Hunting in the Sportsman’s Paradise got underway Saturday with the first day of the special teal season in the Sportsman’s Paradise.

Other 2018-19 hunting seasons are right behind them, such as the small game season that starts on  Oct. 7, the bowhunting season for deer, with gun hunting on its heels, and, then, the highly popular waterfowl hunting season in Louisiana. It’s early in the overall hunting season picture but it’s never too early to emphasize all hunters must practice hunter safety.

While hunting-related injuries have decreased dramatically since the introduction of mandatory hunter education courses in this state in 1984, we are pained to read about fatal and non-fatal gunshot wounds suffered each season in the woods, the marshes, the rice fields and the swamps.

Hunting accidents can be avoided. As I’ve always said and will repeat, one hunting accident is one too many.

There are four hard and fast hunting safety rules all hunters should abide by.

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

• Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you don’t intend to shoot.

• Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until your sights are on the target and you are ready to shoot.

• Always be sure of your target and what is beyond.

Remind your loved ones and hunting buddies about these critical safety precautions from the moment they leave the house to the time they return.

There are other safeguards to consider. For example, monitor the weather forecasts before you go, let someone know, in writing, where you plan to hunt and when you will return, carry a first aid kit and bring dry clothing.

The Louisiana Hunter Education Course has had a positive effect on the overall hunting scene. Louisiana law requires all hunters born on or after Sept. 1, 1969, to pass the course earn the Hunter Education Certificate.

The Hunter Education Program was developed by the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

All hunters are encouraged to take the course, even if they aren’t required by law to do so.

We hope everyone who takes to the outdoors to hunt wild game and birds practices hunter safety to the max, every single second of the hunting experience.

DON SHOOPMAN

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR