How to Practice Gun Safety When Hunting

Gun safety is critical when hunting and handling firearms. Learn how to practice gun safety to prevent injuries to yourself and those around you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Earplugs
• Goggles or glasses

Be Sure to Practice Gun Safety When Hunting

1. Learn how your firearm operates. Knowing how to correctly operate your weapon can prevent injuries. Familiarize yourself with the basic components of your weapon, such as the safety, and practice how to correctly load ammunition.
2. Keep your gun, rifle and other weapons pointed away from others at all times while hunting.
3. Use only the correct ammunition for your firearm when hunting. Do not experiment with ammunition that is not made for your firearm. Using incorrect ammunition can cause your firearm to misfire, leading to serious injury.
4. Leave your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to fire at your target. Make a habit of resting your finger on the side of the gun or on the guard.
5. Make sure you know what you are shooting at. Observe everything around the target. Make sure there is nothing that could be harmed close to your target, such as people.
6. Wear protection for your eyes and ears. Keep a pair of shooting goggles or glasses on when hunting to prevent debris from flying into your eyes. Wear earplugs during times of shooting to prevent damage to your hearing.
7. Avoid taking medications that cause drowsiness or impair your judgment. Taking such medications while hunting can impair your ability to judge targets correctly.
8. Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages while hunting with firearms. A few drinks can impair your judgment and affect your ability to shoot firearms accurately.
9. Assume that a gun is loaded until you have verified that it is not to prevent injuries or misfires while hunting.
10. Do not allow a person to handle a gun while hunting if he is not educated in gun safety and experienced in handling firearms.
11. Monitor younger hunters carefully when handling firearms to promote good gun safety during the hunt and in future gun-related situations.
12. Store guns on safety and in a safe position if hunting in vehicles. Never leave a rifle pointing upwards in the floorboard of a vehicle.

Tips & Warnings

• Regular cleaning and maintenance of your firearm will ensure that it functions properly during hunting. Moisture, dust and oil buildup can cause a gun to malfunction.