Pennsylvania Game News - November 2011 - 25

camouflage patterns, and are specifically designed for hunters to allow room to shoulder a gun. Wearing a lifejacket can make the difference between life or death for a hunter who falls into cold water. Overloading boats is a common mistake for hunters who use them to get to and from their hunting spots, or use them as hunting platforms. Many hunters bring too much gear for the boat, making it unstable and prone to swamping and capsizing. Decoys, firearms, retrievers, other gear and game all contribute to added weight in the boat. An overloaded boat in combination with a sudden movement by the hunter or an anxious dog can be a recipe for disaster. All modern outboard boats have a capacity plate that indicates the maximum outboard motor horsepower as well as the carrying capacity of the boat. This is a good way to determine whether or not your boat is large enough for the gear you wish to transport. Any attempt to overload will result in a dangerous loss of freeboard, and too little freeboard is an invitation to swamp your boat. In the event the boat you’re hunting from capsizes or swamps, stay with it. Even when filled with water, it will provide some flotation and is easier to see by potential rescuers. Because water conducts heat 25 times faster than air of the same temperature, it is important to keep as much of your body out of the

• Pennsylvania law requires a readily accessible U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for every person on board a boat. The life jacket must be wearable, and of proper size, and type for the intended wearer. • For boats 16 feet and longer, there must be one U.S. Coast Guard approved Type IV throwable device available to throw to someone in distress. • Boat operators must have a means for making a sound signal in case of an emergency. In most cases an athletic coach’s whistle is acceptable. For more information about Pennsylvania Boating regulations visit: www. fishandboat.com

LegaL RemindeRs:

water as possible. If you unexpectedly enter cold water (any water less than 70-degrees is considered cold), immediately attempt to re-enter the boat. This will minimize the effects of hypothermia, and greatly increase your chance for survival. Remember: using a boat while hunting makes you a boater, and that means boating regulations apply. Safe boating saves lives, so throughout the hunting season and during the rest of the year, remember to wear your life jacket.

RepoRt banded biRds
Waterfowl hunters are encouraged to report banded ducks, geese and doves they harvest, either online at www.reportband.gov, or by using the toll-free number (1800-327-BAND). Hunters will be asked where, when and what species of migratory birds were taken, in addition to the band number. Each year, nearly 380,000 ducks and geese and 30,000 mourning doves are banded across the United States and Canada. Information provided by hunters who take any of these banded birds is essential in efforts to properly manage migratory game bird populations and hunting opportunities. By reporting the recovery of a leg-band, hunters also can learn interesting details about the particular bird they harvested.

NOVEMBER 2011

http://www.fishandboat.com http://www.fishandboat.com http://www.reportband.gov

Pennsylvania Game News - November 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - November 2011