By Gavin Wiles on September 21, 2023
Smell that? It is the smell of fall. You know what that means? Deer season. One of America's most popular hobbies is hunting. Many people will spend most of their Saturdays in a stand until the end of the year, which in some people's eyes may be boring, but in others it is an escape from reality. September 30th is opening day for doe and buck archery; many may hunt from a tree stand or some may hunt from a blind. No matter how you see it, it is still hunting. It is the getting out that counts.
With hunting season starting back, let us talk safety. Many people think just because their dad or their grandpa did it, it is ok, but in reality, it is not. Legally in West Virginia at 15 years of age you have to have a hunter's safety class. Also, the number one hunting accident is tree stands. Take a minute and buy a harness just to be safe in the long run. Before you climb up in that stand next time, remember it could be the last. Also, take your bow safety very seriously; anything could happen in any given moment.
Being prepared before you take off to hunt, you want to be aware of any weather events or anything along the line of that. Say it is going to be cold. You want to dress in base layers. You also want to be prepared for the worse, for example, if you get stranded, you do not want to be up a creek totally without a paddle. Always leave a plan with someone, so if you do not come back, they know to look.
With that being said may everyone reading this have a great, safe, and successful 2023 season!
