Be the hunter, not the hunted - Hunting Safety Tips everyone
should know
by: Rebecca Blain
Out of all of the sports participated in around the world,
hunting is considered to be one of the most dangerous. Due to
this, many safety precautions must be made to ensure your safety,
as well as the safety of those around you. This cannot be
emphasized enough, as your life and the lives of your companions
must be protected when you are going hunting, whether it is coon
hunting, deer hunting, moose hunting or simple fowl hunting.
There are several categories of hunting safety you should keep in
mind, which consist of the following:
Hunting Equipment
Gun Safety
Bow Safety
Hunting Safety Courses
Seasonal Hunting Safety
Hunting Equipment
Having the proper weapon and discount hunting supplies to go
hunting is the first consideration you must make when preparing
for a trip. If you are planning to hunt deer, you need to make
certain that you have a gun or bow appropriate for deer. A
standard pistol, for example, is considered an inappropriate gun
type for deer hunting, while a crossbow or rifle are considered
the right gun for the job. Taking a moose hunting rifle deer
hunting would be considered inappropriate, as these guns are too
powerful.
In addition to having the proper style of gun, you need to make
certain you have everything you require to clean and field dress
the animal you are hunting. This prevents unneeded trips back to
your truck or other vehicle. You should also make certain you are
wearing the proper clothing for the trip. This usually consists
of the bright orange vests and hats, as well as other brightly
colored clothing so other hunters can see you easily. While
camouflage may help prevent the deer from seeing you, it also
prevents other hunters from seeing you. This can result in your
death, as other hunters may mistake you for a deer or another
animal.
Gun Safety
When you are hunting with a gun, there are several things that
you need to keep in mind. The safety on the weapon should be on
at all times, unless you are preparing to fire at your quarry.
The gun should always be pointed away from you and others, and
never at your own feet. Being shot in the foot is highly
uncomfortable, and requires surgery to repair the delicate bones.
This precaution should be taken regardless of whether or not the
safety on the weapon is on or off. Should the safety fail, it is
much safer to have the gun misfire where no one will be hit.
The second primary consideration you should make is always taking
proper care of your weapon. A well cared for weapon should not
misfire or present unnecessary risk to yourself and your
companions. A gun that has not had this level of care runs risk
of misfiring, having a jammed barrel, or worse.
Bow Hunting Safety
Hunting with a bow is something that takes a lot of skill and
energy to do. On account of this, there are just as many, if not
more precautions a bow hunter must take in able to hunt safely.
Before you go hunting with your bow, you need to make certain
that your bow has been thoroughly checked. If the string or wire
used on your bow looks frayed, replace it before you are out in
the field. While a snapped bow string usually only causes mild
welts or cuts, it is always best to have equipment in top shape
before going go on your trip. If you are using a bow, you will
want to make certain that you have the proper arm guards with
you, and that you are wearing them when you notch your arrow and
are preparing to kill the animal you are hunting. This helps
protect you from injuries due to snapping strings or string
rebound.
Another aspect of bow safety that you need to keep in mind is
making certain that you have a bow that fits your strength. While
being able to pull a heavier bow is considered a badge of honor
among many hunters, pulling a bow that is too heavy for you can
cause painful injuries that can take a lot of time to heal. If
you insist on pulling a heavier bow so you can kill larger prey
such as deer, you should take the time and care to work up slowly
to the heavier bow. This can help prevent strained or torn
muscles in the future.
Hunting Safety Courses
Before you go out hunting, especially if you have not been
hunting in a while, you should make certain you participate in a
hunting safety course in your area. Safety courses go over gun
safety and handling, as well as teach or remind you the basics to
the care and precautions that should be taken. Many of these
courses cover hunting laws in your area, which you should be
familiar with before you go hunting. Hunting safety courses are
also good for those individuals that do not hunt, but live in an
area where a lot of hunting takes place.
Seasonal Hunting Safety
In some areas, especially heavily forested areas, seasonal
hunting safety is something that you should always keep in mind.
As many hunters are out in force during specific hunting seasons,
you should always make certain that you are wearing bright,
easily seen clothing so that hunters can easily identify that you
are not a deer or another type of animal that they are hunting
for. This applies whether or not you are a hunter, and especially
if you are not on your own property. When hunting, you should
always have permission from the land owners to hunt on their
property, so that you will not be in an area where there are
likely to be children or individuals that could be accidentally
shot by either gun or arrow.
If you keep all of these things in mind, you should be able to go
hunting without putting yourself or others at risk of injury or
death. If you live in an area where hunting is popular, knowing
hunting safety rules can protect you as well, as knowledge is
protection when it comes to weapons of any kind.
Rebecca Blain is a professional and hobbyist writer who enjoys
taking care of her Siamese Fighting Fish and educating people
about discount hunting supplies which can be read about here:
http://www.discount-hunting-supplies-and-tips.com
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See Also:
Index of All Hunting & Fishing Articles
Index of All Sports Articles
