Hunting Safety Message from ANF
It’s hunting season. Employees of the Allegheny National Forest (NF) have some timely tips for hunters and other visitors.
All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile trails: All motorized trails are closed for the big-game hunting seasons. ATVs or snowmobiles may not be used to drag your harvest back to camp. The ‘after the hunt’ processing of harvested game is all part of the hunting experience. Hunt with a friend and use the ‘buddy’ system to remove your harvest from the woods.
Tree stands: Portable hunting stands are allowed on the Allegheny NF provided they do not damage trees during their placement or use. Permanent hunting stands are not allowed on the Allegheny NF.
Hunter orange: Always wear hunter orange in the woods. The Hunting and Trapping Digest of the Pennsylvania Game Commission has defined minimum amounts of hunter orange clothing required while hunting or moving in the woods. This same advice is recommended for forest visitors that are not hunting – make yourself visible to other people in the woods!
Safety first! Have you left instructions with a friend or member of your family as to when you should be back? A hunter that doesn’t arrive at a pre-determined place at a pre-determined time is often the first sign that a hunter may have been injured or become disoriented.
Carry a safety pack containing waterproof matches, a small flashlight, a whistle, candy bars for quick energy, an orange blaze cloth to place on a tree near you, an emergency blanket, and twine. The twine can be used to start a fire and rig a simple lean-to if forced to spend the night.
Dependent upon the size of your pack, you may also want to carry a hat, a dry pair of socks, and light wool shirt. Wool retains heat even when wet. Most of a body’s heat is lost through the head; cover your head to stay warm. A dry pair of socks, particularly wool socks, can help increase body temperature if your feet become chilled.
Finding your way through the woods: Stay alert as to where you are moving away from your vehicle; use a compass, a map, familiar landmarks, or a GPS navigation system. Make certain you can find your way back to your vehicle. The Allegheny NF is on a plateau so landmarks such as mountain peaks or ridgelines may not be visible. Days are often overcast and it may be difficult to tell which direction the sun is setting. If you do become disoriented, stay warm and do not wander. Aimless wandering can rob a body of energy and result in hypothermia, particularly if a wind chill is coupled with cold temperatures.
Watch the weather: Check the radio, the TV, or even some GPS units for weather forecasts before you head into the woods. The Allegheny NF has many access points, be they roads or trails, and all streams eventually lead to a road. The concern for hunters is contracting hypothermia which disorients thoughts before they can devise a logical plan. If you feel confused – stay put! Build a fire, and be prepared to conserve your energy.
Leave your campfire wood at home: Dangerous insects are hitching rides inside firewood to new forests as people travel from their home to their recreation area and back. Collect or buy your firewood once you arrive at your hunting camp, be it a tent or a cabin. Firewood is available for purchase from local venders or for collection on the Allegheny NF. If you intend to collect more firewood on the Allegheny NF than needed solely for a campfire (for instance to stock up on firewood at your hunting camp), a fuelwood permit is necessary. Fuelwood permits for personal use are available at all Allegheny NF offices. Protect the forest that provides habitat for wildlife by leaving your firewood at home.
All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile trails: All motorized trails are closed for the big-game hunting seasons. ATVs or snowmobiles may not be used to drag your harvest back to camp. The ‘after the hunt’ processing of harvested game is all part of the hunting experience. Hunt with a friend and use the ‘buddy’ system to remove your harvest from the woods.
Tree stands: Portable hunting stands are allowed on the Allegheny NF provided they do not damage trees during their placement or use. Permanent hunting stands are not allowed on the Allegheny NF.
Hunter orange: Always wear hunter orange in the woods. The Hunting and Trapping Digest of the Pennsylvania Game Commission has defined minimum amounts of hunter orange clothing required while hunting or moving in the woods. This same advice is recommended for forest visitors that are not hunting – make yourself visible to other people in the woods!
Safety first! Have you left instructions with a friend or member of your family as to when you should be back? A hunter that doesn’t arrive at a pre-determined place at a pre-determined time is often the first sign that a hunter may have been injured or become disoriented.
Carry a safety pack containing waterproof matches, a small flashlight, a whistle, candy bars for quick energy, an orange blaze cloth to place on a tree near you, an emergency blanket, and twine. The twine can be used to start a fire and rig a simple lean-to if forced to spend the night.
Dependent upon the size of your pack, you may also want to carry a hat, a dry pair of socks, and light wool shirt. Wool retains heat even when wet. Most of a body’s heat is lost through the head; cover your head to stay warm. A dry pair of socks, particularly wool socks, can help increase body temperature if your feet become chilled.
Finding your way through the woods: Stay alert as to where you are moving away from your vehicle; use a compass, a map, familiar landmarks, or a GPS navigation system. Make certain you can find your way back to your vehicle. The Allegheny NF is on a plateau so landmarks such as mountain peaks or ridgelines may not be visible. Days are often overcast and it may be difficult to tell which direction the sun is setting. If you do become disoriented, stay warm and do not wander. Aimless wandering can rob a body of energy and result in hypothermia, particularly if a wind chill is coupled with cold temperatures.
Watch the weather: Check the radio, the TV, or even some GPS units for weather forecasts before you head into the woods. The Allegheny NF has many access points, be they roads or trails, and all streams eventually lead to a road. The concern for hunters is contracting hypothermia which disorients thoughts before they can devise a logical plan. If you feel confused – stay put! Build a fire, and be prepared to conserve your energy.
Leave your campfire wood at home: Dangerous insects are hitching rides inside firewood to new forests as people travel from their home to their recreation area and back. Collect or buy your firewood once you arrive at your hunting camp, be it a tent or a cabin. Firewood is available for purchase from local venders or for collection on the Allegheny NF. If you intend to collect more firewood on the Allegheny NF than needed solely for a campfire (for instance to stock up on firewood at your hunting camp), a fuelwood permit is necessary. Fuelwood permits for personal use are available at all Allegheny NF offices. Protect the forest that provides habitat for wildlife by leaving your firewood at home.
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