Safety First for the Duck Opener

The Minnesota waterfowl hunting season opens Saturday at 9 am as tens of thousands of duck and goose hunters will be heading to the state's chilly waters for the opener. Tim Smalley, the DNR's boating safety specialist, says hunters should be careful not to overload their boat, and to think about safety they head out.
He says, "It's really important to wear a life jacket to and from the blind. The water's cooled off a lot since August and cold water shock can cause the sudden drowning syndrome to hunters who aren't wearing a life vest. There are new life vests out there now that allow a hunter to shoulder a gun without even having to taking it off."
Smalley suggests hunters stay near shore, especially during bad weather.