MONTGOMERY– Alabama conservation officials issued a hunter safety reminder Thursday after recording 15 hunting incidents during the 2025–26 season. Eight involved treestands, and seven involved firearms. Both deaths occurred in firearm incidents that officials attributed to unsafe muzzle direction. Outdoor Alabama safety release
The previous season, Alabama recorded seven incidents, including three involving treestands and four involving firearms. The latest reminder comes ahead of the Nov. 21 gun deer opener in much of the state. However, dates and restrictions vary by zone and land type. 2024–25 incident figures · Alabama deer season dates
Stay Attached From the Ground Up
Justin Grider of the state’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division urges hunters to wear a fall-arrest harness. Stay attached to the tree while climbing, while hunting, and then all the way back to the ground. First, check the stand and harness for damage, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep three points of contact while climbing. Once you reach hunting height, use a haul line to raise an unloaded firearm or bow. Then lower the equipment before climbing down. Also, tell someone where you’ll be and when you expect to return, and keep a phone or signaling device within reach. Outdoor Alabama safe hunting tips
Control the Muzzle and Identify the Target
Treat every firearm as loaded and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you’re ready to shoot. Before firing, identify the target and check what lies in front of it and beyond it.
Use binoculars instead of a firearm scope to identify what you see in the woods. Also, unload the firearm before climbing a tree or crossing a fence. Outdoor Alabama firearm and treestand guidance
Alabama also offers free in-person hunter education classes and approved online courses. Training covers firearm handling, hunting laws, and other skills hunters can use in the field. Alabama hunter education
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