By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Hunters will be hitting their deer stands starting tomorrow [SAT] as Missouri's firearm deer season gets underway.
Buchanan County Sheriff’s Captain Shawn Collie says ignoring firearm safety causes many accidents during hunting season.
"Taking the proper classes, maybe trying to make sure that within your hunting groups that everybody knows where everybody is, know your surroundings," Collie tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr.
Collie says the sheriff’s department gets calls complaining of trespassing among others during deer season.
"From the deer on the roadway or crossing the roadway, to the hunting injuries, and the other reports that we get as far as that," Collie says.
Collie says mishandling firearms causes many accidental shootings during deer season. Collie says it all comes back to firearm safety.
"Not having your finger on the trigger, maybe not having a round chambered in the firearm while you're moving from field or from deer stand to deer stand," Collie explains. "And just trying to be safe in handling that firearm."
Collie also reminds hunters to be sure to have their hunter’s orange on as they travel through the fields.
Collie says as you are out hunting you should be aware of your surroundings.
"Obviously if you're in an area where there's other hunters, you know which direction are they, making sure that where you're shooting is in a safe direction with a safe background, and to always be aware of your surroundings," Collie says.
Missouri's firearm season runs through November 21st.