Interview: Steven Heerkens talks hunter safety as firearms season nears for Northern New York
Hunters across New York's Northern Zone are preparing to head afield for another firearms season and the New York State DEC has issued a friendly, yet firm reminder for hunters to adhere to basic and common sense safety.
The New York State DEC's 4 Rules of Firearm Safety:
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
- Keep your finger off the trigger, and outside the trigger guard, until you are ready to shoot.
- Always be sure of your target and what is in front of it and behind it. (Once you pull the trigger, you cannot take back the bullet!)
In terms of hunting accidents, DEC documented nine hunting-related shooting incidents (HRSIs) during the 2022 hunting seasons, one of which was fatal.
This ties with 2021 for the lowest number of HRSIs recorded since record-keeping began more than 70-years-ago, DEC officials said.
Four of the nine HRSIs that occurred last year were two-party firearm incidents, while the other five were self-inflicted. "All identified shooters were experienced hunters with an average of 30 years of hunting experience, emphasizing the need for all hunters to remain vigilant when heading into the field," said the DEC.
"All incidents could have been prevented if those involved followed hunting safety rules."
Listen to our latest on-air segment with DEC Region 6 Wildlife Biologist Steven Heerkens for more on hunting safety:
In addition to firearm safety, DEC warns hunters to be mindful while climbing or descending from tree-stands.
Last-year, officials say there were 13 elevated hunting incidents (EHIs) reported; four of these were fatal. Only two of the 13 hunters involved were wearing a safety harness.
Tree-stand safety is integrated into DEC's hunter education course because these incidents have become a major cause of hunting-related injuries.
"The proper use of tree stands and tree stand safety equipment will help prevent these injuries and fatalities," DEC emphasized. "If used correctly, a full body harness and a lifeline keep hunters connected from the time they leave the ground to the moment they get back down."
Last but not least, big game hunters during firearms season are reminded that it is now regulation to wear some sort of blaze orange or pink while afield.
According to the DEC: Any person hunting deer or bear with a firearm or a person who is accompanying someone hunting deer or bear with a firearm MUST wear a minimum of 250 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material worn above the waist and visible from all directions; OR a minimum of 250 square inches of patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink (the pattern must be at least 50% fluorescent orange or 50% fluorescent pink) worn above the waist and visible from all directions; OR a hat or cap with no less than 50% of the exterior consisting of solid fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material visible from all directions.
Furthermore, hunters who wear hunter orange are seven times less likely to be shot, officials claim.
For example, during the past ten years, not one person who was wearing hunter orange was mistaken for game and killed in New York.
On the contrary, big game hunters who were involved in firearm-related incidents were not wearing hunter orange.
New York State DEC images.
