Last modified: Thursday, August 03, 2006

Tips for a safe and successful archery hunt

Related story: Archery hunters should see more young bucks

By following a few, simple rules, Utah's archery hunters can enjoy a safe experience in the state's backcountry this season.

The state's general archery buck deer hunt begins Aug. 19, and the state's general archery elk hunt kicks off Aug. 24.

"There's been only one recorded death of an archery hunter in the state's history, so it's a very safe hunt that way, but every year we receive reports of archery hunters injuring themselves," says Lenny Rees, hunter education coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Rees says most of the accidents happen because hunters are unsafe in tree stands, or they have arrows out of their quiver when they shouldn't.

Rees says that prior to climbing a tree, make sure it's large enough to hold your weight. To avoid falling while climbing the tree, attach a hauling line to your bow, arrows and other equipment and leave them on the ground. After climbing into your tree stand, attach your safety line. Then use your hauling line to lift your gear to you.

Rees also recommends using a portable tree stand, rather than constructing a "permanent" one. "Permanent tree stands have a tendency to deteriorate and become unsafe," he said. "They're unsightly, too, and a person damages the tree by putting nails in it."

"Until you're ready to shoot, keep your arrows in a hooded quiver that covers the broadheads," Rees said. "Archers jabbing themselves or hunters walking close to them, while carrying arrows in their hand that should be in their quiver, is one of the most common accidents during the archery hunts."

State law requires that arrows be cased while the arrows are in or on a vehicle. When hunters are outside their vehicles, it's up to hunters to protect themselves.

Rees also provides archery hunters tips on getting prepared for the season, safety items to remember while in the field and tips on tracking animals and preserving meat.

Preparation

Equipment checks: make sure laminations are not flaking or separating, that the strings on your bow are not fraying and that the pulleys and cables on compound bows are in good working order. Also, be sure your equipment is matched, that your arrow's spline (the stiffness of the arrow's shaft) matches your bow's draw weight. If your bow's draw weight produces more force than your arrow is designed to handle, your arrow will probably fly off target when you shoot.

Broadhead sharpening: be careful to not cut yourself while sharpening your broadheads. Your broadheads should be razor sharp, but don't cut yourself in the process.

Practice: Shooting skills get better with practice.

Permission: Obtain written permission from private landowners before hunting on their property or using their property to access public land.

Permits: Obtain a general statewide archery buck deer permit and/or a general archery elk permit, and know the boundaries of limited entry units and other restricted areas in the general season area you're hunting.

Range

Never take a shot at a deer or elk that is beyond the maximum, effective range you're comfortable shooting at. Also, before releasing your arrow, be sure of your target and what's beyond it.

After the shot

Pay attention: Watch the animal and determine the direction it took. Then go to the spot where you last saw the animal and find your arrow. If there's blood on it, and if you have a compass, take a reading of the direction the animal went. Then wait 30 minutes before tracking it. Hunters who track an animal too soon can spook it into running. Most deer and elk that are shot will be found dead by the hunter at a reasonable distance, if the hunter waits 30 minutes before tracking it.

Tracking: When tracking an animal, look for blood not only on the ground, but the brush too. If you begin to lose the animal's trail, tie a piece of biodegradable paper on the last blood spot you see and then search for the animal's trail, walking a circular pattern out from the paper. The paper will serve as a marker, letting you know where you started.

Also, tying paper at the locations of the last three or four spots you see, and then standing a distance away and looking at the paper trail, can help you visualize the direction the animal last took.

Make sure it's dead: once you've located your animal, make sure it's dead by seeing if its eyes are open. If they're not, the animal probably isn't dead. If they are, touch one of the eyes with a long stick that will keep you out of harm's way. Once the animal is dead, field dress and cool the meat immediately. The warm weather that usually accompanies the archery hunt can cause meat to spoil quickly.

Rees also advises archery hunters on ways to reduce conflicts with homeowners and those who don't hunt:

Find and confirm access points to hunting areas well in advance.
If access requires crossing private land, you must obtain written permission from the landowner. If you can't obtain written permission, find another access point.
Make sure you're well beyond the required minimum distances from roads and dwellings before you start hunting. Those hunting in Salt Lake County are reminded that the county has more restrictive requirements than the rest of Utah. Read the 2006 Big Game Proclamation closely for more information.
Avoid hunting in high profile areas. When possible, heavily used trails should also be avoided.

"Most people in Utah choose not to hunt, but they support hunting and hunting-related activities as long as hunters are safe, legal and ethical while in the field," Rees said. "When that does not happen, public favor about hunting can take a turn for the worse."

Archery hunters who want to hunt the Wasatch Front, Ogden, Unitah Basin or Sanpete Valley extended archery areas need to remember the following:

Before hunting any of these areas, they must complete the Extended Archery Ethics Course. The free course is available online at the DWR's Web site.
While hunting these areas, they must carry two items with them * their 2006 statewide general archery buck deer permit and their Extended Archery Ethics Course certificate. If the archer is a member of Utah's Dedicated Hunter program, they also must carry their Dedicated Hunter certificate of registration with them.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.