RSS Feed

In 2020, there were seven hunting-related incidents, according to Mitch Samaha, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Hunter Education Program Manager. Three of those incidents were fatalities.

However, when considering the number of hunting efforts, where licensed hunters go into the woods daily to hunt, most people will be surprised to learn that hunting is one of the safest sports activities that individuals can participate in.

Looking at the numbers, there were 5,691,400 hunting efforts estimated in Louisiana in 2020. Based on those efforts, when calculating what the possibility of injury was that year, it turns out to be a .00000123% chance.

It also turns out that hunting is much safer than football, basketball, golf and even badminton when looking at 2012, according to National Safety Council statistics.

Samaha, who has been teaching hunter education for 20 years, said, “Our goal is always zero incidents, but whenever you talk about hunting incidents, the first thing everybody automatically assumes is it has to be gun related. That is not what we’ve been seeing.

“We talk about this all of the time to our volunteer education instructors,” Samaha continued. “When other statistics jump out like tree stand accidents and other non-firearm related injuries that may cause hospitalization, you have to talk about them because that is our number one deal — to prevent all hunting-related accidents and injuries through hunter education.”

To be fair statistically, Samaha points out there may be some data that does go unaccounted. For example, firearm related incidents are required by law to be reported to police, therefore, never go unnoticed. By contrast, someone falling from a tree stand who sustained an injury and as a result was hospitalized may not report the incident.

Near miss falls are also problematic. Samaha asks the question, how many guys have fallen from tree stands and simply received a bump or a bruise, where only their pride was hurt?

Samaha said, “Deer hunting is a solitary sport and if you fall, there’s nobody there to see it happen. If a hunter is unconscious, or if their cell phone is in their backpack instead of on their person, or worse they are paralyzed, they’re going to sit there a very long time, until somebody realizes they’re not back from hunting.”

Samaha suggests and encourages hunters develop club rules, where members utilize sign out sheets that record location of stands. He says individuals hunting public lands should never leave home without letting someone know in detail where they are hunting that day.

Tree stands should be inspected annually, Samaha said. “Preseason inspection should include checking all straps, welds, weep holes and safety harnesses.

Homemade ladder stands are never a good idea. They may work great for a season or two but they don’t last, especially if left out. In fact, deer stands should be picked up at the end of the season and not left out one season to the next.”

Since Hunter Education was mandated by Louisiana in 1984, gun related incidents have plummeted, where the arrow is pointing nearly straight down from 1981 to 2022 says Samaha. The program can be taken online by anyone, young or old, who doesn’t have a hunter’s safety certificate.

Much emphasis still focuses on firearm safety, touching on things like keeping a firearm always on safe, pointing a loaded gun with the barrel in an up or down direction away from someone, how to cross a fence with a firearm, and wearing blaze orange. Usually, educators are highlighting hunting deer or upland game when these are discussed.

Waterfowl hunters have their own concerns when it comes to firearm safety. For example, generally, duck and goose hunters are always hunting in a confined space, whether a pit blind, A-frame blind, boat, or simply hunkered down along an agricultural field levee.

Jack Cousin is a fulltime guide with Sportsman’s Charters in Gueydan. Cousin guides hundreds of hunters annually of all ages, sex and size.
Cousin said, “During the duck season I’m extra alert and more aware of everybody and what’s going on. You’ve got to have that one guy or leader who is going to call the shot. That way, everybody is on the same page. You need to make sure everyone knows where their shooting lanes are and where they’re supposed to shoot every time.

“I see it all the time where grown men act like little kids,” Cousin continued. “They get all excited and lose focus for a second. We also randomly call safety
checks between flights of birds, while people are telling stories; it’s one of those things that’s never annoying, because it’s so important.”

With the upcoming hunting seasons just weeks away, hunters will be sighting in their firearms and going to the woods and marshes to get tree stands and blinds ready for fall. Now is the time to start thinking about safety as well.

John Flores is the Morgan City Review’s outdoor writer. He can be contacted at gowiththef lo@cox.net.

DEAR ABBY: I have worked for the same company for 20 years. For the last eight years, I was part of an office book club, mostly because I was pressured regularly by the boss to participate. The members were mostly a clique of “mean girls.” I never felt a part of it or comfortable, but I pushed through the once-a-month meetings to keep the peace. When COVID sent everyone home to work the past two years, the book club was over, or so I thought, hoped and prayed. As things are loosening up now, though, the pressure is mounting again. I do not want to return to that routine, but the powers that be don’t seem to accept any excuse or reason. After 24 months of freedom, forcing me back into it is causing great anxiety. What would you advise me to say or do to be left out of this without antagonizing the boss?
WANNA-BE-DROPOUT

DEAR WANNA-BE-DROPOUT: If you really feel your job is in jeopardy if you refuse to participate in the book club, start looking for other employment. Tell your boss you are no longer interested in participating because reading those books interferes with your personal time and, since the COVID disruption, you have developed other interests. Then suggest another person be chosen if a quorum is required.

DEAR ABBY: The letter signed “Redo in the East” (June 7), from the lady who wanted to rewrite her husband’s rushed obit, caught my attention. For 18 years I was part of an American Legion Honor Guard, during which time we did more than 900 funerals. I also read the deceased veterans’ obituaries. Because of this experience, I constantly advise people to write their OWN obit. After all, who knows the most about them? This accomplishes two things: First, it greatly reduces the stress on those trying to write one under difficult conditions. Second, it ensures the accuracy of the information in it. I wrote mine 20 years ago. Of course, it needs updating, but upon my demise there will be only a few blanks to fill in and it’s ready to go.
VETERAN IN VIRGINIA

DEAR VETERAN: Thank you for the service you have so generously provided all these years, and for the sage advice you have shared with my readers today.

DEAR ABBY: I recently stayed in a historical inn, which had very thin walls. An occupant in the adjoining room sneezed. I heard it and wondered: “Should I say ‘bless you’?” The sneeze came in the midst of conversation I had respectfully tried to avoid overhearing, but which was clearly audible.
My thought was to ignore the sneeze so as not to intrude on their privacy. An office mate believes I should have responded to the sneeze. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
BEING POLITE IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR BEING POLITE: I agree with your office mate. If you had responded to the sneeze, it would have alerted your neighbors that their conversation wasn’t necessarily private, which would have done them a favor.
***
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Thibodaux Regional Health System announced the hiring of Aquatic Swim Coach Robert Fletcher.

Fletcher, a former collegiate swimmer, brings 30-plus years of coaching experience, produced nearly 100 All-Americans, and has seen greater than 50% of his swimmers go on to compete at the collegiate level.

His coaching experience spans the United States and will enrich opportunities for all ages in our region. The Thibodaux Regional competitive swimming program will begin this month.

As the community is aware, Crawfish Aquatics announced the discontinuation of its operations in the Bayou Region this past March.

“When the parents of the swim team approached us requesting our assistance in continuing the program, we were happy to help,” says Greg Stock, Thibodaux Regional CEO. “Through our Wellness Center, we continue to work on perfecting and expanding sports performance. We feel that the opportunity to work with these talented, young athletes through integrated sports and wellness services, such as strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, and injury prevention, will enable high performance and help them to grow and excel in their sport.”

Kemper Williams Park
Patterson
June 30
Class Red
First place, Dwain Arceneaux (class champion), Thibodaux, 5-1, 39.6; second place, Tim Gilmore, Bayou Vista, 4-2, 59.2; and third place, Clay Canty, Morgan City, 3-2, 14.0.
Class White
First, Kevin Kinslow, Morgan City, 5-0, 10.5; second, Randy Giroir, Berwick, 3-2, 22.5; and third, Jim Guzdial, Patterson, 3-3, 18.0.
Class Blue
First, Sharla Fontenot, Lacassine, 4-1, 39.0; second, Jimmy Percle, Morgan City, 3-2, 52.5; and third, Dale Pearce, Bayou Vista, 3-2, 38.5.
Class Purple
First, Burnie Williams, Morgan City, 5-0, 49.5; second, Danny Navarre, Carylis, 3-2, 27.5; and third, Matthew Strickland, Morgan City, 2-3, 12.0.
Class Gold
First, Angela Percle, Morgan City, 4½-½, 22.5; second, Mary Begnaud, Lake Charles, 4-1, 45.0; and third, Warren Raymond, Patterson, 3-2, 12.0.