IDNR Reminds Hunters to Make Safety a Priority

IDNR Reminds Hunters to Make Safety a Priority

Most hunting incidents involve tree stands

Staying safe in the field is something I think a lot of people take for granted, especially on those mornings you might be running late. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released the following and it's a must read. 10 accidents have already occurred in 2016.  Remember Safe Hunting is No Accident.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Hunters in Illinois are being reminded to make safety a top priority, especially during the state’s busiest hunting seasons this fall. 

“There is no better place to participate in and celebrate our hunting heritage than right here in Illinois during the fall,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Wayne Rosenthal. “No matter the hunting seasons, we want hunters to enjoy their time in the field, and to be safe while doing so.” 

The IDNR Office of Law Enforcement, which administers the state’s Hunter Safety Education Program, has investigated 10 hunting incidents so far during 2016, eight of which involved hunters falling from elevated tree stands or falling while climbing into or out of tree stands.

In 2015, there were 25 hunting incidents reported in all hunting seasons in Illinois. Among the hunting incidents reported last year, 15 involved tree stands. 

The IDNR reminds hunters using tree stands to use a Fall Arrest System (FAS) safety harness. Nationally, more than 80 percent of reported tree stand incidents involve hunters who were not using a fall restraint system.

Hunters should also check the harness, straps, ladder and other equipment before use to make sure they are in working order; be aware of weather conditions that could make stands and steps slippery; and, have within reach a mobile phone to call for help, if needed. Hunters can review tree stand safety online at http://www.huntercourse.com/treestandsafety/