Objectives To identify state and federal policies concerning outdoor recreation. To discuss recreational safety. To learn about recreational safety requirements.

Main Menu Federal & State Functions Outdoor Education & Safety Hunter Education & Safety Angler Education & Safety Boater Education & Safety

Outdoor Recreation Is supervised by the U.S. Parks and Wildlife Department (PWD) Activities occur in state and national parks and historic sites Includes: biking hunting birding equestrian boating swimming camping hiking fishing

Outdoor Recreation Is governed by federal, state and local governments to ensure public safety by defining and enforcing regulations

Outdoor Recreation Laws Are set for the following reasons: providing recreational safety managing outdoor recreation managing economic resources researching and education sustaining wildlife populations

Federal Government Functions in Recreation Include: owning and managing land, water and wildlife providing grants to state and local government researching and educating the public overseeing international agreements providing land and recreation allotment

Federal Agencies Include: National Park Service U.S. Forest Service Fish and Wildlife Service

National Parks Service Was established in 1916 Is entrusted with the conservation of the natural resources of America Manages all U.S. national parks

U.S. Forest Service Manages and protects the nation’s 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands Has a mission to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands for present and future generations

Fish and Wildlife Service Has a mission to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and natural habitats for the ongoing benefit of Americans Responsibilities include: enforcing federal wildlife laws protecting endangered species managing migratory birds restoring nationally significant fisheries conserving and restoring wildlife habitats

Federal Acts Include: Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965 Wild and Scenic River Act of 1968 National Trails System Act of 1968 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 Environmental Education Act of 1970

Land and Water Conservation Act Was passed by Congress in 1965 Assists federal, state and local governments to preserve, develop and guarantee outdoor recreational resources to all U.S. citizens

Wild and Scenic River Act Was passed by Congress in 1968 Preserves rivers with natural, cultural and recreational values for the enjoyment of all U.S. citizens

National Trail System Act Was passed by Congress in 1968 Was designed to promote the preservation of public access to travel within, enjoy and appreciate outdoor recreation and scenic trails

National Environmental Policy Act Was signed into law in 1969 Creates national environmental policy and promotion for protection, care and improvement of the environment and provides a process for applying these goals

Environmental Education Act Was passed by Congress in 1970 Provides national leadership to encourage environmental education

State Government Functions in Recreation Include: maintaining policy development and local governments providing areas, facilities and services managing plants and wildlife researching and educating the public establishing and enforcing standards and regulations cooperating with federal agencies

Outdoor Education Helps provide the skills, knowledge, experience and confidence needed to enjoy the outdoors

Outdoor Education Is designed to do the following: engage people of all ages and abilities in establishing sustainable relationships with nature and humanity gain experience in any outdoor setting develop deeper relationships with nature

Outdoor Education Aims to do the following: teaching outdoor survival skills improving problem-solving skills enhancing teamwork developing leadership skills understanding natural environments promoting spirituality

Outdoor Hazards Can occur on public or private lands May create dangerous situations which require survival skills, including: traveling with a companion being in good physical condition watching foot placement making camp before dark wearing appropriate clothing checking all equipment

Outdoor Hazards May create dangerous situations which require survival skills, including: considering the weather planning trips ahead of time developing an emergency plan resting frequently paying attention to surroundings and landmarks packing essential items in a backpack learning basic first aid

Survival Skills Include: traveling with a companion incidents are less likely to occur and more easily addressed when not traveling alone being in good physical condition set a comfortable pace and make sure the skills need for the adventure are known

Survival Skills Include: watching foot placement avoid accidents from falls or slipping making camp before dark traveling after dark may result in accidents, such as falling

Survival Skills Include: wearing appropriate clothing trail conditions and the season will affect what should be worn checking all equipment keep equipment in good working condition and always carry a signaling device

Survival Skills Include: considering the weather keep an eye on current and predicted weather conditions planning trips ahead of time inform someone of the location, duration, expected return and number of people in the group

Survival Skills Include: developing an emergency plan imagine possible emergency scenarios, think about and discuss possible responses with traveling companions resting frequently rest muscles and conserve energy

Survival Skills Include: paying attention to surroundings and landmarks keep close to established paths and track movement through use of a map packing essential items in a backpack, such as: water, snacks, cell phone, bandages, medical ointments, tweezers and scissors

Survival Skills Include: learning basic first aid know CPR, how to treat an abrasion or bug bite and how to identify signs of serious medical conditions

Outdoor Hazards Include those risks associated with the outdoors, such as: losing the way severe weather hazardous terrain medical conditions metabolic imbalances topical injuries animals internal injuries poisonous plants

Losing the Way Includes: possibility of running out of food and water experiences weather changes intensify the risk of hiking

Severe Weather Includes: blizzards flash floods fog sandstorms tornados other weather events

Hazardous Terrain Includes: snow slides glaciers wet surfaces deep or vigorous water other hazardous terrain

Medical Conditions Include: fever chills dizziness carbon monoxide poisoning

Metabolic Imbalances Include: dehydration hypothermia heat exhaustion malnourishment altitude sickness poisonings

Topical Injuries Include: frostbite sunburn lacerations rashes blisters

Animals Include: large predatory animals venomous animals bears cougars venomous animals snakes scorpions spiders bees

Internal Injuries Include: ankle sprains back injuries broken bones concussion

Poisonous Plants Include: poison ivy mushrooms poison oak berries

Hunter Education Develops safe, responsible, knowledgeable and involved hunters Prevents accidents and saves lives Involves teaching angler safety Angler – person who fishes with a rod and line

Hunter Education Requirements include: Hunter Education Training Course must be completed by most hunters and bow hunters, but age requirements vary state to state includes important laws and regulations, game identification, guns and archery equipment

Hunter Education May be obtained: classroom setting online course taught by certified fish and game instructors online course self-paced program which is completed on the Internet along with a final exam

Hunter Education Includes: firearm skills hunting safety hunting ethics wildlife conservation archery muzzleloaders outdoor survival first aid

Archery Education Includes: tree blind safety judging distances arrow and point selection correct shot placement

Hunter Rules & Regulations Include: season restrictions bag limits tagging transporting processing

Hunter Safety Requires the following: adolescent hunters must complete a hunter education course or be accompanied by a person who is 17 years or older and holds a valid license to hunt in the state most adult hunters must successfully complete a hunter education course if the course is not complete a hunter may purchase a “Hunter Education Deferral” and be accompanied by someone 17 years or older who is licensed to hunt in the state

Hunting Safety Guidelines from Parks and Wildlife Department (PWD) include: treating every firearm or bow and arrow as if it is loaded pointing the muzzle of a firearm down when not firing knowing the target and what is in front of or beyond the target

Hunting Safety Guidelines from PWD include: unloading firearms and unstringing conventional bows when not in use handling firearms, bows, arrows and ammunition carefully knowing the safe zone of fire, which is the area or zone where a hunter can shoot safely staying calm and level headed when hunting, do not allow yourself to get aggravated

Hunting Safety Guidelines from PWD include: wearing hearing and eye protection not drinking alcohol or taking drugs before or while handling firearms or archery equipment familiarizing yourself with any other circumstances requiring additional caution or safety measures

Angler Education Requirements include: all fishermen must obtain a valid fishing license age requirements vary from state to state

Angler Education Is taught during the Hunter Education Training Course May be obtained: classroom setting taught by certified fish and game instructors online course self-paced program which is completed on the Internet along with a final exam

Angler Education Includes: safe, knowledgeable and responsible fishing conduct fish management laws and regulations safe handling of fishing equipment

Angler Rules & Regulations Include: daily possession limits minimum size limits season restrictions

Angler Safety Includes: handling fishing equipment responsibly looking behind you before casting not leaving your tackle lying on the ground using long-nose pliers to help remove hooks from a fish removing the hook or lure from the line and store it in tackle box when transporting equipment

Angler Safety Includes: keeping at least one rod’s length between you and the next angler during a cast wearing a flotation device wearing the proper clothing using safety glasses and gloves when cleaning a fish

Boater Safety Education Requirements include: a PWD approved course which must be completed by most boaters age requirements vary state to state

Boater Safety Education May be completed through: an approved course in your area an online course a home study course

Boater Safety Includes the Water Safety Act of 1997 defines safety laws identifies equipment required specifies how to operate a vessel

Boater Safety Laws state: no person may operate any boat at a rate of speed greater than what is reasonable and practical no person may operate any motorboat in a willfully or wantonly reckless or negligent manner

Boater Safety Laws state: no person may operate a moving vessel while being intoxicated no person may operate a motorboat so as to create a hazardous wake no person may operate a motorboat in a circular coarse around any other boat with any occupant who is fishing or swimming

Laws & Guidelines for Boater Safety Include: being weather-wise using navigation lights making proper use of lifejackets avoiding alcohol learning to swim taking a boating course

Angler Laws & Guidelines for Boater Safety Include: distributing and securing gear properly to avoid overloading the boat using care when moving keep weight as low as possible and distributed evenly

Angler Laws & Guidelines for Boater Safety Include: remaining seated as much as possible to avoid capsizing and falls overboard not anchoring from the stern of the boat

Hunter Boat Safety Laws & Regulations Include: securing firearms and ammo low in the boat to increase stability and to avoid falls remaining seated if possible while shooting and retrieving migratory game birds assigning each hunter a “shooting zone” to avoid shooting accidents

Resources Hunter Ed Overview 2014 http://tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education Official Hunter Safety Courses for Today’s Hunter 2015 http://www.hunter-ed.com Education 2014 http://tpwd.texas.gov/education Official Boater Safety Courses and Boat Safety Education Materials 2015 http://www.boat-ed.com

Acknowledgements Executive Producer Gordon W. Davis, Ph.D. Production Coordinator Stevi Huffaker Graphic Designer Melody Rowell V.P. of Brand Management Clayton Franklin Executive Producer Gordon W. Davis, Ph.D. Executive Producer Gordon W. Davis, Ph.D. CEV Multimedia, Ltd. ©MMXV