6 Essential Rules for Hunting Safety

According to one survey, 101.6 million people participated in activities like hunting.

If you want to join the millions of people and go hunting this year, there are some things you should consider before you head out.

One of those things is hunting safety. It can be a very dangerous sport, but if you follow these tips, you’ll be a little bit safer, so make sure you keep reading!

1. Handle Firearm Safely

When you’re using a firearm to shoot while hunting, make sure that you follow some safety precautions. You should always treat the gun as if it’s loaded, even if it isn’t. 

In addition to that, you should make sure you never put your finger on the trigger until the last minute when you are going to shoot while hunting. You should always be aware of your surroundings when holding the gun. When you do point it at something, make sure that nothing will be in the way when you do it. 

While those are good rules to follow for your own firearm, you should make sure that you be careful with anyone else’s guns as well. Even if someone hands you a gun and says it’s not loaded, make sure that you check for yourself. 

Click here to learn more about hunting firearms and safety.

2. Remember SAFE

While you’re hunting remembering the acronym SAFE can actually help keep you safe. 

It stands for four major things that you should keep in mind. For example, the S stands for safe direction, which means you should be careful where you point your gun.

The A stands for “Always be sure of your target” and figure out if anything is behind your target that you don’t want to hit.

F is for Finger. As in, your finger should be outside of the trigger guard until you’re ready to shoot the gun. 

E is for Every. This means that you should treat every firearm as if it’s loaded.

3. Choose Good Clothing

When you go hunting, you probably want to wear camouflage so that you can sneak up on the animals you’re hunting. However, wearing camouflage means that you won’t be visible to other people who might be out hunting as well. 

To prevent accidentally getting shot by someone else, you should wear some bright clothing so that you won’t get mistaken for an animal. Many hunters wear orange or some type of reflective gear. In some cases, it’s often required by law.

In addition to the bright colors, you want to make sure you check the weather before you head out. The weather can change instantly, and you don’t want to find yourself caught in the cold or a rainstorm. 

If it’s going to be cold out, make sure you don’t wear cotton clothing. This can keep moisture in which will make you colder. Instead, wear an outer layer that repels water rather than stores it. 

As for your shoes, you should find some with good support in them. You may also want to bring some braces to help give you more support if you need it.  

4. Focus On Your Target

Now that you know what to wear, you can focus on shooting your target when you actually find one. 

When you shoot the gun, the bullet isn’t magically going to hit the target. Instead, you need to know how to line up the scope and gun so that your bullet goes where you want it to. 

Keep in mind that if the bullet is going fast enough, it will go through the animal’s body and hit whatever is behind it. So be aware of your surroundings and try to focus on shooting something while also ensuring there is something to stop the bullet behind the animal.

5. Know How to Load and Unload a Gun

When you’re done shooting your target, you’ll also have to know how to unload your gun and load it for the next kill.

The first thing to keep in mind is that when you unload it, you should always point the muzzle away from you or anyone else. Put the safety on just in case anything happens. Also, keep your fingers away from the trigger. 

Next, make sure that the barrel and chamber are free from any dirt or debris that could malfunction the next time you shoot. 

Once you’ve done that, you can find the right ammunition to put in that gun and load it up. If you’re unloading it, remove the magazine and then get rid of all of the rounds.

Do another check of the chamber to make sure there isn’t another bullet lying around. 

6. Tell Someone Where You’re Going

Lastly, ensure that you tell someone where you’re going to be hunting and how long you plan to be gone.

You could end up getting lost or stranded with no way to get back or call for help. In that case, that’s where it’s great to have someone who knows where to look for you so that they can rescue you.

Discover More of the Hunting Safety Tips

These are only a few of the hunting safety tips out there, but there are plenty more of them out there.

Hunting can be a fun sport, but if you’re not sure about something, make sure you ask an expert to ensure nothing goes wrong.

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