The deer and turkey hunting seasons are underway in Missouri and non-hunters are reminded to keep safety first when out and about.
Missouri Department of Conservation Hunter Education Coordinator Justin McGuire said that safety is the responsibility of the hunter.
“The hunter is always going to be the one responsible for making sure that they are not shooting something that they don’t intend to shoot,” he said. “Once a firearms hunter presses that trigger, what happens to that projectile, to that bullet becomes their responsibility.”
McGuire said that non-hunters need to reduce any chance of being improperly identified as an animal.
“Wearing bright clothing. Be more visible,” he said. “Stay away from those colors that look like animals – earth toned animal color clothing such as tan and brown and black. The fall turkey season runs the month of October. So, you know, staying away from those colors that represent or that could be falsely identified as an animal.”
Hunters are reminded to never shoot at movement or sound. Use a spotting scope or a pair of binoculars to properly identify what you’re shooting at. McGuire said hunters should never point the scope on their crossbow or their firearm at their target to see if it’s safe.
“Because that necessitates that they point that firearm or that crossbow or that other method of take, it requires that they point that toward their target,” said McGuire. “We don’t want to be pointing any, you know, a firearm towards a target until you absolutely know what it is already.”
Hunters are to clearly identify game animals before putting their fingers on the triggers of their firearms or drawing their bows.
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