The first of two regular gun deer hunting seasons starts today in Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has set December 9 as the end date for the current hunting season with season two running December 12-20. DNR Conservation Officer for Washington and Keokuk counties Wes Gould says whether hunters are in the field or getting ready to head out, treat and handle all guns as though they are loaded. He reminds hunters not to forget your blaze-orange apparel, “It’s the law. You have to wear a solid, blaze-orange vest, coveralls, sweatshirt, coat. A (orange) hat alone is not enough.”
Gould says while the blaze-orange apparel makes you more visible to other hunters, it does not make you bulletproof and accidental shootings can still occur. Gould adds the blaze-orange mandate extends beyond just what hunters wear, “We see people hunting out of ground blinds a lot more now. Realize they also have to have blaze-orange affixed to them as well. That’s the law. If you’re inside the blind wearing orange but the blind is camo, that doesn’t do any good.”
Gould says by law your blind needs to have blaze-orange displayed on all sides.
For more safe hunting tips, visit www.iowadnr.gov/hunting.