Orange Means Deer Season

By Jeff Berti
It is time once again for the state of Missouri to become a sea of blaze orange. That’s right, it is deer season 2015! If you are out and about today, you will probably see truckloads of hunters scurrying around town buying last minute supplies. No matter how many years a hunter has been hunting, it seems there is always something they need to buy before the opening day of deer season. Maybe they need a new orange vest or hat; some new ammunition or gloves or socks. Unfortunately, many hunters will also be stocking up on various types of alcohol to take to their deer camps or to “keep them warm” on their deer stand. It happens every year, and it not only gives hunters a bad name, it is also very, very dangerous.
Firearms deer season is, by far, Missouri’s most popular hunting season. It is a time when hunting memories are made, and traditions are kept. However, all too often, alcohol is part of the tradition. Just drive by any establishment that sells alcohol. You will probably see large banners (with various beer companies’ names on them) that read, “Welcome Hunters.” These signs are usually blaze orange, and have a picture of a deer head on them. Many people don’t pay attention to these signs, but the non-hunting public uses them to stereotype hunters into one category: Drunks with guns.
For those of us that don’t drink while we hunt, we take offense to this stereotype. But sadly, many hunters only contribute to the “image.” As a conservation agent, I see hundreds of hunters during the year. However, it’s not until deer season when I notice the increased use of alcohol by hunters.
For those of you who don’t know, firearms deer hunting is usually done with a high powered rifle. Center-fire cartridges are the only legal types of ammunition that can be used during the deer season. If you put high power firearms and alcohol together, you are only asking for trouble.
Think about the reasons that you are not supposed to drink and drive: Decreased ability to react, lack of good judgment, blurred vision and an overall lack of ability to think clearly. Why, then, do hunters feel it’s alright to down a couple of beers or a few sips of whiskey before they grab their deer rifle and head to the woods? You always see bumper stickers or bill boards that say, “Don’t drink and drive.” Just because there aren’t any signs that say “Don’t drink and hunt,” does not mean that it is okay to do.
All you have to do is thumb through some of the past hunting accident files from previous deer seasons to see what role alcohol plays during deer season. Many of the hunting accidents that occur during deer season are directly or indirectly related to alcohol. In some cases, either the shooter or the victim had consumed alcohol before the accident had taken place. It’s obvious how alcohol could have affected the shooter. But many times, the victims have been drinking and wander into an area where they are not expected to be. They get shot because the shooter did not know they were there.
As I stated before, deer season is a time for traditions. If you are a seasoned hunter teaching a youngster the traditions of deer season, please keep alcohol out of it. If you are a hunter that has had alcohol as a past tradition, change your tradition NOW! After all, deer season is a time to make memories. You want them to be good memories, not tragic ones.