This hunting season as you join others in the woods, make sure to take some precautions to help ensure the safety of you and others. The following are some ways to help make this hunting season safe.
Always Treat a Firearm as if it is Loaded
It is important to practice safe firearm habits. If you always treat your gun as loaded, you’ll always be careful with them. Although this is a great mindset to have to remind you of the seriousness of a loaded gun, never keep guns loaded when not in immediate use.
Keep Your Firearm Pointed in a Safe Direction
Another great tip that may be more obvious than others is never point a gun at anything that you aren’t prepared to do damage to. A firearm of any type does harm, and the object on the other end can be destroyed or seriously injured. By making sure you are careful where your firearm is pointed, you can reduce the amount of unintentional damage by a firearm.
Be Aware What is Behind Your Target
When shooting your firearm, you should always know what is behind your intended target. This means researching the area you are hunting and being familiar with your surroundings. Understanding that in certain areas there may be a house nearby, as compared to miles of empty woods, will allow you to then plan where you can safely aim and shoot, avoiding the possibility of missing your target and potentially harming something or someone.
Always Tell Someone Your Hunting Plans
It’s a good idea to let someone know where (and when) you are going to hunt. Keeping family members informed in case of an emergency is important. Many hunters don’t think they could ever get lost, but no matter how many years of experience you have, anyone can get lost. Typically, hunters will be out a little after sundown, which can make for a tougher time finding your way back. This makes communicating the details of your hunt crucial if you get lost.
Be Prepared When You Hunt
Before going out to hunt you should pack a bag, preparing yourself and making sure to bring all the necessary items you may need. Being prepared also includes dressing appropriately for the conditions outside. The following are some of the items that should be in your hunting bag.
- Cellphone
- Portable charger
- Map
- Compass
- Water bottle
- Emergency food
- Extra clothing such as gloves, hats, and other layers
- First-aid kit
- Extra hunter orange materials
Remember these tips this hunting season – between practicing safe firearm habits and properly preparing yourself for a day of hunting, you can help to make memories safely.
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