With some hunters out in the field and woods, anglers still hitting the water this fall, and off-highway vehicle riders using their machines for hunting and recreational riding, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone to have a safety-focused mindset.
Whether it’s making sure to wear a life jacket in a duck boat, focusing on every step into and out of a tree stand, always practicing safe firearms handling, or wearing a helmet and buckling up while on an OHV (if the machine is equipped with seatbelts), staying safe is an individual responsibility.
So far this year, there have been:
• Zero firearms-related hunting fatalities (compared to one in 2024 and zero in 2023)
• Five boating related fatalities (this year is on track to be a historic low, and there were nine fatalities in both 2024 and 2023)
• 16 OHV-related fatalities (in 2024, fatalities reached a historic high of 30, but 2025 numbers remain higher than some recent years; there were 15 fatalities in 2023) Anyone heading out to recreate outside should tell someone where they’re going and when they plan to return. Following are other top safety tips to keep in mind:
• Always practice the key tenets of safe firearms handling: Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded; control the muzzle; be sure of the target and what’s beyond it; keep fingers off the trigger until ready to shoot.
• When hunting from a tree stand, check equipment carefully, focus on every step into and out of the stand, and always wear a safety harness.
• People should wear blaze orange or pink to make it easier for other hunters to see them.
For anglers, when fishing or hunting over water, or using the water to access a hunting spot, always wear a life jacket. An unexpected fall into cold water can quickly incapacitate even the strongest swimmer. Foam-filled life jackets are preferable this time of year.
• Abide by the manufacturer’s weight limits and distribute weight evenly across the boat.
• Keep an eye on the weather, which can change quickly this time of year.
