2009 Deer gun season hunter reminders
News Release Published: November 5, 2009 by the Northern Region
Contact(s): Jim Bishop (715) 635-4242
SPOONER – The following reminders will help insure all hunters and non-hunters have a safe and enjoyable 2009 deer gun season:
CARCASS DISPOSAL — Hunters should plan ahead where they will dispose of deer carcasses. Tossing animal carcasses on state or other public lands is littering and subject to fines. Hunters should get rid of deer carcasses either far off-road on private lands (with landowner permission) or through their local garbage disposal company.
SHOOTING/HUNTING ON ROADS CAN BE A DEADLY PRACTICE - Deer hunters are reminded that shooting from public roads, or roadsides is an unsafe practice – and it’s illegal.
"Vehicles, people, homes, and other buildings concentrate near roads making an accident more likely to happen from a rifle shot," said Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Safety Specialist Chris Wunrow. Knowing your target and what is beyond is more critical when a road is nearby, the safety specialist said. To be legal, hunters must be at least 50 feet from the center of the roadway.
A public road is any road shown on an official Department of Transportation (DOT) County Highway map. Maps showing county highways may be obtained at DOT offices. Another important aspect of hunting concerns the ethical pursuit of game. Unless the hunter is physically handicapped and unable to get into the field, hunting is an activity that must be done in the woods, marshes and fields. Road hunters and road hunting leads to trespass and safety problems and reflects poorly on the majority of hunters who hunt ethically and responsibly.
TIMBER THEFT - Each year public and private landowners discover the loss of firewood or Christmas trees after the deer gun season. County and federal property owners provide permits to cut firewood and Christmas trees. The permits cost only a few dollars and can be picked up at most county forest administrator offices and Forest Service stations. Written permission to remove timber for firewood or Christmas trees should be obtained from the private landowner. Timber theft carries a hefty fine.
HUNTING FROM MOVING VEHICLES - Hunting from any moving vehicle is against the law, unsafe, and is an unethical way to hunt. “Each year,” said DNR Law Enforcement Safety Specialist, Chris Wunrow “conservation wardens cite hunters for having uncased and loaded guns on their All Terrain Vehicle, snowmobile, or four wheeled drive truck.” He added that bouncing down a trail or woods road with a loaded gun is an accident waiting to happen. Play it safe and maintain the integrity of the sport by unloading and casing any firearm before a vehicle is underway.
