Hunting Message from Sheriff Gates

A hunting message from Sheriff Dusty Gates:

Union Parish is a great place to live and a great place to enjoy the outdoors. This time of year hundreds of people are heading to the woods to hunt and I want to take this time to remind everyone to always put safety first. Don’t take chances and be especially careful handling firearms.

Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates

The most simple gun safety approach is this: Treat every gun as if it is loaded all the time. Make sure your hunting partners do the same.

Also, as you go hunting, make sure you let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back. There’s nothing worse than getting a call from a family member who has not heard from a loved one that has NOT come home from hunting or a trip to the woods. Well, there is one thing worse — that is if we don’t know where to start looking.

Teaching young people to be safe is one of the most valuable outdoor skills you’ll ever pass on. Always do that. Enjoy the outdoors and be safe. If I or my department can be of assistance, just let us know. Happy hunting.

— Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates