Aim for safety this dove season
For many Tennesseans, September 1st means one thing and one thing only — dove season. Fields fill with hunters at noon on opening day, making it one of the busiest hunting weekends of the year. Before you make your way to the field this weekend, make safety your first priority. Shooting power or fragile fiberoptic lines can disrupt electric and communication services for hundreds or thousands of your neighbors, putting convenience, and even safety, in the crosshairs.
Know your surroundings. Before opening day, scout the fields you intend to hunt on. That way you can keep yourself safe by identifying fences, ditches and uneven ground. While you are scouting, note the location of power poles and overhead power lines too. That way you can keep the power on for your family and neighbors by avoiding setting up and shooting toward electrical equipment.
Watch for power lines. When you are all set up and ready to go, keep those power lines in mind. Never shoot toward power lines or electrical equipment and if a bird lands on electrical equipment, do not attempt to retrieve it. We know it looks harmless to retrieve, but attempting to do so can bring you or your firearm too close to energized equipment. Coming too close could result in serious injury or death and it could damage the electric system.
Leave utility equipment alone. Aside from not retrieving a bird if it lands on electrical equipment, there are other electric co-op equipment that doesn’t need to be bothered while you are hunting. Don’t climb on poles and transformers. Utility boxes are not suited for seats or tables. Never place decoys or gear on utility equipment. Utility equipment can carry thousands of volts of electricity, and tampering with or climbing on it can have deadly consequences.
Be mindful of hunting dogs. No hunting trip is complete without man’s best friend, but unfortunately man’s best friend can’t read this safety article. Be sure to keep dogs away from substations and fenced utility areas for the same reasons you should stay away. If a dog becomes trapped near energized equipment, call Southwest Tennessee Electric and do not attempt a rescue yourself.
As always if anything goes wrong or if you have any questions before heading out, call your local Southwest Tennessee Electric office.
