Boat hunting is a fun outdoor activity that most people do for leisure or as an economic activity. Boating is the act of going out onto a surface of water using a boat. Hunting, in this case, refers to chasing and killing animals for sport or to get food.
Therefore, boat hunting is the act of chasing and killing of animals while traveling by boat. As one indulges himself in such an activity, safety precaution measures should be taken to avoid getting into a dangerous situation.
Being ready for an emergency is very important because one can never know what danger lies ahead. For instance, someone falling overboard and boat capsizing.
Safety precautions that should be observed when hunting from a vessel:
Understand your boat
Before embarking on a hunt, one should ensure the boat is properly maintained. If it breaks down while ashore it can put you at great risk. You should also be aware that small and flat bottom boats are more likely to sink.
You should carefully examine if there are any leaks on the boat. It is recommended that you do a test drive on the shores to make sure everything is working fine.
People should also actually practice with the boat in advance of a trip like this. Boat hunting is no easy task. People need to be able to focus on something other than the boat handling itself, which should only be a means to an end. Boating handling is a skill that people need to learn just like hiking and camping. They should learn it in advance.
Carry lighter loads
It is advisable for you to take what is necessary, for instance, the hunting weapon and a compass. Heavy loads can cause your boat to capsize and lose stability. All unnecessary items should be left behind.
People who feel the need to take as much hunting equipment with them as they can are doing themselves a disservice. There is plenty of safety equipment that people will need on a boat, of course. However, some of the other equipment that people might bring with them is ultimately superfluous.
People who try to combine trips in this way might run into problems. Some people might decide to go hunting from a boat and they might take a hiking and camping trip shortly afterwards. Combining several trips into one will only increase the amount of equipment that needs carrying, so people should reconsider.
Understand the local weather conditions
Boating on a stormy or windy weather is hazardous. Before the hunting expedition, you should consult a local meteorologist or the weather forecast of the day from a local television or radio station.
You can also inquire about weather patterns from the locals. Hunting can turn catastrophic if you find yourself boating during stormy weather.
Avoid the use of drugs or alcohol when boat hunting:
People are known to make irrational choices when they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You may even harm yourself or other hunters with the hunting weapon. You may even get lost if you are in a large water body such as an ocean.
Wear the right clothing
It is advisable for one to wear survival suits because the water is sometimes freezing and you risk acquiring hypothermia. Even wearing something that is relatively warm can still help. The water can be very cold even on days that seem warm, and temperature changes can happen rapidly.
A life jacket is necessary in case the boat capsizes. Of course, people should bring flotation devices with them in order to prevent problems like this as well. People should also bring some form of eye protection. Wearing a hat or something that will provide sun protection is also useful.
Wear a PFD
This term stands for a personal flotation device. Which is vital because not everyone knows how to swim. In the case of an accident one maybe unconscious and the PFD will enable you to float till you are rescued. Opt for an inflatable life jacket to ensure maximum comfort.
Never hunt alone
Always bring somebody boat hunting with you. Anything can happen at any moment and having someone beside you is an assurance of safety. People who go on boat hunting trips also need to make sure that someone else on land knows where they are and what they're doing. Even traveling with someone else is not a guarantee. People need to make sure that if anything happens, someone will be around on land to call the police and the coast guards.
Obviously, people should make sure that their boat hunting partners are as experienced as they are, or it isn't going to work as well. People should also make sure that their boat hunting partners are truly trustworthy enough. This isn't a situation where absolutely anyone will do: people need to be selective over who they bring with them hunting.
Distribute weight well along the boat’s centerline:
The vessel should carry its required capacity, and people should not crowd on one side of the vessel. They should be evenly distributed, so as to avoid putting the weight on only one side. Making the boat to capsize.
It's certain important to be adequately rested the night before a boat hunting trip. The people who aren't able to do this should ideally postpone the trip. People who go on trips like this should bring adequate rations with them in order to maintain their energy levels. This is not the time to eat a calorie-restricted diet.
Some people might want to bring stimulants like caffeine with them in some form, although this is not ideal. People who take a lot of caffeine in any form will have a tendency to crash after a certain amount of time.
Most beverages that contain caffeine will only cause people to need the restroom more. However, it's still important for people to be in a situation where they have some sort of a backup plan in case something happens to them and they get tired. Feeling sleepy while boating can be a recipe for disaster. Falling asleep while hunting can be almost as bad.
Following these above precautions will ensure your safe return offshore. Most people tend to be ignorant when they go out boat hunting on water, and they never consider preparing for an emergency. When done safely you are guaranteed of having an enjoyable time.
Some of the boat safety precautions could be regarded as common sense. However, some of these tips are less intuitive. People might not appreciate just how important it is to carry lighter loads until they're actually on the boat. The cold temperatures on the water can cause a lot of people to get colder than they would have expected, especially because they might have been warmer on land.
People would learn a lot of these tips through experience anyway. However, it's better to learn them right away through reading about some of the most important boat safety precautions. People who keep a lot of these tips in mind will find it that much easier to have an effective and safe boat hunting trip.
Author Bio: I’m Janet E Johnson, travel writer by profession and lover of world cultures, food, oceans, languages, souls, wild spaces and urban places by nature.