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Show Reminders for local hunters Editor's note: Utah's general deer hunting season opens Saturday, Oct. 20 and continues through Tuesday, Oct. 30. Reprinted below are some hunting hints from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWRj. Common violations Common hunting violations often result in the loss of bagged game and hunting equipment. Avoid the common violations seen during the deer hunt: Improper tagging: At the site of kill, detach tag from license; attach tag to carcass; notch sex, date and month of kill. Removing evidence of sex: Leave either head or sex organs to main part of carcass. Possession of use of another hunter's license: Hunt with and fill only your own tag. Illegal transportation of another hunter's deer: Use a transportation slip as outlined in the proclamation. Loaded guns in vehicle: For safety sake, unload all weapons before putting them in any vehicle (moving or stationary). Spotlighting: Do not spotlight with any weapon in your possession. Taking wrong species or sex: Take time to be sure of your target. If an animal is mistakenly killed, turn yourself in to local conservation officers. Judges seem to lean more favorably toward those hunters, than those who are turned in by others. Be aware of wildlife laws by reading the 1984 Big Game Proclamation. This could help you avoid problems during your hunt. Be sure to let someone at home know where you will be hunting and camping and when you plan to return home. If you are delayed, help can be summoned. Firearm safety With the upcoming fall hunts, all people involved in hunting need to keep in mind the basics of gun safety. Ed Comia, hunter education coordinator for Utah DWR, reminds , hunters of the basic safety rules. "There is a list of safety rules known as the ten commandments of firearms safety. If all hunters would strictly follow these ten simple rules, hunting accidents would be totally eliminated." I. Treat every gun with the respect of a loaded gun. 2. Watch the muzzle; be able to control the direction of the muzzle even if you should fall. 3. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions and that you have only ammunition of the proper size for the gun you are carrying. 4. Be sure of your target before you pull the trigger; know how to identify the game you are hunting. 5. Unload guns when not in use. Open the action. Guns should be carried in cases to the shooting area. 6. Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. 7. Never climb a fence or tree or jump a ditch with a loaded gun; never pull a gun toward you by by the muzzle. 8. Never shoot a bullet at a flat hard surface and . be sure of the backstop behind your target. 9. Store guns and ammunition separately beyond the reach of children and careless adults. 10. Avoid the use of alcohol and other mood altering drugs before and during shooting. |