Posted on 10/15/2013, 2:23 pm, by mySteinbach

RCMP D Division are advising outdoor enthusiasts to follow some basic hunting tips to ensure a safe experience.

Fall is the time of year where many outdoor enthusiasts dust off their hunting gear and head out to various parts of rural Manitoba. A hunting trip can easily be ruined should an accident occur. Getting lost or a just a sprained ankle mixed in with cold, wet weather can easily become a life-threatening emergency.

Every year, RCMP detachments across Manitoba are called upon to look for missing or overdue hunters. Here are some tips to make your hunting experience a safer one:

  • Get a detailed map of the area you are hunting, review it before you leave, and carry it with you in the bush.
  • Carry a compass or GPS and know how to use it. If you get lost, hug a tree (stay put).
  • Fall weather can change quickly.  Carry a simple survival kit and be prepared for an unexpected overnight stay in the bush. The survival kit should contain a knife, a whistle, water, waterproof matches, and first aid supplies.
  • Know your hunting partners’ physical limitations, as well as your own, and don’t push your partners or yourself beyond those limits.
  • Carry a cell phone.  Many phones are equipped with GPS technology that will help to find you.
  • Wear hunter orange apparel that will make you more visible in dense forest.
  • Always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.