It's Buck Fever Time!

If you are showing signs of ungroomed facial hair, early morning rising, dressing in orange and camo, scoping out the best tree stand location and preparing the gun for opening day, it’s safe to say that you have a serious case of Buck Fever!  Buck Fever effects all hunters during the months of November and December.  There are two treatments for this case, opening day of Deer season and Hunting Safely!

                Always be SMART when out in the woods conquering the beast of the season.  S-safe direction, M-make sure, A-always check, R- respect firearms, and T-trigger caution are five of the MOST important safety rules of hunting. When carrying or holding a gun, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe position away from people.  Before aiming, always identify your target and the surroundings around your target.  Always treat your firearm as if it were loaded, this will ensure your own safety and anyone that might be around you.  Also no fingers on the trigger until you are absolutely ready to shoot.

                  When in the woods, you must wear fluorescent orange so other hunters can identify you clearly.  With the use of tree stands, wear a safety harness or restraint to ensure that if you do lose your balance you will not fall to the ground.  Never shoot the gun directly upwards or at a high angle because the bullet will have enough energy to travel another 1 ½ miles.

                For the other half of the population, that may not have Buck Fever but dread driving during deer season for the fear of deer crossing the road, follow these safety tips.  Throughout the fall months, deer cross roads more often to find a mate during “rut”.  Last year, there were 124,000 deer-vehicle accidents reported.  This statistic put Pennsylvania second in the nation for deer-vehicle collisions resulting in a 1 in 76 chance of hitting a deer.  Remember, that deer travel in packs so if one crosses the road, watch for others.  Deer are more active from sunset to sunrise so if traveling during those hours keep an eye out.  When a deer crosses in front of you, the first instinct for some is to swerve, that is actually the worst thing that you could do.  If you swerve, you have a greater chance of losing control of your car and flipping or hitting another vehicle. 

                So if you will be traveling on the road or in the woods this deer season, use caution and remember these safety tips!  To all safe travels and to those of you that have caught BUCK FEVER, good luck!