(KNSI) – With nearly 500,000 deer hunters excepted in the forests and fields, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to be safe. The DNR says Minnesota hasn’t recorded a fatal hunting accident since 2018.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division Colonel Rodman Smith says most hunting accidents happen the same way.
“We’re finding people getting injured, and we continue to see people getting injured is climbing in and out of those darn deer stands. And that is where we’re getting people who have lifelong injuries of falling from ten, 15, 16 foot high deer stands.”
He says many people are used to climbing on ladders around the house or at work, but climbing during hunting season presents different challenges.
“It’s a little bit different. When the firearm season comes along and you have heavier boots on, you got a backpack with your stuff, you got a complex drillers clothes and you got a firearm.”
He says all the extra gear gets in the way and causes most falls. Hunters are reminded to keep three points of contact on the ladder when climbing. Smith recommends taking your time when climbing to your deer stand and using a tow rope to haul up your gun.
Smith reminds hunters to practice firearms safety by treating every gun as if it’s loaded, always control the gun’s muzzle, make sure you know what’s beyond the target, and don’t put your finger on the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.
The Minnesota firearms deer hunting season begins Saturday morning.
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