Spring Break
Safety a must for 2005 bowhunting season
Three fatalities, 13 injuries prompt officials to urge caution for hunters this year
Trevor Tinberg
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: Campus News
Junior Marcus Steigerwaldt saw an opportunity to do some hunting one Sunday afternoon early this November.
"I didn't have much going on," Steigerwaldt said, "so I just decided to make the 30-mile drive out to the forest."
Hunting on public land in Eau Claire County Forest, Steigerwaldt found a trail, sat down and within 20 minutes he shot a 10-point buck.
"When I found it laying there it was a lot bigger than I thought it was," he said. "So I was pretty excited about that … it was just ironic that I hobbled a half-mile in the woods and just got really lucky."
Steigerwaldt is one of many students at UW-Eau Claire who participated in Wisconsin's gun hunting season and currently, the bowhunting season.
Wisconsin's bowhunting season began Sept. 17 to Nov. 17 when it gave way to the state's nine-day gun hunting season which ended Nov. 27. Bowhunting restarted on Nov. 28. It will end Jan. 3.
Dave Weitz, public affairs manager for the West Central DNR office, said safety is a critical component of hunting, as this year's three hunting deaths highlighted.
Weitz said, typically, hunting is safer than most sports. But, he added, it's still important to stress the importance of safety while being a part of the state's major herd reduction tool.
"We still had 13 accidents this year, and we had 3 fatalities," he said.
Weitz added many of the accidents that could have happened were prevented with the help of hunter's safety courses and the wisdom of hunting with experienced hunters.
Senior Eric Green said his personal experience in hunting has always had an emphasis on safety, which he credits to the uncles he has hunted with since growing up.
"Since I was raised in a hunting party, my uncles always showed me about safety first all the time," Green said. "Even today, I'm always thinking about (hunting safety)."
Green said there were three rules that have always been stressed to him over the years.
"Make sure I know when my gun was loaded and when it shouldn't be. Always have the safety on except right before you shoot. Know your target and what's beyond your target," he said.
These are the rules, along with keeping the gun muzzle at a safe distance, that Weitz said can help prevent hunting accidents and make an enjoyable hunting season.
Steve Moericke, a staff member with the Outdoor Recreation Center at Eau Claire, said it's common to see many students prepare for bowhunting by going to the center.
"The best connection to deer hunting is the archery range," Moericke said. "A lot of kids like to come down and practice before bow season."
Though Weitz said the number of hunters usually goes down from the earlier bow season due to the colder weather, he said it's still not too late to get in on the action.
"There's still an opportunity for some recreation."
"I didn't have much going on," Steigerwaldt said, "so I just decided to make the 30-mile drive out to the forest."
Hunting on public land in Eau Claire County Forest, Steigerwaldt found a trail, sat down and within 20 minutes he shot a 10-point buck.
"When I found it laying there it was a lot bigger than I thought it was," he said. "So I was pretty excited about that … it was just ironic that I hobbled a half-mile in the woods and just got really lucky."
Steigerwaldt is one of many students at UW-Eau Claire who participated in Wisconsin's gun hunting season and currently, the bowhunting season.
Wisconsin's bowhunting season began Sept. 17 to Nov. 17 when it gave way to the state's nine-day gun hunting season which ended Nov. 27. Bowhunting restarted on Nov. 28. It will end Jan. 3.
Dave Weitz, public affairs manager for the West Central DNR office, said safety is a critical component of hunting, as this year's three hunting deaths highlighted.
Weitz said, typically, hunting is safer than most sports. But, he added, it's still important to stress the importance of safety while being a part of the state's major herd reduction tool.
"We still had 13 accidents this year, and we had 3 fatalities," he said.
Weitz added many of the accidents that could have happened were prevented with the help of hunter's safety courses and the wisdom of hunting with experienced hunters.
Senior Eric Green said his personal experience in hunting has always had an emphasis on safety, which he credits to the uncles he has hunted with since growing up.
"Since I was raised in a hunting party, my uncles always showed me about safety first all the time," Green said. "Even today, I'm always thinking about (hunting safety)."
Green said there were three rules that have always been stressed to him over the years.
"Make sure I know when my gun was loaded and when it shouldn't be. Always have the safety on except right before you shoot. Know your target and what's beyond your target," he said.
These are the rules, along with keeping the gun muzzle at a safe distance, that Weitz said can help prevent hunting accidents and make an enjoyable hunting season.
Steve Moericke, a staff member with the Outdoor Recreation Center at Eau Claire, said it's common to see many students prepare for bowhunting by going to the center.
"The best connection to deer hunting is the archery range," Moericke said. "A lot of kids like to come down and practice before bow season."
Though Weitz said the number of hunters usually goes down from the earlier bow season due to the colder weather, he said it's still not too late to get in on the action.
"There's still an opportunity for some recreation."
| Wisconsin bowhunting season Ends: Jan. 3, 2006 Restrictions: Hunting begins at 7 a.m. and ends around 4:30 p.m. each day. Chronic Wasting Disease: Testing only in southern Wisconsin counties. |
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