What is an important reason to have a personal flotation device when hunting from a boat?

Having a personal flotation device (PFD) while hunting from a boat is crucial for safety, particularly to prevent drowning if you fall overboard. This response underscores the primary purpose of a PFD, which is to help keep you afloat in the water, enhancing your chances of survival until help arrives or until you can get back to safety.

While it’s true that staying warm, signaling for help, or carrying gear may be considerations in certain situations, they do not address the immediate and vital need for safety while on the water. The risk of unexpectedly falling into the water or capsizing is significant, especially in varying weather conditions and with the inherent instability of a boat. Wearing a PFD helps mitigate this risk, providing essential buoyancy that can save lives in emergency situations.