Don’t Electrify Your Hunting Experience

Whether you are a veteran hunter or trying it for the first time, you must be familiar with hunting safety rules: wearing a bright orange vest, keeping your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot, and only pointing at your target.

Along with those safety requirements, be sure to add these electrical safety tips to your list:

• Familiarize yourself with the location of power lines and equipment on land where you shoot.

• Be especially careful in wooded areas where power lines may not be as visible.

• Take notice of warning signs and keep clear of electrical equipment.

• Do not place deer stands on utility poles or climb poles. Energized lines and equipment on the poles can conduct electricity to anyone who comes in contact with them.

• Do not place decoys on power lines or other utility equipment. Anything attached to a pole, except for utility equipment, is an obstruction and poses a serious hazard to line crews.

• Never shoot near or toward power lines, power poles, transformers or substations. A stray bullet could not only damage equipment, potentially interrupting electric service, but could be deadly to the shooter. Damage to the conductor could drop the line to the ground, causing a possibility of electrocution to those nearby.

• Don’t make line workers hunt for problems caused in a hunting area; if you cause or simply notice a problem with lines, poles or equipment, let the co-op know. Sometimes damage isn’t noticed for several weeks or months, or unless an outage occurs. Keep yourself and your REC safe this hunting season.

Source: SafeElectricity