Nebraska’s 9-day firearm deer season begins tomorrow and huntes taking to the field need to keep safety uppermost on their minds.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offers some tips for hunter safety during deer – and other seasons:
• Keep the rifle’s muzzle pointed in a safe direction, with the safety on, and finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
• Properly identify the target and what lies beyond it before pulling the trigger, and never shoot at sounds or movement.
• Wear blaze orange. All deer hunters are required to wear 400 square inches of visible blaze orange on their head, chest and back during the Nov. 13-21 firearm season, whether they are using a firearm or archery equipment.
• Completely unload firearms before travelling in a vehicle, and before crossing obstacles such as barbed-wire fences, creeks or steep embankments.
• When hunting from a tree stand or elevated platform, maintain three points of contact when ascending or descending. Pull the firearm or bow up to you with a haul line and wear a fall arrest system.