Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania and PIOGA Remind Hunters to Stay Safe Near Oil and Gas Operations

For a second consecutive year, the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania(P) and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA) are working togethertoemphasize hunting safety in areas where oil and natural gas exploration is taking place in theCommonwealth. Last year's joint effort was successful in making safety the top priority among hunters and oil and gas workers to ensure awareness of increased development activity across the state and the need for vigilance along roads and near drilling locations as hunters and industry workers converge on forests, game lands and private property.

"Safety is the first priority of the USP and its members, and it is critically important this year thatevery hunter watch for the presence of more people in the woods," said Steve Mohr, USP's Chairman of the Board. "There is the potential for more vehicles on public and private roads, as well as people conducting different tasks in the process of planning and drilling wells. Blaze orange should be the color of the day throughout the hunting season for anyone who ventures into our forests."

"A great many of our employees, whether they work on location or in an office environment, are also avid hunters, and they bring a commitment to safety when they go into the field to hunt," said Louis D'Amico, PIOGA president and executive director.   "We have urged our members to outfit their employees in blaze orange if they may be in any situation where they may encounter hunters, and be mindful of hunters who may be walking the woods or driving on roads to preferred locations.

"PIOGA is pleased its partnership with the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania is getting the word out across Penns Woods that oil and gas operations can take place in harmony with our rich hunting traditions," added D'Amico. "And, to echo our advice from last year, storage tanks should not be used as tree stands. "

Many individuals in the oil and gas industry are supporters of game hunting. In fact, many are part of sportsman groups and enjoy being in the woods on a day off. Those sportsmen have taken the Game Commission's safety course and are familiar with the five primary safety practices known as SMART:

• Safe direction: keep your firearms pointed in a safe direction at all times.
• Make sure: positively ID your target.
• Always check: know what's beyond your target before shooting.
• Respect firearms: treat all firearms as if they are loaded.
• Trigger caution: do not touch the trigger until you are ready to shoot.