·        Waterfowl Hunters Using Boats Must Heed Safety, Equipment Rules

·        Sunset Marks End of Shooting Hours

Waterfowl Hunters Using Boats Must Heed Safety, Equipment Rules

PIERRE, S.D.—Waterfowl hunters are reminded that if they use a boat during their hunt they must follow boating safety and equipment regulations.

“The same regulations apply to all boaters,” said Curt Robertson, boating safety coordinator for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “It doesn’t matter if you’re water-skiing or fishing or hunting, you have to play it safe and follow the regulations.”

Robertson offers these reminders about boating safety for waterfowl hunters planning their next excursion:

·       Each hunter on board needs a life jacket, also known as a personal flotation device. The life jacket must be properly sized for the wearer, readily accessible and in good condition. “Hunters may want to consider using a ‘float coat,’ a U.S. Coast Guard-approved insulated parka that functions as a life jacket,” Robertson said. “According to statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard, more hunters die from hypothermia and drowning than from accidental gunshot wounds.”

·        A Type IV throwable flotation device is also required if the boat is 16 feet long or longer.

·        It’s typical for boats used for waterfowl hunting to be on the water before sunrise and after sunset. If the boat is on the water at those times, it needs navigation lights.

·        Don’t overload the boat. Decoys, waders, guns, ammo and ammo boxes, dogs and heavy clothing can add considerable weight to the boat. Be sure to check the vessel’s capacity plate for maximum weight.

·        Put the life jacket on and keep it on. Wear it to and from the blind, with or without waders. “Even when hunting from shore without a boat, wearing a life jacket is a good idea when setting out and picking up decoys because footing can be unstable,” Robertson said.

·        Stay near the shore and avoid crossing large expanses of open water, especially in bad weather.

·        Before you depart, give someone your hunting plan. Your hunting plan should include information about where you are going and when you expect to return. When you get back, check in with that person to avoid unnecessary concern and possible search efforts.

·        Make sure the boat motor is in good running condition. This is particularly important in colder weather.

·        Check the local weather forecast before you go.

Bodies of water across South Dakota have special boating or boat motor restrictions that can have an impact on hunters. Those restrictions can be found on pages 40 and 41 of the 2007 edition of the S.D. Hunting and Trapping Handbook. The handbook is available from GFP regional offices and from hunting license retailers or it can be downloaded from the department’s Web site at www.sdgfp.info.

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Sunset Marks End of Shooting Hours

PIERRE, S.D.—For hunters, it can be tough to see a good day in the field come to an end. However, when the sun sets, it’s time to pack it in.

“Hunters need to remember that shooting hours stop at sunset for waterfowl and small game hunting,” said Marty Pennock, a regional law enforcement specialist for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department. “This is a particularly important regulation for these hunters as the chance of an accident increases as darkness falls.”

At dusk it can be tough to judge when the sun has actually set, but Pennock reminds hunters that in order to be in compliance with the law, they should wear a watch and have a copy of the 2007 edition of the GFP Hunting and Trapping Handbook.

“The sunrise-sunset schedule at the back of the handbook offers hunters a good reference for judging when shooting hours are ending at the location where they’re hunting in the state,” Pennock said. “It’s always best to stop a little early to stay in compliance with the law and to have a little light left to help you make your way back to your vehicle safely.”

The sunrise-sunset schedule is on page 60 of the handbook which is available from GFP regional offices or retailers who sell hunting licenses. It can also be downloaded from the department’s Web site at www.sdgfp.info.

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