Electrical safety tips hunters should follow

As various hunting seasons continue, please remember that electrical insulators, conductors and electrical equipment are NOT on the hunting season list. In order to stay safe and prevent unnecessary damages, it’s important you take certain measures and precautions while hunting. 

Your electric cooperative encourages hunters to be aware of electrical equipment while enjoying the great outdoors. 

When deer hunting, it’s important to be aware of what’s behind that big buck, or it might cost big bucks. Repairs can be costly in both equipment and outages to our members. As non-profit cooperatives, owned by the members, we all share in this expense.

Hunters and other gun owners should not shoot near or toward overhead power lines, power poles or substations. A stray bullet can cause damage to equipment, could be deadly to the shooter and potentially interrupt electric service to large areas.

Sometimes the damage isn’t noticed for several weeks or months, and is only discovered when an unexplained outage occurs.

Landowners are encouraged to remind those hunting on their property to be aware of power lines.

We recognize the majority of hunters practice safe hunting and understand the potential hazards when discharging a firearm. We encourage experienced hunters who are familiar with the area to identify the locations of utility properties and electrical equipment to young or new hunters in their group to ensure they take the proper precautions. Enjoy the great outdoors. Just be sure to hunt only what’s in season.

Electrical safety tips for hunters

Below you’ll find basic electrical safety rules you should follow this hunting season.

Safety tips:

  • Do not shoot at or near power lines or insulators.
  • Familiarize yourself with the location of power lines and equipment on land where you shoot.
  • Keep a safe distance from power lines and electrical equipment when hunting. Accidents can be easily avoided if you do so.
  • Damage to the conductor can happen, possibly dropping a phase on the ground. If it’s dry and the electricity goes to ground, there is the possibility of electrocution and fire.
  • Be especially careful in wooded areas where power lines may not be as visible.
  • Do not use power line wood poles or towers to support equipment used in your shooting activity.
  • Take notice of warning signs and keep clear of electrical equipment.
  • Do not place deer stands on utility poles or climb poles. Energized lines and equipment on the poles can conduct electricity to anyone who comes in contact with them, causing shock or electrocution.
  • Do not shoot at, or near, birds perching on utility lines. That goes for any type of firearm, including pistols, rifles or shotguns.
  • Do not place decoys on power lines or other utility equipment. Anything attached to a pole besides utility equipment can pose an obstruction – and a serious hazard – to electric cooperative employees as they perform utility operations.