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Course Outline

A study conducted from 1996 through 2002 found that approximately half of those killed in a canoe or kayak accident were fishing. Also, more hunters die each year from drowning and cold-water immersion than from gunshot wounds.

If you use your boat to fish or hunt, you are not only an angler or hunter but also a boater. You must obey all boating laws and should follow all safe paddling practices.

Inflatable camouflage life jacket
  • Wear a life jacket at all times while on the water.
  • Never overload your boat (too many people or too much gear).
  • Take extra precautions to avoid falling overboard, capsizing, or swamping. Many accidents occur when:
    • An angler leans over the side to grab a fish
    • A hunter leans over the side for a decoy
    • An excited angler jumps up suddenly when he or she gets a bite
    • An excited hunting dog paces back and forth
    • Hunters fire their rifles in roughly the same direction at the same time, causing an imbalance
  • If you wear waders while you are fishing or hunting from a boat, understand the additional risks that exist if you should capsize.
  • When hunting or fishing on cold water, dress in several layers under your life jacket and take other precautions to avoid hypothermia in case you do capsize.
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