Thousands of pheasant hunters are expected to be out today (Saturday) for the state’s most popular hunting season. Lowell Washburn of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has predicted that about 130,000 hunters will be in the fields on this opening day, and he says safety always has to be the first concern for the thousands of hunters.
Washburn says there’s no way to over-emphasize safety with the adrenaline and emotions running high. Hunters are required by law to wear blaze orange. Washburn says you should also make sure your dog has on orange so you can keep track of your dog and other dogs as well.
Washburn says hunters for the most part do a good job of being safe. He says considering the number of people who’re hunting, it’s a pretty safe pasttime. Washburn says these first two weekends will be the biggest of the season because that’s when the most pheasants are there and that’s when the most people go out to hunt.
The season runs through January 10th.