Chapter 5: Outdoor Safety
Hunting with Boats
Hunters often use boats in difficult conditions, such as
wind, cold, and snow. If you hunt with a boat, you should
take a boating education course. Visit www.boat-ed.com to
learn more.
Special care must be exercised to make sure you have a safe trip.
Trip Preparation
- Leave a float plan with family and friends, detailing where you're going and when you plan to return.
- Be sure the boat is large enough to carry you and your
gear safely.
- Load gear low in the boat, and distribute the weight
evenly.
- Have a personal flotation device (life jacket) on board
for each passenger to wear.
- Have throwable personal flotation devices on board in
case someone falls overboard.
- Stow required visual distress signals.
- Check an up-to-date weather forecast before heading out.
- Cancel your trip if wind and water conditions aren't
safe.
Transporting Firearms in a Boat
- Transport firearms unloaded,
with the action open, and cased
whenever possible.
- Before boarding the boat, place the unloaded firearm
in the boat, muzzle first.
- When hunting with others, the first person settles in the bow position facing forward after the first gun is placed. Next, place the second unloaded firearm in the rear of the boat with its muzzle pointing rearward. Then second person settles in the back of the boat facing rearward. Repeat the procedure when unloading.
Zones-of-Fire in a Boat
When duck hunting, the back-to-back position is the safest,
with the zone-of-fire confined to a 180-degree area in front
of each hunter.
Remember ... Don't press your luck in cold weather. At the first
sign of a storm, head for shore.
|
