AmmoLand.com

Maryland Natural Resources Police Reminds Hunters To Stay Safe During Firearm Deer Season

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Annapolis, MD --(Ammoland.com)- The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) encourages hunters to put safety first as this year’s firearm deer season opens November 26, the day with the greatest concentration of hunters afield.

“Tree stand incidents account for most hunting accidents,” said NRP Superintendent Colonel George F. Johnson IV. “using the proper safety equipment is an essential component in staying safe while afield.”

All hunters should use a full-body safety harness that keeps the hunter tethered to the tree and prevents a fall to the ground. NRP reminds hunters to inspect their safety equipment prior to use and replace any worn or broken pieces. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has produced a helpful video, demonstrating how to use a tree stand and full-body safety harness that can be viewed here.

The improper use of firearms has been another cause of accidents. Hunters should inspect, be familiar with, and practice with the weapon that is to be used prior to the start of the hunt.

When handling a firearm, hunters should always follow two cardinal rules:

• Treat every gun as if it is loaded and never point the firearm at anything unless intending to shoot.
• Positively identify the intended target and make sure the area beyond is devoid of other hunters or property before the trigger is pulled.

Before hunting, all hunters should follow these laws and regulations before they go hunting:

• Hunters must obtain and possess a hunting license while hunting.
• A course in firearms and hunter safety is required for those who did not hunt prior to July 1, 1977.
• Hunters must possess written permission from landowner before hunting on private property.
• Hunters and companions must wear a fluorescent cap or outer garment that contains 250 square-inches of fluorescent orange color.
• Possessing loaded weapons in a vehicle is prohibited. This includes ammunition in the magazine or chamber.
• It is illegal to shoot or hunt from or across a roadway.
• Hunting within 150 yards of a residence, camp or other building is prohibited without advance permission of owner or occupant.

Before removing the deer from the location of the kill, a field tag must be filled out and attached to the deer. It must be recorded on the hunter’s Big Game Harvest Record.

Hunters must check-in the deer within 24 hours of field tagging to the Department of Natural Resources via the internet at www.gamecheck.dnr.state.md.us or the call the Big Game Registration phone line at 1-888-800-0120. The confirmation number must then be entered onto the Big Game Harvest Record.

Citizens are encouraged to call the Natural Resources Police Communication Center at 800-628-9944 with poaching complaints, public lands enforcement questions or maritime enforcement questions.

About:
The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 247 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland’s forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland’s effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state’s number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov

Filed under: Ammoland TV, Hunting News by Ammoland No Comments »

Wisconsin’s New Gun Case Law
By Jeff Nass

Firearm Owners, Ranges, Clubs, and Educators Inc.

Wisconsin --(Ammoland.com)- Wisconsin FORCE, NRA, our friends in the Hunters Rights Coalition, and United Sportsman of Wisconsin helped pass a new gun case bill that will make handling firearms in and around motorized vehicles much more convenient and, more importantly, safer.

A special thanks to Secretary Cathy Stepp, Executive Assistant Scott Gunderson, Tim Lawhern, DNR Division of Enforcement and Science Administrator, and all of the good people at the DNR.

It has been refreshing that the DNR has been very professional in working with pro-hunting and pro-Second Amendment groups to improve our great hunting heritage in Wisconsin.

A great way to be able to show that a firearm is unloaded is to leave the action open. This is enhanced with a chamber flag. Always make sure that the firearm’s magazine is empty and, if you have a removable magazine, remove it before opening the action. With some firearms it may be difficult to leave the action open, but it may be left partially open with the colored tab of a chamber flag showing. Safety is everyone’s responsibility!

Here are some of the questions and answers on the DNR website on Wis. ACT 51.

(For more questions and answers please go to http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/act51_faq.htm)

Q: Do firearms still have to be in a case before they are placed in or on a motorized vehicle, including ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles and farm implements?

A: No. Effective Nov. 19, 2011 for rifles, shotguns and muzzleloaders, and Nov. 1, 2011 for handguns, firearms no longer have to be in a case in order to place them in or on a vehicle, or to transport them unloaded in or on a vehicle.

Q: Do firearms still have to be unloaded before they can be placed in or on a motorized vehicle, including ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles and farm implements?

A: If the firearm is a loaded rifle, shotgun or muzzleloader, it can only be placed on the top or exterior of a vehicle which is stationary. It is important to be aware that it remains illegal to place a loaded rifle, shotgun or muzzleloader inside any motorized vehicle or to actually load any rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloader while the firearm or person loading the firearm is still inside the vehicle. All long guns must be outside of a motorized vehicle before a person may load these firearms. A loaded firearm can be set down on the top or exterior of a stationary vehicle, but it must be unloaded before the firearm is placed inside or transported in or on the vehicle.

Q: Is there anytime when a person is allowed to actually load a firearm when they are still in or on a motorized vehicle?

A: Yes. Handguns can be loaded by a person in or on a motorized vehicle. In addition, certain disabled individuals who hold a Class A or B hunt from a vehicle permit are still allowed to load a firearm and hunt from a stationary motorized vehicle.

Q: Now that it is legal to place a loaded uncased firearm on a vehicle, is it also legal for a person to be sitting on the exterior of the vehicle holding the loaded uncased firearm.

A: Yes, provided the vehicle remains stationary.

About:
Wi-FORCE promotes and protects the shooting sports, hunting, and the lawful ownership and use of firearms in Wisconsin. We coordinate match schedules of member clubs, sanction the state championship matches, monitor and recommend legislation, and provide training and educational programs for our members, competitors and Wisconsin shooters. Wi-FORCE supports the interaction and education of all individuals and groups interested in the shooting sports and the natural right of citizens to own arms. Visit: www.wi-force.org

Filed under: Gun Rights News, Hunting News by Ammoland 1 Comment »