If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of hunters who take to the woods in pursuit of white-tailed deer this fall, take a few minutes to review some basic information from Whitetails Unlimited that will insure that everybody enjoys the hunt safely.
\nHandle all firearms as if they were loaded, at all times
\nEvery year there are news stories of accidents where someone thought they were handling an unloaded firearm, and it fires and injures or kills someone. If you always consider a weapon to be loaded, and treat it accordingly, this won\u2019t happen.
\nWatch where you point the muzzle of every firearm
\nThis takes diligence and awareness, but it is a skill that can be quickly developed. Always be aware of where other people are in relation to your muzzle, and let your hunting partners know if they are not being as careful as you are. It is easy to lose concentration when everyone is uncasing their guns at the back of the pickup, or when you are tired at the end of the day. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
\nDon\u2019t rely on your firearm\u2019s safety
\nA safety is a mechanical device, and it could fail at any time. Use it religiously except when you are ready to fire, but never assume that because the safety is on, you are 100 percent safe. Unload the firearm when not in use, and leave the action open, if possible. Also, after you shoot, put the safety on before you take your first step.
\nBe sure of your target, and what is in front of you and behind your target
\nIt is easy to get excited when you see that big buck, but first make sure it\u2019s really a deer, and that it is safe to shoot. Make sure there are no buildings, people or roads behind the deer that would be in danger if you miss or if the bullet passes through the animal. If you are not 100 percent sure of where your hunting companions are, or if there isn\u2019t enough light or a clear sight line to the target, pass up the shot. You will get another chance at a deer, but sending a bullet out of your barrel without being sure of your target and background is an invitation to disaster.
\nTake care of your firearms and ammunition and treat them with respect
\nDon\u2019t just grab a gun and some ammo that has been stored for months as you leave the house the morning of your hunt. Spend some time to make sure your equipment is in good shape. Take it out before the hunt to check the sights and scope. Make sure the barrel is not obstructed and that the action works properly. Make sure the ammunition matches the firearm. Never horseplay with firearms, and never climb a fence, ladder, tree stand, or cross difficult or slippy terrain with a loaded firearm. Also remember that you can set the example for everyone in your group, especially for younger hunters.
\nBe sure if you are using a tree stand
\nNever climb into the stand carrying your weapon. Unload your weapon and use a line to pull your gun or bow up after you have fastened your safety harness (Remember to reload after you are settled). Reverse the process when you leave the tree stand. Always unload the weapon and use a safety harness or belt.
\nControl your emotions
\nAfter you shoot that 10-pointer, don\u2019t turn with your loaded firearm, with the safety off, toward your friends. Don\u2019t run to the downed animal, or chase off into someone else\u2019s firing lane. Rehearse in your mind what safe actions will be, and always be aware of your surroundings. Show some discipline and restrain and don\u2019t take poor shots that may be unsafe.
\nBe aware of other circumstances that may affect safety
\nIf the landowner tells you to stay out of an area, respect his directions. Rain, fog, snow or sleet may reduce visibility or create hazardous conditions. Use common sense, and remember that a tragic accident can be the result of taking chances.
\nNever mix alcohol or drugs with firearms
\nThe first drink of the day is the end of the hunting day, no matter what time it is. Forget the eye-opener, the flask \u201cto keep you warm,\u201d or the pick-me-up with lunch, and don\u2019t tolerate drinking (or drugs) from anyone you hunt with. Alcohol and guns are a deadly combination. Before you have that beer with dinner at night, make sure all firearms are already unloaded, cleaned and cased. In addition, if you take over-the-counter medications that may affect your judgment, or make you drowsy, anxious or otherwise impaired, check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if there is an alternative.
\nSafety does not end when you leave the woods
\nEven if you are tired, cold and hungry when you get home, safety is still the first priority. Before anything else, store your firearms and ammunition in a safe place, separate from each other and out of the reach of children. Then call your friends to come over to see your deer, take a hot shower and get a decent meal. You\u2019ve earned it.
\nRemember that hunting is a process, not a destination. No deer is worth risking your or someone else\u2019s life. There are friends, family and other people in the woods with you, and a successful hunt is not really measured in points and pounds, but in fellowship and appreciation of our natural world.
\nFor more information: www.whitetailsunlimited.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of hunters who take to the woods in pursuit of white-tailed deer this fall, take a few minutes to review some basic information from Whitetails Unlimited that will insure that everybody enjoys the hunt safely. Handle all firearms as if they were loaded, at all times […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports-news-in-the-tyrone-pennsylvania-area"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47812\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}