FISHING OR HUNTING FROM BOATS

People who fish and hunt from boats need to follow safe boating practices, especially the wearing of a life jacket. Accident risks are high among this group of recreational boaters.

Anglers and hunters often don’t consider themselves boaters and often pay little attention to learning and observing boating safety rules.

• According to the U.S. Coast Guard, nearly one third (33%) of all boating fatalities involved someone who was hunting, fishing or on the way to hunt or fish. More hunters die each year from drowning than from gun shot incidents.
• Many water-based hunting and fishing accidents occur when a hunter reaches for a decoy, the boat capsizes from an unbalanced load, or a person falls overboard while standing up.
• All outdoor sports enthusiasts who use a boat need to properly educate themselves in boating fundamentals. Pay particular attention to the capacity plate information to avoid overloading your boat with either too many people or too much weight.
• Remember, dress for the water temperature, not just the air temperature, and always wear a life jacket (Cold Water Immersion).
• Pay particular attention to the capacity plate information and never overload your boat.