 While traveling country roads at night, tractor lights always look farther away than they are and with their slower travel speed a hunter's vehicle will come up on them faster than may be expected.
There are two basic types of electric stock fence used in the central midwest. One is the 12 volt DC and the other is the 110 volt AC powered fence. For most of us both will give us a good reminder to pay attention. For those with pace makers the 110 VAC fence may have a more severe effect. 
Junk hidden by grass posing a threat to running dogs and hunter. What can be readily seen was for the value of this picture, what is not seen hidden in the grass immediately to the right is the frame harrow. |
Abandoned homesteads found on many properties easily attract a hunter's attention as he wonders how it must have been to live in such remote places without any services. The hazard is the sometimes covered, sometimes not hand dug pool wells that are always somewhere near the old dwelling, sometimes empty and sometimes with water. Both hunter and dog may find themselves taking a plunge if not careful. Add to that junk, glass and exposed nails sticking from boards all camouflaged by high grass and that should be reason enough to stay clear of abandoned structures. A very good idea is to ensure the hunter's significant other has the Association's telephone number when the hunter is away on hunting trips. The Association reservation book will tell where the hunter is hunting and this combined with his lodging telephone number provides two avenues for loved ones to contact a hunter. 
A ground level uncovered well opening near an abandon barn yard. Tough to see until right on top of it. Even tougher to see when moving into turkey or deer stand in early morning dark. | | And another.... 
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The buddy hunt list works very well at teaming up hunters that have never hunted together before. Whenever hunting with someone for the first time always review each other's hunting safety expectations. For example when appropriate always wear hunter orange. Newly teamed up hunters will not have a pattern of working together and it will be much safer if each is readily seen by the other. Upland hunters should review how only birds with blue sky backgrounds are shot as there will be dogs on the ground that will be difficult to see. Duck hunters need to establish first who will call and when who will shoot before the first flight of ducks. And, so forth. Country road intersections are largely unregulated by stop signs meaning each direction has equal right of way. It is always better to slow down and look before crossing any country road intersection even though the vast majority of the time no other vehicle is coming down the other road. Upland hunting in Missouri is closed during the rifle deer season which is always the middle two weeks of November. Kansas and Iowa upland bird hunting remains open during their respective gun deer seasons. Country railroad dirt road crossings are always elevated above the dirt road surface by design rather than flush as in suburban crossings. As such quickly crossing railroad tracks may launch the vehicle's front end off the road and lead to a loss of control.  Railroad crossings in the country may be marked with signs and rarely with crossing gates. At night the oncoming train's headlight will provide warning. During the day the train engineer may not even sound his horn. Traveling pleasantly down a country road with windows up and radio playing while talking to your partner may be all the distraction that would be necessary to miss seeing the oncoming train.
The culvert is the number one preferred bridge for country road construction. They do occasionally washout during heavy rains with the water cutting a ditch across the road that is likely not to be seen at night in time enough to stop as well as during the day. 
Slippery when wet has more meaning in the country than on city streets. Take your MAHA Yellow Pages county listing that includes tow truck service telephone numbers with you and your lease maps. |
When parallel parking along the road edge to hunt a property park your vehicle at the top of a hill rather than at the bottom or on a slope. On top of the hill the vehicle, loading or unloading hunters gear and dogs will be readily seen by oncoming traffic. Further, parking at the very bottom of any hill may find the roadside ditch deeper or a culvert both of which could easily get a tire stuck. Many of our hunting locations are remote and having a backup vehicle battery jumpstart capability, extra fan belt, tool kit, stout tape to repair a hose and water may mean the difference between walking miles for help or driving out. Prairie grass is very flammable as can be testified by two of our members since 1989 that have made insurance payments for burned fields. Do not smoke while hunting Association leases. We construct our wetlands for chest wader access, however there are deep parts and we identify those on our map sheets as best we can. Always remember we cannot control the weather and the slightest rain upstream may cause deep water. Use a scouting stick, life preserver, etc., to be safe. Special note for the Big Creek and South Grand River wetlands be especially careful as these watersheds are well known for their rapidly rising water from rains out-of-sight up stream.  Lyme infected tick bite from southern Kansas. To date one each such report from Kansas and Missouri. Simple DEET spray and or greasy overlay of lotion should protect against tick bites.
Anyone waterfowl hunting must be careful of the ice on the ponds, streams and lakes. While ice forms each season, warm periods common each winter will make for thin ice for both the hunter and dog. Floatation devices are the only way to hunt around ice and are also available for dogs at the local sporting goods stores. We strongly advise all hunters to use life jacket on the wetlands and when in their boats or canoes while hunting or fishing Association leases at any time. Safety always comes first. Few of us would consider using a tree stand without a safety harness, the same should be for life jackets around water.  More public land turkey hunters are shot each spring than any other type of hunting accident. Packing a hunter orange hat is easily done and easily put on whenever moving from a setup. So far no one has been shot on Association hunts.
Fishing is over deep water, being able to swim and having life preservers is an absolute requirement. Common hunting safety requirements commonly known to all and required of your hunting Association's conditions of membership include: - Read and obey all state and federal hunting regulations.
- Use a safety belt and harness whenever using a tree stand.
- Use a pull rope to raise up unloaded firearms into all tree stands.
- Scabbard all arrows and unload all guns when crossing streams, fences and ditches.
- No loaded firearms in any vehicle.
- No alcohol or drugs permitted on any Association lease or person within or on him while on any Association lease.
- Always be sure of your target and background before firing any shot.
- Remain at least 300 yards from all dwellings and farm buildings.
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