SUMMARY OF RELEASES

1. MOTORISTS URGED TO BE CAUTIOUS TO AVOID DEER THIS FALL
2. HUNTING SEASON IS A TIME TO PRACTICE AND PROMOTE FIREARM SAFETY

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 MOTORISTS URGED TO BE CAUTIOUS TO AVOID DEER THIS FALL

 SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (Oct. 25, 2016) – Motorists are urged to exercise caution during the fall season as this is a time of peak deer activity, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

“Motorists should be alert and pay close attention to the roadsides as we are nearing the annual peak time of the year for deer-car collisions,” said Charlie Killmaster, state deer biologist with DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division. “The rise in deer activity around roads can be especially dangerous to drivers when coupled with other risks or distractions, such as texting or operating electronics while driving.”

There are two main reasons why drivers may see more deer along roads in the fall:

• Mating Season – Deer mating season occurs between October and late December, depending on location. Male deer go into rut and begin actively searching for mates. This behavior results in an increase in deer movement, bringing them across roadways.

• Time Changes – As we begin to “fall back” for daylight savings time, our days become shorter and nights become longer. Rush hour for most commuters tends to fall during the same hours in which white-tailed deer are most active – dawn and dusk.

Following are some tips and information to help avoid potential collisions:

• Deer Are Unpredictable: Always remember deer are wild and, therefore, can be unpredictable. A deer calmly standing on the side of a road may bolt into or across the road rather than away from it when startled by a vehicle.

• One Deer Usually Means More: Always take caution and slow down when a deer crosses the road in front of you. Deer usually travel in groups, so it is likely that others will follow.

• Time of Day: As deer are most active at dawn and dusk, they are typically seen along roads during the early morning and late evening – the same times most people are commuting to and from work.

• Time of Year: While deer-car collisions can occur at any time of year, the fall breeding season is a peak time for such accidents. During the fall breeding season, deer movement increases and this often brings them in contact with roadways that cross their natural habitats. Road shoulders generally provide beneficial food plants both during extremely dry times of the year and following a long, hard winter. Deer are generally attracted to these plants in late-winter, early spring and late summer.  Georgia’s new deer rut map (www.georgiawildlife.com/rut-map) is an excellent tool for motorists to determine local peaks in deer movement.  Drivers should be especially wary of deer during these time periods.

• Minimize Damage: If it is too late to avoid a collision, drivers are advised to slow down as much as possible to minimize damage – resist the urge to swerve to avoid the deer, as this may cause further damage, sending drivers off the road or causing a collision with another vehicle.

For more information on the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, visit www.georgiawildlife.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HUNTING SEASON IS A TIME TO PRACTICE AND PROMOTE FIREARM SAFETY

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (Oct. 25, 2016) — This hunting season, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division is joining with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to remind hunters that safety remains at the core of America’s hunting traditions.

This is a time of year when a lot of firearms are in use and in transport and NSSF wants everyone who enjoys hunting opportunities in Georgia to know that materials and resources are available to provide education and important reminders about how to be safe with their firearms in the field, on the range, at home and everywhere in between.

NSSF’s campaign, “The Hunt isn’t Over Until You Are S.A.F.E.” is part of the Project ChildSafe program, which NSSF launched in 1999.  S.A.F.E. is an acronym for Storefirearms responsibly, Always practice firearm safety, Focus on your responsibilities as a firearm owner, and Education is key to preventing accidents. Project ChildSafe emphasizes safely securing firearms when they are not in use as the #1 way to prevent firearm accidents.

To complement Georgia’s hunter safety programs, NSSF has made several resources available, which can be found on THE PROJECT CHILDSAFE WEBSITE. These include:

• An interactive quiz on hunting safety
• A Hunting Checklist for Families
• Tips and guidelines on safe firearm handling
• NSSF’s Ethical Hunter brochure and Pocket Hunter Fact Card
• An infographic with guidelines on a variety of firearm storage options

“We’re very thankful to have the Georgia WRD’s help in getting this information out to hunters—we want to help everyone hunt responsibly, return home safe and securely store their unloaded firearms,” said NSSF CEO Steve Sanetti. “The more we can get this information in the hands of hunters and others in the shooting sports community, and the more that gun owners can do to share these messages with others, the more we can help prevent firearm accidents.”

More information and resources available at www.projectchildsafe.com.