Hunting Safety: Tips for being a Safe Hunter

When talking about safety in relation to hunting, the first place we obviously have to start is with our firearms. We have a detailed article on firearm safety and I would advise reading that article as the first step in making sure you’re safe while out in the field. The biggest take away from that article is to always assume any firearm you come in contact with is loaded; if you remember that, you greatly limit your chances of being accidentally injured when handling a gun.

Never take for granted the fact that you are carrying a loaded weapon. Most firearm accidents occur because people don’t respect the fact that they’re holding a weapon that is meant to kill. It’s your duty as a responsible hunter to always follow safe firearm practices; if these safety practices aren’t second nature, I advise staying home until they are.

The Big Four of Hunting Safety:

Hunting Accidents have Four Common Causes:

1. Judgment Mistakes: The number one cause of hunting accidents is mistakes in judgment, such as mistaking a person for game, not checking what’s in front of or beyond your target, and getting caught up in the excitement of the hunt which can cause you to make foolish mistakes.
2. Not Following Firearm Safety Rules: Another common cause of hunting related accidents is not following safe firearm practices like the four primary rules of firearm safety.
3. Not Enough Practice: A huge problem that I see out in the field is hunters who don’t know their firearms capabilities. This stems from a lack of practice that can lead to things like accidental discharges and stray shots.
4. Mechanical Failures: When it comes to firearms you can never let your guard down; mechanical failures can and will happen, so you must know how to deal with them when they do.

The Four Primary Rules of Firearm Safety While Hunting are:

1. Always keep your muzzle pointed in a Safe Direction: The muzzle of your firearm should never be pointed towards anything that you don’t intend on shooting. Practicing safe muzzle control is one of the most important things that you can do out in the field, and should be something that’s second nature long before you ever head out into the field.
2. There is no such thing as an Unloaded Weapon: Every firearm should be treated as a loaded weapon, therefore they should always be given the respect due a loaded weapon. When being handed a firearm in the field, always assume the gun is loaded, even if someone tells you it’s unloaded.
3. Make Sure You Know What’s in Front of & Beyond the Target: When taking a shot, you must always be sure of what’s in front of and what’s beyond your target. If you cannot see what lies beyond your target, NEVER TAKE THE SHOT.
4. Keep Your Finger OFF the Trigger: When carrying any firearm, your finger should never be inside the trigger guard unless you’re ready to shoot. This is a huge problem that I see time and time again with inexperienced shooters, and it’s something should be mastered before ever going on a hunt.

Following Safe Shooting Practices

Safe Zone-of-Fire: One of the most important aspects of safely firing your gun while out on a hunt is to never fire your gun outside of your Zone-of-Fire.

Your Zone-of-Fire is the 45 degree area directly in front of each hunter. The reason we stay inside that 45 degree area, is that anything outside that area cannot be seen with reliability, and should be considered outside your field of view. Also, keep in mind your Zone-of-Fire will change with every step that you take, so make sure you’re always aware of your hunting partners locations at all times.

Self-Control: Another important aspect of hunter safety is self-control.  It’s not uncommon for hunters to become excited while out on a hunt; just remember that this excitement can cause you to make careless mistakes, so you need to do your best to control your emotions while out on the hunt.

If you find yourself becoming anxious, or overly excited, it’s time to slow down. If that means temporarily putting a stop to the hunt, then you need to err on the side of caution. No hunt is worth taking unnecessary risks; the safety of everyone who may be out in the field is always the number one consideration. A calm shooter is always a better and more accurate shooter.

Practice & Accuracy: Shooting accurately is not only the key to being a successful hunter; it’s also one of the most important aspects to being a safe hunter. If you cannot routinely hit your targets while out at the range, you have no business hunting anything. You are putting yourself and everyone in the field at risk.

Target Identification: If you’re not 100% sure of what you are shooting at, DO NOT TAKE THE SHOT. Anything you shoot at needs to be identified, and needs to be 100% in your field of view before ever taking a shot.

Safely Carrying your Firearm While in the Field:

The way you carry your firearm in the field is extremely important to the safety of everyone in your hunting group, as well as anyone who may be in your range of fire. By following the number one rule of firearm safety – always keeping your muzzle pointed in a safe direction – you ensure the safety of those around you, and you limit the possibility of someone being injured during an accidental discharge.

I’ve seen a number of websites advice people to always point there barrel at the ground when walking; in my opinion, this isn’t always the safest way to carry a firearm. If you’re traveling in a group where another hunter is walking directly in front of you, do you really want to be pointing your weapon at the ground in front of you?

There are a number of proper ways to carry your firearm in the field, each with their own fancy name and proper technique; I’m not going to go over them in this article. There are just way too many variables to be able to tell you that one technique should always be used in a specific situation. What I will tell you is something that I have mentioned at least a couple of times already in this article; whatever technique you choose, make sure your muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction, and make sure your finger is always outside the trigger guard unless you’re about to shoot. If you remember both of those tips, and make them something that becomes second nature, you greatly cut down on the chances of having a hunting accident out in the field.

Stay Safe, Stay in Control, and always follow the rules of firearm safety.