Safety tips to remember when taking ATVs on a hunt

As deer season approaches, many hunters are preparing their ATVs for outings in the woods. Hunters are a different group of ATV riders, according to Amber Jensen, regional training officer with the DNR enforcement group. “There are a lot of folks who use the ATVs for recreation all summer long, but then there’s a whole other group that uses them more as a tool for hunting, so you do see a little bit of a shift in riders there.” However, Jensen said no matter how an ATV is utilized, the same safety protocols should be practiced. Among them are the following: Do not overload them: Jensen said hunters have a tendency to overload their ATVs with equipment or people, and sometimes both, but it’s never a safe bet to do that. “A person might have one Class I ATV and want to bring stands and five people out to their deer camp,” she said. “But sticking with vehicle capacities is important.” An overloaded vehicle can shift its balance and force its mechanical system past its design limits.

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