The Division of Wildlife Resources is encouraging all hunters to make safety a top priority for this fall’s hunting season. The first big game hunts begin August 19th with the archery hunts. Before placing a portable tree stand in a tree, be sure to check the stand’s weight rating. Make sure it will support both your weight and the weight of your equipment. “Hunters sometimes forget to factor in the weight of their equipment,” shares DWR Hunter Education Program Manager RaLynne Takeda. “If the combined weight of your body and the equipment is greater than the weight the stand can support, it could easily collapse, sending you and your gear to the ground below.” Another risk is falling while you’re climbing the tree or falling from your stand, once you reach it. Do not remove arrows from your quiver until it’s time to shoot. Never take a shot at a deer or an elk that is beyond the maximum range you’re comfortable shooting. Also, before you release your arrow, make sure of your target and what’s beyond it. For more safety tips as the fall hunts get underway, visit wildlife.utah.gov.
