Hunter Safety 11/20/06 Email this story to a friend According to the National Safety Council, hunting is a safe activity. In fact, hunting results in fewer injuries per 100,000 participants than do many other sports, including cycling, bowling, golf and tennis. However, as with any activity, you must always use good judgment and take responsibility for your actions. Deer and turkey hunters should follow safe, ethical hunting practices. These include: Hunter Ethics and Safety Be sure of your target and beyond before you shoot. Make sure your equipment is in good working condition and your firearm is properly sighted in. If you hunt from a tree stand, always wear a safety harness. Serious accidents occur annually when hunters fall from tree stands. If you hunt on private land, be sure to obtain permission from the landowner and respect his or her property as if it were your own. Scout the area you plan to hunt so you know where the boundaries, houses, roads, fences and livestock are located on the property. If you do not kill your deer or turkey instantly, make every effort to find the wounded animal. Permission is required to enter private land. Clean and care for your game properly. Pick up all litter. Leaving an area better than the way you found it is a sign of thanks for the privilege of hunting. Report observed violations of the law to a conservation agent or local sheriff as soon as possible. If you are involved in a firearms-related accident, the law requires that you identify yourself and render assistance; failure to do so is a Class 'A' misdemeanor. Develop your skills and knowledge, and share them with others. Know and obey all wildlife laws. Know and follow the rules of gun safety. Respect the rights of hunters, non-hunters and landowners. Make every effort to retrieve and use all game. Respect the land and all wildlife. Be sensitive to others when displaying harvested game. Remember, hunting is not a competitive sport. Courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation Rodney says, “If you hunt on private land, be sure to obtain permission from the landowner and respect his or her property as if it were your own. Scout the area you plan to hunt so you know where the boundaries, houses, roads, fences and livestock are located on the property.”