(Area) The first shotgun deer season starts on Saturday, December 3rd.
100,000 deer hunters are expected to participate in one of the two shotgun seasons. “Hunting continues to be a safe activity enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of Iowans. Part of making hunting safe is creating that plan. This weekend as we approach that first season we are encouraging hunters to put that plan together. Include safety as part of that plan.”
The Iowa DNR’s Bryan Hayes says a plan includes several details. “A hunting plan identifies things like location. Where are the hunters in the party going to be located? Who is going to be on th hunt? How will it unfold? Who is driving, who is posting, who is sitting, and what time do you expect to return? All of that can be a part of a well laid out plan. A well laid out hunting plan is is going to be part of a safe hunt.”
The DNR suggests hunters check their blaze orange to make sure it’s not faded and it still fits. “As a requirement by law the minimum amount of blaze orange for our firearm deer hunters is a 100% solid orange vest. It’s not like the pheasant season where you can just throw on a blaze orange cap and go. During that gun season you need at a minimum a 100% blaze orange vest.”
Other recommendations include sighting in your gun, checking with landowners to secure permission, and during your hunt you need to know your safe zone of fire. Do not shoot at running deer.
