The fall has always been my favorite time of year.
The
cooler weather brings back memories of growing up in the Shawnee National
Forest of Illinois during hunting season. For myself and many others, hunting
has become a family tradition that involves great memories, stories, and
providing healthy food year after year. I spent many days during the fall and
winter months hunting deer, waterfowl, and turkeys, all while making great
memories.
In order to set a positive example for future generations and
continue building family traditions that revolve around hunting, it is
important to follow the Leave No Trace principles. The following are tips from
Leave No Trace about how to do so.
Plan
Ahead and Prepare
Most states require you to take a hunter safety course
before you can obtain a hunting license. These courses go over firearm safety,
ethics, and safe practices for hunting.
Check with land management agencies if you’re hunting on
public land. Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations. Get
permission to hunt on private land. Make sure you have the proper tags and
licenses, and obey bag/possession limits.
Carry extra food, clothing, first aid, and be prepared for
extreme weather. Tell your family/friends where you will be and when you plan
on coming back.
Travel
and Camp on Durable Surfaces
If you are hunting in the backcountry, choose a campsite
that will have the least amount of impact to the area and keep your campsite
small.
When using ATV’s, stay on established trails. Avoid driving
through riparian areas and creating new trails. Leave gates as you find them,
unless noted otherwise.
Dispose
of Waste Properly
Pack out your trash. This includes spent brass, shotgun
shells, and leftover food.
Drag gut piles away from water sources, trails, or highly
visited areas, as they attract bears, wolves, and coyotes.
Wash yourself and tools away from streams or lakes using
biodegradable soap.
Leave
What you Find
Observe cultural and historic artifacts instead of
touching/taking them.
Sight in your firearms at home or a shooting range, away
from the area you will be hunting.
Use manufactured blinds instead of tree branches or other
vegetation. Avoid transporting non-native seeds and vegetation.
Minimize
Campfire Impacts
If you’re camping, try using an established fire ring or
fire pan. If possible, use a camp stove.
Keep trash out of your fire, as it usually doesn’t burn
completely and can attract wildlife.
Keep your fire small. Use sticks that are already on the
ground and can be broken by hand.
Respect
Wildlife
Take only clean, safe killing shots, then properly retrieve
and handle your game. If the weather is warm, clean and cool your game as
quickly as possible.
Never feed animals, as it can damage their health, alters
their natural behavior, and can expose them to predators.
Store your food and trash securely and only hunt animals
that are in season.
Be
Considerate of Other Visitors
Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t shoot near developed
areas, near campsites, or across roads.
Be respectful towards other hunters and visitors to protect
the quality of their experience.
Be aware of your firearm around others. Always keep it
pointed in a safe direction.
Following these principles can help protect and preserve
the areas we enjoy hunting, and ensures their use for future generations.
Hopefully, you’ll have a successful season and make great memories!
Happy Trails,
Bigfoot
