Minnesota Deer Opener Safety Tips Every Hunter Should Know

(KNSI) – Minnesota conservation officers are urging hunters to look over their gear and review the basics before the firearms deer season opens Saturday.

Conservation Officer Emmitt Winkels reminds hunters to wear their blaze orange or blaze pink. He told KNSI accidents happen every deer season, and one type leads the list. “The big one where we get our most accidents during deer season is tree stand-related actions, so falls, you know, even if you’re in a harness, we have people who fall and get stuck within that harness.”

He recommends checking harnesses and haul lines for tears, along with the straps on stands that stay up all year. He also suggests giving the tree a tap before climbing to make sure it isn’t rotted inside.

Winkels urges hunters to be careful once they have a rifle in their hands and to remember the lessons from firearm safety class, such as treating every gun as if it’s loaded. “Don’t point that muzzle at somebody else. You know, know what’s beyond your target. Try not to shoot over water. Rounds get very, very far. And obviously, finger off the trigger until you’re ready.”

He recommends taking a rifle to a range before the opener to make sure it’s sighted in and working properly. He says hunters should use a haul line to raise a rifle into the stand unloaded rather than climbing with it on their back, because a mechanical safety can fail.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources expects more than 400,000 hunters to take part in this year’s firearms season.

For more safety information, click here.

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