Again, thanks to Twitter, I came upon a blog post in which the author talks about a boy getting shot in Tennessee. He gives some tips for hunter safety that had me thinking. Here are the tips:
1. Never walk in heavy brush with your gun loaded.
2. Never fire unless you are sure of your target and there is no chance of someone being beyond your target.
3. Never climb into your stand with a loaded firearm or hoist up one that is loaded.
4. Always carry your firearm muzzle upward especially when hunting with a friend. Muzzle down is never a good idea even though it’s pointed away from people you may accidentally get dirt in the barrel and clog it causing a potentially deadly accident.
I only do 1 of these. Thoughts? Am I the worst hunter out there? What about you guys? what else could you add?
Only have one rule at my house…..only point a gun at something if you want it dead. goes for unloaded guns as well. seems to work pretty well. my son asked a guy we were hunting with, Do you want to kill your truck? guy said no! Son said then quit pointing your gun at it. he is eight.
I do 3 out of the 4 but I would not say your the worst hunter because the worst would not admit to what you admitted to.
I always point my gun down. Then, if something happens, I am shooting the ground and not into the air where I dont know where the bullet will hit when it comes down.
i think i cover them all….although I won't lie, on a stalk i'll end up in thick brush and won't think to unload the gun, then again I only will chamber a round when I'm ready to shoot at something.
I always get pissed when….well, let me preface here, I really can't stand hunting shows for the most part. I like Benny Spies, Tred Barta, and shows like Pheasents Forever and Ducks Unlimited, but for the most part I cannot stand these yahoos on TV. At any rate, I get upset when I see these "professional Hunters" taking bad shots. How many times do you see these guys getting excited and taking a ridgeline shot? Or shoot at a big game animal while its running?
They don't exactly set good examples….
Wow, sorry to go off on a tangent!
Tom, I totally appreciate this!
I have a strap on my gun and I throw it over my shoulder, shimmy up my tree seat and am ready to go. When I have to walk, I point it down and in front of me – especially in thick brush. I never point it up – you never know where the bullet will come down. And, I can not shoot anything that is running. Ive tried but its more like "hey, there's a deer" and then its gone and my gun is still down. Dad gets a good laugh.
haha. yeah, you know, I admit there are some dead eye shots out there. Heck if you like to bird hunt your hitting moving targets all the time. Some people can get away with it, but man you have to be good to pull it off. certainly not something everyone should try! But i stand firm, the ridgeline shooting is inexcusable(sp?)..