Make safety a priority this firearm deer season

Hunters across Nebraska will hit the field in droves this firearm deer season, which begins Nov. 11. When they do, safety should be top of mind.

“There’s a good reason hunter orange is required during the November firearm deer season,” said Hunter Nikolai, hunter education coordinator with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Hunter orange significantly increases your visibility to other hunters, helping you and other hunters follow one of the four primary rules of firearm safety: be sure of your target, what is in front of it and what is beyond it.”

Anyone hunting under the authority of a firearm deer permit must display on their head, chest and back at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material. This includes deer hunters in an enclosed blind and those hunting with archery equipment during the November firearm deer season, which runs through Nov. 19. Camouflage hunter orange patterns are legal as long if they meet the 400 square inch requirement.

Communicate and follow the four primary rules of firearm safety with your friends and family:

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
• Always point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe direction.
• Be sure of your target, what is in front of it, and what is beyond it.
• Keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to fire.

If you see someone breaking one of these safety rules, speak up. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure safety in the field. Hunters also should be sure to keep these safety tips in mind:

• Never shoot at sound, movement, through thick brush, toward a roadway, at water or ice, or at a sky-lined deer.
• Never use a rifle scope to identify deer; always identify your target with binoculars or a spotting scope.
• Never cross a fence, waterway, steep embankment or other obstacle with a loaded firearm.
• Always wear a full-body harness while hunting from an elevated stand or blind and remain connected from the time you leave the ground to the time you return to the ground.

Hunting continues to be a safe recreational activity for family and friends to participate in across Nebraska. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov to learn more about hunter education and to read the 2023 Big Game Guide for the regulations hunters are responsible for knowing and following.

If you witness a game violation, call Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers toll-free at 800-742-7627 or visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/wildlife-crime-stoppers.