Rifle deer hunting season in Pennsylvania started, and we expect tens of thousands of hunters will be crawling through the brush and perching amid the trees for the next 13 days.
Certain events - some amusing, others tragic - can be predicted for the meantime.
Schools and industries will grind to a halt as students and workers disappear for a few days. Sporting goods and butcher shops will do a brisk business. Eagerly awaited venison products will flood homes and offices. Numerous young people will bag their first deer, a significant rite of passage to some.
On the other hand, the deer will be on the move, and more than a few motorists will experience accidents and close calls as the deer attempt to cross roads. A few hunters will suffer heart attacks or other ailments from overexertion. Someone may be accidentally shot.
It’s the latter events we hope to warn against, in the hopes that our state’s hunters will enjoy their sport and fill their larders without a blemish to mar the experience.
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Remember your shooting safety lessons. Always control your firearm and your emotions. Never point your firearm at anything you don’t intend to shoot. Always confirm your target before shooting. Stop hunting when it gets dark or any time visibility is impaired.
If you haven’t been in the gym for a while, rest often if you find yourself chasing a wounded deer. Stay warm and hydrated. Be mindful of your physical and mental limitations.
Motorists need to be especially cautious when driving through the woods and residential neighborhoods near wooded areas. Go slowly if you see deer at the side of the road — their movements cannot be predicted. Also, watch out for the vehicles that will be parked along the sides of back roads.
With a small amount of diligence from both hunters and non-hunters, this year’s rifle deer season will pass with a minimum of human casualties.
By Matthew Major, on behalf of Public Opinion’s editorial board
Source : PublicOpinionOnline.com
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