Four Safety Tips Ahead Of Gun Deer Season's First Day

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released four firearms tips Tuesday for hunters as they embark on the opening day of gun deer season Saturday.

Here are four firearm safety rules to keep this year's gun deer season in Wisconsin safe.

• Treat every firearm as if it's loaded.
• Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
• Be certain of the target, what's before it and what's beyond it.
• Keep fingers outside the trigger guard until it's safe to shoot.

Hunters were also encouraged to follow all hunting regulations and only take aim during legal shooting hours, the department said.

Nine firearm-related injuries and one fatality were reported during the nine-day gun deer season in 2020, the department added.

State health officials recommended hunters wear a mask when dressing deer after two studies reported deer in Iowa and Ohio were found with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in humans. It's unclear whether people can get the coronavirus from handling animal carcasses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Gun deer hunt in Wisconsin starts Saturday and ends Nov. 28.

See Also: Mask Up When Dressing Deer, State Health Officials Urge Hunters