DEP Warns About Risks Between Hunters, Outdoor Enthusiasts

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued a safety reminder for all outdoor enthusiasts, including hunters and nonhunters alike.

“We are approaching the peak time of year for a variety of hunting activities in Connecticut,” said Dale May, director of the DEP Wildlife Division. “This is also a popular time for others to enjoy the many outdoor opportunities that our state has to offer, including hiking, biking, and paddling.

“It is especially important for all outdoor users to respect the rights of others and be aware of all activities that may be occurring outdoors. Connecticut hunters have an excellent safety record and awareness on the part of nonhunters can help in our efforts to keep hunting safe for everyone.”

Whether you like to hike, camp, horseback ride, mountain bike, hunt or fish, it is a good idea to observe a few safety precautions while outdoors.

Basic safety tips all outdoor users should follow include:

*When you use the outdoors, whether for hiking, biking, hunting, fishing or some other activity, let someone know where you plan to be and when you will return;

*Familiarize yourself with the area you will be using and know the activities that occur there;

*Obtain landowner permission before accessing private land;

*Wear brightly colored clothing;

*Avoid wearing gray, brown, tan, or white when hiking in or near hunting areas;

*Consider using a bell on your bike or horse during hunting season;

*If you see someone hunting, call out to them to make them aware of your location;

*Report wildlife or hunting violations to the DEP Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police at 860-424-3333. You may also use the Wildlife Violation Hotline at 800-842-HELP, where callers can choose to remain anonymous and receive cash rewards for information leading to arrest and conviction of the violator.

Hunters should also follow three basic, but important, rules:

1. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.

2. Always keep the muzzle of your firearm pointed in a safe direction.

3. Always be sure of your target and what is beyond it before pulling the trigger.

Hunters must also observe the fluorescent orange clothing requirements, which specify that a total of 400 square inches be worn above the waist and be visible from all sides from September 1 through the last day in February. Some exceptions do apply; they are listed in the 2007 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide.

Hunting Activities: Hunters must obtain landowner permission before hunting on private land. Hunting on public lands is allowed on most state forests and wildlife management areas and on some state parks. Detailed information about hunting seasons, public hunting areas, laws and regulations are available in the 2007 Hunting and Trapping Field Guide available at all town clerks, license agents and on the DEP website.

In general, peak hunting occurs during early morning and late afternoon, primarily during the period from mid-October through mid-December. The general firearms season for deer begins on November 14 this year.

Want to learn more? Take a conservation education/firearms safety course.

For those who want to learn more about outdoor safety, hunting and wildlife management, the DEP offers a comprehensive course of instruction to anyone wishing to increase their knowledge and understanding.

All first-time firearms hunters in Connecticut are required to successfully complete a 16-hour class offered by the DEP Wildlife Division’s Conservation Education/Firearms Safety Program. A dedicated core of more than 300 certified volunteer instructors teach the classes, which are offered free-of-charge throughout the year. In addition to firearms safety, laws and regulations, all courses include topics such as outdoor survival and first aid, wildlife management, wildlife identification, and hunter ethics and responsibility. For a listing of available classes, visit the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep and click on Education.