Holiday Travel and Hunting Tips from the OPP

The OPP have sent out reminders and tips for Travelers and Hunters this holiday weekend.
Further details are included in the following news release.
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WATCHOUT FOR WILDLIFE ON OUR HIGHWAYS
Hunting Season is Here!

(North Bay, Ontario) Hunting season is in full swing which highlights the need for motorists to be more aware of what’s around them when traveling area highways at this time of the year. The Ontario Provincial Police, Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Transportation advise motorists to Stay Alert and Stay Alive with wildlife on the move.

In the fall, moose are in full rut and may hang around open areas, especially roadways. They also may escape out of a hunting area towards a highway. If you see a deer on or near the road, there’s a good chance more are close by, as they tend to travel in groups. Moose can weigh up 700 Kg (approximately1700 pounds), and in a collision can cause extensive damage, serious injury and/or fatalities. People should be especially careful driving at dawn or dusk, when wildlife is most active.

Here are some valuable driving tips to help you avoid wildlife collisions:

• Use high beams when possible
• Scan the road continuously from shoulder to shoulder
• At night, watch for flashes of the small “glowing” eyes of animals
• Wildlife crossing signs identify areas of increased risk
• Always slow down when passing wildlife - they may abruptly turn into your path
• Keep braking after an animal has crossed - it may be with a group, or with young
• Never attempt extreme maneuvers to avoid a collision
• Don’t assume the animal will move out of your way - many animals freeze when in a vehicle’s headlights
• Check your Speed!

Safety on our roadways is a concern for us all. During this hunting season, please Stay Alert to avoid wildlife collisions and Stay Alive.




If year-round neighbors live nearby, ask them to keep an eye on your cottage for signs of suspicious activity. Visit the cottage at least once during the winter months.
Should you encounter a break and enter with theft to your cottage, do not touch anything and report it immediately to the Police.




KEEP SAFETY IN THE FOREFRONT DURING THE HUNT
The Ontario Provincial Police urge hunters to plan ahead and keep safety in the forefront during hunting season.
Every year, people get lost while hunting and sometimes these incidents end tragically. During 2003, the Ontario Provincial Police in the North East Region conducted 31 searches for lost people - most of them hunters in the rugged wilderness.
"People who engage in activities in the bush should prepare for the potential of becoming lost," advises Sergeant Scott Taylor, a North East Region search and rescue specialist. Don't think it can't happen to you and ensure that you take all equipment along even for a short trip. Should you become lost, it is important that you remain calm and most important... stay put!
Before heading out on your hunting trip this year follow these safety tips:
Travel Plans- Always tell someone where you are going and include the date, time of departure, the number of people in your party, direction of travel and an estimated time of return.

Equipment- Make sure all your firearms, compasses, global positioning devises (GPS), communication devices and anything else you bring relevant to your hunt is in good working order and that you know how to use them.

Clothing- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the terrain and weather conditions you expect to encounter. Always wear your Hunter Orange. It is required by law and will maximize your safety while out in the bush.

First Aid/Medication- Always have a first aid kit on hand. If you require prescription medication, carry at least one week’s supply on you while you are out in the bush in case you get lost.

While you are in the bush consider the following:
Fatigue- Go slow. Heavy exertion burns up extra calories and makes you sweat heavily, wasting vital body fluids, dehydrating you. Fatigue, dehydration and damp clothing increase your chances of succumbing to hypothermia.
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Hypothermia- Hypothermia means the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Hypothermia occurs when a person is exposed to rain, wind and cold without the proper, dry clothing and/or shelter. Your most important task if you become lost is to stay warm and dry. Build a shelter and fire if you can.

Matches- Always carry matches in a waterproof container.

Water- Dehydration will increase your susceptibility to fatigue and hypothermia. Remember, you can survive weeks without food but only a matter of days without water.

If you get lost:

Don’t Panic- Fear is your worst enemy. It is impossible to think logically if you panic.

Stay where you are- Don’t try and walk to safety unless you have the skills and equipment necessary to survive. Staying where you are will increase your chances of being located quicker.

Fire- Making a fire is one of your best survival tools. With fire you can keep warm, dry your clothes and signal for help.

Shelter- If necessary, utilize natural formations (caves or fallen trees). Other materials found in the woods, like cedar or spruce boughs can be used to construct a temporary shelter to get you out of the elements.

Signals- The following are universal distress signals:
• 3 gun shots
• 3 blasts of a whistle
• 3 fires.

One last reminder:
You may only hunt from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. If you are in an area usually inhabited by wildlife during the period from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, you must unload and encase your firearms and make sure they are not readily accessible.





CLOSING UP YOUR COTTAGE FOR THE WINTER

With the Thanksgiving weekend here the OPP would like to remind people to ensure that all valuable possessions are removed from their cottages, prior to securing it for the season.
Conduct an inventory of what you leave in your cottage and itemize all items left behind. Engraving your property with an identifying mark such as the owner’s social insurance number, driver’s license number or a license plate number, will assist the Police and owners to identify any stolen property and is intended to discourage thefts. Remove as many valuables as practical. Televisions, VCRs and DVD players are items which should not be kept at your cottage during the winter.
Leaving property unattended along a shoreline is inviting loss. Outboard motors, fishing tackle, and other recreational items can easily be stolen from boat, docks or cottage lawns by criminals.
If year-round neighbors live nearby, ask them to keep an eye on your cottage for signs of suspicious activity. Visit the cottage at least once during the winter months.
Should you encounter a break and enter with theft to your cottage, do not touch anything and report it immediately to the Police.