However, all hunters must obtain a permit. Requests for permits are available by sending a SASE to FRANCIS CARTER COOP, RI Division of Fish and Wildlife, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892. Only archery deer hunting is permitted on this property with a current proficiency card.
- Muzzleloader hunters will be allowed to use their muzzleloader firearms during the shotgun deer season, provided they have a valid shotgun permit and use their shotgun permit to tag their deer. Hunters must adhere to the shotgun season fluorescent orange requirements of 500 square inches. This is on a trial basis only.
- Regarding the pheasant season, hunters will be allowed to purchase an unlimited number of pheasant permits this season. The bag limit is two per day. The Division plans to stock 11 state management areas for opening day, October 18.
- The Division of Fish & Wildlife will be offering a junior pheasant hunting weekend on October 11 and October 12. An orientation will be held at the Great Swamp Management Area on September 20, with demonstrations provided in firearm safety, game preparation, and other related hunting topics. Pre-registration by September 11 is required and space is limited. Contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife for registration requirements and details at 789-0281.
- Air gun rifles will be allowed this year, with restrictions, for selected small mammals. See the Hunting Abstract for firearm restriction and species.
- The bag limit for the early goose season - September 1 to September 30 - is 15 birds per day. Permits are required for this season. Requests for permits are available by sending a SASE to Early Goose, RI Division of Fish and Wildlife, 277 Great Neck Rd., West Kingston, RI 02892. Hunters are also required to purchase both federal and state ducks stamps and obtain a HIP permit.
- The Division hopes to offer deer hunters the opportunity to check their deer during the vendor check portion of the season by calling a toll-free number or via online check-in. More information will be provided as the season progresses.
The 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping abstract is available on the DEM website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on Regulations from the homepage, then Fish & Wildlife, then Hunting Regulations Abstract.
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Register Now For Fall Hunter Education Course In Wisconsin
August 14, 2008
MADISON – Wisconsin hunters planning for the late-year seasons should register now for required hunter education certificate courses to avoid being sidelined due to lack of planning.
“Nearly all of the volunteer hunter education instructors are hunters themselves and enjoy hunting in the fall,” says Conservation Warden Tim Lawhern, who also serves as the state’s hunting education administrator. “The hunter education program offers about 1,200 courses every year, but very few of them are offered from October through December.”
Every year Lawhern fields calls two weeks before the gun-deer season with hunter-hopefuls looking to fulfill the mandatory hunter education course. “More than 99 percent of our courses have already been offered well before the gun-deer season,” he says.
Anyone born on or after Jan.1, 1973, must have completed a hunter education course and show the certificate to purchase any hunting license in Wisconsin.
To find a course, visit the Department of Natural Resources Web page, [dnr.wi.gov]. Look under the heading of Recreational Safety Course – Upcoming Classes. If unsuccessful, check back as courses are added to the listing as instructors alert the DNR.
“In Wisconsin, we’ve reduced hunting accidents by 90 percent since the program began,” Lawhern says. “Hunting is safe — and getting safer — because of the volunteer instructors who teach hunter education and the number of our hunters who have now graduated from our courses. Sign up now while courses are being offered in your area.
“Remember, safe hunting is no accident,” he says.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern (608) 266-1317
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New Website Focuses on Tree-stand Safety
July 21, 2008
This 15-minute short course could save your life.
JEFFERSON CITY-Deer hunters who use tree stands can reduce their chances of life-threatening falls by spending 15 minutes taking an online safety course offered by the Treestand Manufacturers Association.
Statistics on tree-stand accidents are hard to find. Missouri, like many states, only tracks firearms-related deer hunting accidents. However, Tony Legg, hunter education coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation, says he is confident that injuries and deaths far outnumber shooting casualties.
“More than one in three deer hunters will fall from a tree stand at some time in their life,” said Legg. “Injuries range from cuts and bruises to broken bones, internal injuries and spinal cord injuries. Not everyone who falls from a tree stand will be paralyzed or killed, but serious injuries are far more common than we would like.”
Legg said the only sure way to avoid falls is to stay on the ground. However, hunters can dramatically reduce the likelihood of falls and the severity of resulting injuries by taking a few simple precautions. Those precautions are outlined in a free, online tree-stand safety course at hunterexam.com/usa/missouri/treestandSafety.aspx.
The course covers what kinds of tree stands and ladders to avoid, how to use good equipment safely, safety devices, tree-stand placement and what to do if you fall.
Legg noted that tree stands provide many benefits for hunters. If used properly, with safety equipment such as a fall-arrest system and a full-body harness, they can be very safe. But he said it is important for hunters to realize the risks inherent to tree stands and take every measure they can to reduce those risks.
“The online safety course covers the subject extremely well,” said Legg, “and it is so concise you don’t have to invest lots of time to learn how to be safe. Every hunter who cares about himself or his loved ones needs to set aside 15 minutes to take this course.”
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Personal Watercraft Require Attentive and Knowledgeable Operators
May 31, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. - Propelled by jets of water, personal watercraft are fast and easy to maneuver, which is a large part of their appeal – and their potential danger.
“You need to know how your personal watercraft works and the regulations that apply to its ownership and operation before you get on it,” said Capt. Chris Huebner, the state’s boating safety coordinator. “Any maneuver that endangers people or property constitutes reckless operation and is breaking the law.”
Reckless operation, lack of proper safety equipment and exceeding capacity are the most frequently cited violations for personal watercraft operators in North Carolina. Another common violation is underage operators. State law restricts anyone younger than 16 from operating a personal watercraft unless:
- They are at least 14 years old and riding with a person who is at least 18.
- They are at least 14 years old and have successfully completed an approved boating safety education course, and have proof of age and safety course completion with them while operating the personal watercraft.
“It is also against the law to knowingly let anyone younger than 16 operate a personal watercraft who doesn’t meet those qualifications,” Capt. Huebner added.
For more information on operating a personal watercraft in North Carolina, click here or call (919) 707-0031.
To enroll in a free N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission-sponsored Boating Education Course, click here or call (919) 707-0031.
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Internet ATV Safety Course Now Available
May 9, 2008
MADISON - Operators of all terrain vehicles (ATV) now have a convenient online method to receive ATV Safety Certification through an Internet Web page introduced by the state Department of Natural Resources.
“This should prove very beneficial to young adult operators and out-of-state operators who need ATV Safety Certification,” said Gary Eddy, DNR all-terrain vehicle administrator.
All operators at least age 12 and born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 must complete an ATV Safety Certification course in order to operate on public ATV trails and areas in Wisconsin.
“The internet course may not be for everyone. Parents will have to gauge whether an internet course is the best fit for their child. For some students, young and old, a classroom course with instructors and hands-on learning may be a better fit,” said Eddy.
Both courses provide basic information on how to operate an ATV safely and responsibly, but they don’t make you an expert rider.
The Internet course is available at [www.offroad-ed.com/wi]. Check the DNR’s Upcoming Recreational Safety Education Classes Web page to find classroom courses available around the state.
Students must continue to practice what they’ve learned in their ATV Safety Course and parents need to reinforce what has been taught.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Eddy, All-Terrain Vehicle Administrator, (608) 267-7455 or Karl Brooks, DNR Law Enforcement - (608) 266-7820
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DNR Urges Safety First For All ATV Operators
April 25, 2008
With five fatalities reported so far this year, state conservation officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) remind both adult and youth all-terrain vehicle (ATV) operators to apply safety first when operating their machines.
“The public’s perception is that most ATV fatalities and accidents involve youths, but that’s really not the case,” said Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR Enforcement Education Program coordinator. “Recent DNR statistics show a decline in youth-involved incidents, largely due to safety training requirements for those age 16 and under. It’s the adults, those who have not completed DNR ATV safety training, who are most at risk.”
The most recent fatality, which occurred March 25, involved a 94-year-old man who was riding an ATV when he collided with a vehicle while crossing a Beltrami County highway in northern Minnesota. The ages of the other four fatalities so far this year were 21, 33, 37 and 56. Fourteen people, ranging from ages 7 to 76, were killed in ATV accidents last year in Minnesota.
Hammer said most ATV incidents occur in the road right-of-way where a valid driver’s license is required, or in ditch rollover accidents.
According to a recent DNR survey, the typical Minnesota ATV rider is a Caucasian male in his mid-40s with some college or technical training. He is most often employed full time, with an income more than $50,000 and an average family size of 2.8. It’s almost assured he has not completed a DNR ATV safety course.
“Because most adults are experienced automobile drivers, they think they possess the skills to handle a powerful, 600-pound ATV,” Hammer said. “But an ATV handles differently from other vehicles. A rollover can occur quickly, even during routine maneuvers such as turning and driving on hills and over obstacles, if a driver fails to take proper precautions.”
Hammer said adults are less likely to wear a helmet that could prevent head injuries, which are very common in ATV accidents. He recommends all adults complete the ATV safety training independent study course and wear a helmet.
Anyone born after July 1, 1987, who operates an ATV on public lands in Minnesota, must successfully complete the independent study ATV Safety Training CD course. Youth ages 11-15 must complete the ATV CD Course and riding component before riding on public lands. The ATV Training CDs are available by calling the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).
“ATVs may look like a fun toy, but they aren’t,” Hammer said. “Too many times adults and youths don’t understand the safety rules and regulations that govern their use.”
Hammer said safety training is a must for anyone who rides an ATV. “Understanding a few simple safety rules and knowledge of the regulations prevents accidents and reduces damage to trails.”
“ATVs are dangerous if you don’t respect them,” Hammer said. “You have to be trained. You have to know what you’re doing.”
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources -
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