Wandtv.com, NewsCenter17, StormCenter17, Central Illinois News-Shotgun season begins Friday
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Decatur, IL - Thousands of people across the state are preparing for the kick off of shotgun season Friday, and as hunters get ready, they're being asked to keep safety in mind.
Shotgun season is the state's most popular hunting season. So, hundreds of people in Central Illinois will be up before sunrise for it Friday. Last year, hunters harvested more than 100,000 deer during fire-arm season. This year so far, 360,000 permits have been issued.
The Department of Natural Resources says while deer hunting is part of our outdoor heritage, they want to encourage all hunters heading to the field this weekend to make safety a first priority. The number one cause of hunting accidents in Illinois is falling from a tree stand. Last year in Illinois, there were 38 reported hunting accidents; 30 were the result of tree stand falls and five of those resulted in fatalities. So far during 2009, there have been 13 reported hunting accidents in Illinois, of which six have involved falls from tree stands. DNR reminds hunters to check ladder stand to make sure they're secure, wear a safety harness, and to use a haul line to raise an unloaded gun or bow into a stand.
The legal hunting season hours are a half hour before sunrise and half hour after sunset. Shotgun season is seven days in total, starting Friday through Sunday, and then wrapping up December 3rd through the 6th.
