Skip to main content

State Police, DEC stress hunter safety as new season opens

By Howard B. Owens

Safety is every hunter's responsibility, Capt. Christopher Cummings, commander of Troop A, Batavia, told the press today, asking that the media help spread the message of hunter safety at the start of a new hunting season.

Since the 1960s, the number of hunting-related accidents in New York has decreased steadily, but that's no reason not to be as careful this year as any other year. That was the message of today's press conference.

"The important thing is that every individual hunter must realize that they have to make safety priority one when they go out into the field," Cummings said. "Every individual hunter is responsible for the integrity and reputation of hunting. They need to take the responsibility on themselves that they do carry that weight when they enter the woods with a firearm.

"It should be simple for the safety of hunters," Cummings added. "It should be simple. Every hunting incident that we investigate is preventable."

Capt. Frank Lauricella, Department of Environmental Conservation, offered several safety tips for hunters:

  • Always assume a firearm is loaded;
  • Make sure the muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction;
  • Keep the safety on and your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire;
  • Wear hunter orange.

It's been proven, he said, that hunters wearing orange are seven times safer than those who do not.

He said it's also important to see your target clearly and what's beyond your target.

"It's very important to remember that once you discharge you cannot call back that projectile," Lauricella said.

Raymond Richardson

Remember, unloaded guns when climbing up and down from your tree stands.

Unload your gun when field dressing your kill.

Be sure of your target before shooting, but more importantly, know what's BEHIND your target before squeezing the trigger.

Suffice it to say, there is no hunting withing 500 feet of any dwelling.

Nov 16, 2012, 8:36am Permalink
Jason Crater

^You may hunt within 500' of a dwelling if:

you own it, lease it, are an immediate member of the family, an employee, or have the owner's consent.

Nov 16, 2012, 2:28pm Permalink
Mary E DelPlato

I dont want any bullets crashing thru my truck when I take a drive thru the country side...that is my biggest fear during this season..not ur safety...MY SAFETY

Nov 17, 2012, 7:50pm Permalink

Authentically Local