Wabbit Season! Duck Season! Wabbit Season!

Its that time of year when the camouflage gear is removed from the back of the closet, the guns are sighted in and cleaned, the knives are sharpened, and the hunt begins. Whether its duck, rabbit, or deer, there are concerns one must keep in mind while in pursuit.

Hunting Checklist and Concerns:

  • Shoe Gear: the majority of outdoor type boots have good support, both for the arch and the ankle. They also have excellent tread patterns to resist slipping AND water resistant material to keep the toes nice and dry. However, as shoes age the tread, waterproofing, and overall stability wears out leaving you prone to injury. So before you head out for an outdoor excursion and hunting experience, please evaluate the integrity of your shoe gear and replace them as needed.
  • Hand/Foot Warmers: tis the season of cooler temps and snow. For the true hunters, cold and wet environments do not slow you down. With the help of some great inventions, you can battle the cold a little bit better. Hand warmers can provide enough warmth to the hands OR feet to keep a hunter in the woods a little longer. One must be careful however NOT to keep directly on the skin for a prolonged amount time. Thermal burn injury can occur if you are not careful.
  • Gun Safety: There are countless rules of gun safety, especially when it comes to hunting. Hunting accidents occur and there are several key tips to keep in mind when handling firearms.
  • Always treat your weapon as if it is loaded. Meaning, never point it at anything you dont intend to shoot, like your foot.
  • When to load/unload: many injuries occur when a hunter is getting in/out of their hunting stand/blind because they keep the weapon loaded. Unload your weapon, or at least keep a round out of the chamber, when entering or leaving your stand/blind. Oh, and dont keep your weapon loaded while cleaning it.
  • Watch Your Step: always know where you are placing your feet. There are countless ways to injure your foot/ankle while hunting. From holes, limbs, and yes snakes.

So, as you continue to prepare for the big hunt, please keep these tips in mind as well as any other that I might have overlooked. As always, if you have any foot/ankle related concerns please contact Dr. Bowman at 713-467-8886 or visit our website for more information.

Category: General

Tags: Houston, Hunting Safety