TPWD/Courtesy

IHEA-USA

IHEA-USA reminds hunters to be aware of their Safe Zones of Fire during the start of Dove Hunting Seasons across the country on September 1st.

In many states dove hunting season is the ceremonial start to the fall hunting season. The hunt is time to gather family and friends to enjoy the challenge of taking doves on the wing. The excitement the first hunt of the year is also a great time to remind each other of the need for safe hunting practices.

Safe Zones of fire are key to a safe dove hunt- this is the area that a hunter can safely shoot without the chance of injuring another hunter or property. IHEA-USA and Hunter-ed.Com offers these tips.

1) For safety purposes it is best to hunt in groups of 3 or less2) Hunters should be spaced 24 to 40 yards apart. Each hunter has a safe zone of that spans roughly 45 degrees directly in front of each hunter3) If a dove flies behind the line of hunters it is best that the hunters do not fire4) NO hunter should ever point a firearm at another hunter when swinging on a dove