{"id":3822,"date":"2024-09-21T11:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-09-21T16:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/?p=3822"},"modified":"2024-09-21T11:00:10","modified_gmt":"2024-09-21T16:00:10","slug":"boat-safety-lights-loads-life-jackets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/boat-safety-lights-loads-life-jackets\/","title":{"rendered":"Boat Safety: Lights, Loads, Life Jackets"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><strong>Waterfowl Hunters In Boats Must Use Navigation Lights<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h5>An article from WWA\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/words-from-the-wardens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Words From The Wardens.<\/a><\/h5>\n<p><em>This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association\u2019s October, 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisducks.org\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">eNewsletter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"fancybox image\" ref=\"magnificPopup\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wisducks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BLA-Kuhn-scaled.jpg\" aria-controls=\"fancybox-wrap\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-36128 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wisducks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BLA-Kuhn-150x150.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wisducks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BLA-Kuhn-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wisducks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BLA-Kuhn-130x130.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.wisducks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BLA-Kuhn-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wisducks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/BLA-Kuhn-100x100.jpg 100w\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><strong>By <\/strong><strong>DNR Boating Law Administrator Darren Kuhn; <a href=\"mailto:Darren.kuhn@wisconsin.gov\">Darren.kuhn@wisconsin.gov<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Summer is great, but I\u2019m into autumn when the air gets crisp, the colors ignite the landscape and waterfowl hunting season arrives.<\/p>\n<p>Wisconsin has more than 74,000 waterfowl hunters who will be in the fields and marshes, on the shores and on rivers in pursuit of their harvests.<\/p>\n<p>By the time you read this, hunters in our northern waterfowl zones will have started their season on Sept. 25. Southern waterfowl zone starts Oct. 2 and the new Green Bay and Lake Michigan open water zone starts Oct. 16.<\/p>\n<p>Many of you will use your boats to get into your favorite sloughs, pools, backwaters and wherever the ducks are rafting up. This means you likely will go out before sunrise and call it a day after sunset. <strong>This requires lights.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Using navigational lights to stay safe among waterfowl hunters is becoming a problem. <strong>The use of these lights is for your safety, so you can get home and brag about your day.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE LIGHT REGS: LEGAL AND ILLEGAL<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>LEGAL:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Anytime a motorboat is in operation from sunset to sunrise, the required navigation lights are needed.<\/li>\n<li>These include red\/green bow navigations lights and a white light visible for 360\u02da.<\/li>\n<li>For paddle craft (skiffs, kayaks, canoes) on the water between sunset and sunrise a white light must be available and at the ready to avoid a collision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>ILLEGAL:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Additional lights (handheld spotlights or aftermarket white LEDs on the bow) that overpower the required navigation lights are illegal and shouldn\u2019t be used for navigation.<\/li>\n<li>Boat lights are designed for other boats to see what direction you are going to ensure the rules of navigation are observed, not to help you see where you are going.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The after-market boat lights are becoming a big problem with their availability and affordability.\u00a0While it\u2019s true they help you see where you are going; it\u2019s also true that they blind any oncoming boats.\u00a0This makes it impossible to see the red and green navigation lights which serve a specific purpose telling other boats who has the right of way.<\/p>\n<p>This situation isn\u2019t specific to waterfowl hunters and is present with different boating groups but also needs to be addressed with the waterfowl hunting community.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BOAT LOADS, WADERS, LIFE JACKETS &amp; DOGS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a ref=\"magnificPopup\" href=\"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/life-jacket-text.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3823 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/life-jacket-text-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"Life Jacket\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/life-jacket-text-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/life-jacket-text.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unlike typical recreational boaters, waterfowl hunters often load their boats dangerously close to the weight capacity limit with decoys, equipment and often time a hunting dog. <strong>As a result, the life jackets are often buried at the bottom of the pile.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One wearable life jacket is required for each person on board the boat.\u00a0These life jackets must be readily accessible for immediate use in the event of an emergency. The jackets also must be the proper size.\u00a0It is recommended that hunters wear their life jackets whenever they are on the water.\u00a0Having to dig out a life jacket in an emergency is going to be too late.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the wearable life jackets, for every boat 16 feet or greater, a throwable type personal flotation device is required.\u00a0The two most common types of throwables are the ring buoy like what you would see at a beach or pool or the standard seat cushion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hunting dogs<\/strong> can get excited and start jumping all over the boat or shaking on the kayak platform. Or, our four-legged partners can get rambunctious, increasing the risk for capsizing.<\/p>\n<p>Boats used for waterfowl hunting also tend to be smaller to allow the hunter to get back into places larger boats can\u2019t go and are often less stable. These two factors alone significantly increase the risk of capsizing and illustrate the reason waterfowl hunters should wear their life jackets.<\/p>\n<p>Waterfowl hunters often travel on the water wearing their chest waders, so they don\u2019t have to change their footwear in the blind.\u00a0<strong>Waders are very effective at keeping the hunters warm and dry but can also be very dangerous on the open water.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If a hunter\u2019s boat was to capsize and the hunter was ejected, the waders would fill with water, creating a suction effect around the hunter\u2019s legs and feet, making it almost impossible to take the waders off. This added water weight, along with the effort exerted to stay afloat and\/or to remove the waders, greatly increases the risk of drowning.\u00a0\u00a0Wearing a life jacket would reduce this drowning risk and is just another reason to wear your life jacket, not just tuck it away.<\/p>\n<p>Hunters are very good at checking to make sure they have all their licenses, shells, shotguns, camo clothes, face paint, lunch and anything else they might need for a day of hunting. Amazingly enough, life jackets are not on the priority list.<\/p>\n<p>During field contacts, wardens often encounter waterfowl hunters who either don\u2019t have any life jackets or don\u2019t have enough life jackets.\u00a0 The two most common excuses given are that the hunter simply forgot them in the truck, at home or in the other boat or were running late and didn\u2019t want to take the time to go get them and lose their spot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Life jackets should be on the top of the list right there with making sure you have your shotgun.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3824\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3824\" style=\"width: 209px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a ref=\"magnificPopup\" href=\"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/camo-Inflatable-life-jackets.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3824\" src=\"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/camo-Inflatable-life-jackets-209x300.jpg\" alt=\"camo inflatable life jackets\" width=\"209\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/camo-Inflatable-life-jackets-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/camo-Inflatable-life-jackets-600x862.jpg 600w, https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/camo-Inflatable-life-jackets.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 209px) 100vw, 209px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3824\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inflatable life jackets even come in Camo!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Life jackets come in all shapes and sizes and every color of the rainbow, including camouflage. There are <strong>inflatable life jackets<\/strong> that you won\u2019t even know that you\u2019re wearing until its needed and saves your life.<\/li>\n<li>You can get <strong>insulated float coats<\/strong> that can replace your old worn out hunting parka. These keep you warm in the blind and save your life on the way to and from.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t forget about the dog<\/strong>.\u00a0There are life jackets for the dog as well.\u00a0 While the law doesn\u2019t require life jackets for your dog, it\u2019s a good idea.\u00a0They provide additional warmth for those cold-water hunts as well as additional buoyancy for the long retrieves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Always remember to check the most recent version of the Wisconsin hunting regulations to refresh your memory and to check for law changes.<\/p>\n<p>The hunting regulations are now one single publication, and include the waterfowl hunting specific regulations.\u00a0 The hunting regulations can be found on the DNR website here: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/DNRHuntingRegs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/DNRHuntingRegs<\/a>. Hard copies are available most places licenses are sold.<\/p>\n<p>As always stay safe, wear your life jacket, have fun and take a new hunter hunting.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>DNR Violation Hotline: Confidentially report suspected wildlife, recreational and environmental violations at:\u00a0 1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Waterfowl Hunters In Boats Must Use Navigation Lights An article from WWA\u2019s\u00a0Words From The Wardens. This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association\u2019s October, 2021 eNewsletter.\u00a0 By DNR Boating Law Administrator Darren Kuhn; Darren.kuhn@wisconsin.gov Summer is great, but I\u2019m into autumn when the air gets crisp, the colors ignite the landscape and waterfowl hunting season&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-words-from-the-wardens"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3822"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3826,"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3822\/revisions\/3826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}