Hunting Safety

Alcohol and Drugs

alcohol and drugs don't mix with hunting Never consume alcohol or other drugs while hunting or when handling firearms. Do not hunt or shoot with anyone who has. Hunting while intoxicated is extremely dangerous to yourself and others. Alcohol affects your body's mental and physical abilities and impairs your sense of judgement. It also increases your risk of exposure while in the outdoors.

Prescription and non-prescription drugs also affect your body's senses. Medicines that cause drowsiness, for example, can be especially dangerous when you are handling firearms, operating motorized vehicles or when hunting from tree stands. Always stay fully alert when around firearms!

Examples of hunting skills impaired by alcohol and drugs include:

Ability	Hunting skills negatively affected
Judgment	Ability to determine when to shoot and when not to shoot; safe zones of fire
Coordination	Ability to safely handle firearms; cross obstacles or rough terrain; marksmanship; reaction time
Speech	Ability to communicate clearly with other members of hunting party
Hearing	Game location
Vision	Game identification