Larson, an official with MassWildlife, has found hunters walking in circles unable to find their way. She's seen a dead man from a streamside after he'd fallen in the water while in the woods alone. And she's dealt with hunters who were mistakenly shot by a friend who didn't obey the rules of hunting.
It's reason for hunters and non-hunters alike to be on alert this time of year.
"Now that hunting season is here, people need to be aware," she said. "They should be wearing bright colors for visibility. People going out recreating should be aware that hunting season has begun. Hunting and hiking aren't mutually exclusive activities, so a little common sense goes a long way."
With hunting season opening Monday for some waterfowl and deer (archery) and shotgun season for deer coming next month, officials are warning hunters and non-hunters alike that it's time to take precautions when venturing into the wilderness. In 2004, the latest figures available, more than 80,000 separate hunting licenses were issued statewide.
The penalties aren't always to one's health, as puncuated earlier this week by the stiff penalties levied on a hunter who shot at a deer near an Amesbury roadside last winter.
George Melvin, 63, of Plaistow, N.H., was found guilty earlier this week of four counts each of using a firearm too close to a highway and using a firearm too close to an occupied dwelling. He received a $2,000 fine and had his hunting license suspended.
"This puts bad guys on notice," said Environmental Police Officer Scott Maher.
While shotgun season doesn't start until late November, bow hunting starts Monday and falls under the same restrictions, Maher said.
Melvin was reportedly firing his shotgun at deer on South Hunt Road last December. Besides being less than 150 feet from the road, he was reportedly less than 500 feet from the Waste Management facility that was open while Melvin was shooting, according to Officer Paul Croteau.
"They were open for business and people are discharging firearms," Croteau said.
Melvin was reportedly trying be the first in his hunting club to harvest a deer, Maher said, and "the opportunity was presented to him." While Melvin reportedly denied breaking the law, a witness identified him as the shooter and police were able to match shells found too close to the road and the building to Melvin's shotgun.
Larson said the hunting accident earlier this year involving Vice President Dick Cheney, in which he accidentally shot a friend while bird hunting, went a long way toward raising awareness. Most hunting accidents involve members of the same party. Cheney, Larson said, had swung his rifle outside of his shooting zone.
The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife teaches hunting laws as part of the education course hunters take when they are first licensed, according to hunter education program administrator Susan Langlois. Hunters only take the course once, but once is all they should need, Langlois said.
"The thought behind it is that once you learn it, you implement it immediately," Langlois said.
Larson said that statistics show that of the more than 80,000 licenses issued, only about 5 percent ever commit any sort of violation.
Still, that doesn't mean hunters and non-hunters taking to the outdoors shouldn't take proper precautions. While hunters are required to wear orange clothing in the woods, it's a good idea for anyone going to an area where hunting is allowed.
"In some cases, you have people not paying attention, just like you have drivers not paying attention," Larson said.
But, she added that there has never been a recorded death of a non-hunter due to a hunting related accident in Massachusetts.
"It is more dangerous to be driving on the roads than to be out in the woods when people are hunting," she said.
Most hunters obey the rules and regulations, Maher said, but some do break them when an easy opportunity presents itself. The punishment is harsh, though - Melvin was sentenced to two years probation, lost his license for one year and his shotgun permanently, and was fined more than $2,000.
"It's often the loss of license that hurts the most," Larson said, "because these people love to hunt."
If residents see illegal hunting, they should call local police and environmental police, Maher said. The environmental police phone number is 1-800-632-8075. But residents also need to do their part by posting no trespassing signs around their property if they don't want hunters passing through.
Hunting seasons in Essex County
Deer
Archery - Oct. 16 to Nov. 25
Shotgun - Nov. 27 to Dec. 9
Muzzleloader - Dec. 11 to Dec. 30
Pheasant, Quail and Ruffed Grouse
Fall season - Oct. 30 to Nov. 4
Ducks
Coastal areas - Oct. 16 to Oct. 28; Nov. 23 to Jan. 17
Note: There are hunting seasons for many other breeds of mammals and waterfowl. For more information on hunting seasons, see www.masswildlife.com.
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