DNR reminds people about hunting safety after incidents

MOORHEAD, MN (Valley News Live) – Two hunting incidents occurred on Saturday, November 9th. One hunting incident occurred in Norman County and the other in Clay County, where the man was shot in the head.

Joseph Stattelman, conservation officer for the Department of Natural Resources, reiterates the importance of hunting safety.

“I think as recently as 2019 and 2020 we had zero fatalities. I think we had one each in ’21 and ’22. And then in ’23, we had zero fatalities again,” Stattelman said.

There have not been many fatalities in the state of Minnesota in recent years. There were already two incidents on Saturday.

“Hunters are required to wear either bright orange or bright pink during firearms equipment and muzzleloader seasons. They must either wear it on their head covering if they are wearing a hat, or they must wear it above the waist, and it must be at least 50 percent orange. And of course, the more bright orange, the better,” Stattelman said.

Stattelman has a guide that hunters can follow to stay informed at all times.

“When it comes to firearms safety, we emphasize four things. First, treat every firearm as if it were loaded. muzzle control; Make sure your goal and what lies beyond it. And don’t put your finger on the trigger until you’re ready to shoot,” Stattelman said.

When hunting in a group, communication is of the utmost importance.

“It’s always good to have partners out there and not be alone. But many people hunt alone. We make it a point for people to at least let someone know that you are out, what you are doing and when you expect to be back,” Stattelman said.

Even those who enforce law and security want what almost everyone wants. Be safe.

“We do our best to educate people and keep people safe, and we always want everyone to get home safely,” Stattelman said.

To learn more about hunter training safety, click here.

Copyright 2024 KVLY. All rights reserved.