Bush fatality brings plea to hunters

Press, 17 January 1979, Page 7

Bush fatality brings plea to hunters

I PA Wellington i The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council is worried! that hunters are still not taking enough care to identify their targets properly. Two recent accidents in the Taupo area — one fatal — were apparently the result of failure by hunters to identify their targets, according to the council's firearms field officer, Mr P. Chard. “At a time when many more people than usual are in the bush, everyone must take extreme care,” he said in a supplied statement. “The responsibility does! not rest entirely with hunters.” he added. “Trampers, hunters and all other users of the bush must be sjare to wear distinctive clothing. It is pointless wearing yellows, reds and browns, as these colours blend with the bush at this time of the year. The best colours to wear is a patch of bright orange,” said Mr Chard. People entering bush areas should also take the precaution of advising the local

i ranger of where they werei j going and how long the} i would be in the bush. ■ “This allows the ranger to! tell trampers and hunters; where the safe areas are and to warn them about the fire! risk.” said Mr Chard. “Hunters must also take care to avoid the very dangerous practice of ‘sound shooting’ — firing at a noise without first identifying what the cause of the noise is,” he; said. Another practice causing the Mountain Safety Council concern is that of spotlighti shooting. Mr Chard said spotI lighting was ven- dangerous. People using spotlights while shooting, in the bush or in open areas, ran the risk of having their vehicles and weapons confiscated. “The big danger is that shooters often do not consider the firing zone. With a spotlight they can only see their target — they cannot see what is beyond it,” he said.