09-25-2004, 02:28 AM
Duck hunters hunting from a boat in North Dakota this fall are urged to wear a properly fitted life jacket while on the water, warns Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the State Game and Fish Department.
Since 1998 eight people - the last five from out-of-state - have drowned in North Dakota waters while hunting from a boat, and none of them were wearing a life jacket. "I believe these could have been prevented by wearing life jackets," Boldt said.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, every year more hunters die from drowning and hypothermia than gunshot wounds. Many waterfowlers do not consider themselves boaters, Boldt said, so they often look past the preventive measures.
"Hunters have the mindset that life jackets are uncomfortable and too bulky, therefore they get into the way," Boldt said. "But today's life jackets are comfortable. In fact, the Coast Guard approved manual inflatable life jackets offer great freedom of movement."
Trouble generally starts before the boat even leaves the shore, Boldt mentioned, because of too many people and too much equipment in one boat. "When you have a number of hunters, with all their decoys, and dogs, the boat can easily become unbalanced," Boldt said, "especially if the wind comes up."
If the boat does capsize, hunters are submerged in cold waters, leading to loss of body heat and onset of hypothermia. "Add the fact that you are not wearing a life jacket, so there is not much you can do," Boldt said.
Boldt suggests not overloading the boat, and making sure the boat is properly loaded and balanced before hitting the water. "And get into the routine of making the life jacket part of your hunting equipment," she added, "and wear it."
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Since 1998 eight people - the last five from out-of-state - have drowned in North Dakota waters while hunting from a boat, and none of them were wearing a life jacket. "I believe these could have been prevented by wearing life jackets," Boldt said.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, every year more hunters die from drowning and hypothermia than gunshot wounds. Many waterfowlers do not consider themselves boaters, Boldt said, so they often look past the preventive measures.
"Hunters have the mindset that life jackets are uncomfortable and too bulky, therefore they get into the way," Boldt said. "But today's life jackets are comfortable. In fact, the Coast Guard approved manual inflatable life jackets offer great freedom of movement."
Trouble generally starts before the boat even leaves the shore, Boldt mentioned, because of too many people and too much equipment in one boat. "When you have a number of hunters, with all their decoys, and dogs, the boat can easily become unbalanced," Boldt said, "especially if the wind comes up."
If the boat does capsize, hunters are submerged in cold waters, leading to loss of body heat and onset of hypothermia. "Add the fact that you are not wearing a life jacket, so there is not much you can do," Boldt said.
Boldt suggests not overloading the boat, and making sure the boat is properly loaded and balanced before hitting the water. "And get into the routine of making the life jacket part of your hunting equipment," she added, "and wear it."
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