Wyoming Game and Fish Department Press Release
WYOMING — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is reminding hunters that safety should come first this hunting season.
WGFD Hunter Education Coordinator Katie Simpson instructs her students to remember the acronym T.A.B.K.:
- Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded.
- Always point your muzzle in a safe direction.
- Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Similarly, Laramie Regional Wildlife Supervisor Matt Withroder recommends that hunters possess a solid understanding of their weapons before heading out.
“We encourage sportspersons to be familiar with the firearms they are using this fall and winter, this is especially true with loading and unloading firearms,” Withroder said. “Just knowing how your firearm works will reduce the risk of accidents.”
Simpson stressed the importance of handling firearms carefully when cars are involved.
“Our most common hunting-related accidents in Wyoming usually involve a vehicle — either loading firearms in or out of the vehicle or riding on the vehicle and accidentally bumping the trigger,” Simpson said.
Other tips from Simpson include:
- Always tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to return.
- Bring more equipment than you think you’ll need, including more layers of clothing, food and water.
- Be aware of hypothermia and its symptoms. Simpson said exposure to hypothermia usually occurs to unprepared hunters when the ambient temperature is 40 to 60 degrees.
- If you get lost, stay put — whether on foot or vehicle. This is especially true if you’ve told someone where you are.
WGFD recently released the fall hunting forecast for the state.
