Montana’s general hunting season is here! And, as it turns out, there’s a very favorable forecast for hunters looking for elk. Read this recent article in the Ravalli Republic: http://ravallirepublic.com/lifestyles/recreation/article_c7c40921-17ee-5f4e-8a0c-ee95838f22cd.html. Obviously, this is wonderful news for the Bitterroot Valley; and the recent weather forecasts, while looking favorable to the hunting and tracking of game, also presents certain inherent difficulties for hunters. Snow, rain, and cold temperatures require that certain preparations are made. Here’s a few tips to staying safe and comfortable this hunting season.
Clothing
Remember to wear hunter orange! Hunter orange is the universal symbol for “Don’t shoot!” Clothing is very, very important to hunter safety; but it’s not just about color. What a hunter chooses to wear (or pack in a backpack) can make a definite difference. Choose fabrics that are both warm and remain effective even when wet. Cotton fabrics, for instance, can get saturated with water and keep the water against the skin, which can lead to a chill, and, possibly even expose the hunter to hypothermia. Oftentimes, a hunter will hike for a while, and then sit for a while. The sweat accumulated in the clothes will also sit against the skin, and possibly initiate stages of hyperthermia—a few degrees drop in body temperature can cause hypothermia. Certain wool and synthetic products are effective at wicking away moisture from your skin. Also, remember that weather changes incredibly fast in the mountains, and this time of year temperatures can plummet without notice. So, bring along appropriate clothing: pack extra clothes in a backpack, and, also, have room in that pack for shedding a layer or two.
Know the area
Knowing the area in which you plan to hunt is so very important not only to hunting success, but also to staying safe. If you are hunting an area for the first time, study the maps: forest service, state, BLM (when those maps are available), study Google Earth. Obviously, a GPS makes navigation easier, but don’t always count on the GPS. A GPS can break, it can be dropped; life can happen. Try to get to know the area well before you go.
Good luck, and stay safe this hunting season.
