 | Always be willing to come
home without any game at all. |
| Take firearm safety and
hunting classes. If your children will be hunting with you, make sure they
take classes (and pass them), too. Know what the laws are, and follow
them. Do not hunt with people who do not obey the rules or do not hunt safely. |
| Never hunt out of season. |
| Never hunt when it's too
dark to see clearly. |
| Know how much your children
know (practice thoroughly with them beforehand), and be confident that they
will follow
instruction. If you have any doubt about their abilities, don't let them go.
Do not allow your children to hunt when they're too young to follow
instruction, to handle a stressful or dangerous situation, or to handle
firearms safely. If your state doesn't restrict hunters to 12 years old or
older, consider making your children wait until they're that old anyway. |
| Never "baby-sit" while
hunting. If your children aren't old enough to be capable members of your
team, they shouldn't be there. |
| Do not leave your children
alone while you hunt (or scout). |
| Always control the muzzle
of your firearm. |
| Never use your gun to
support you while you move around. |
| Always treat your gun as though it's
loaded. Never play around with it, and never point it at anything you don't
plan to shoot. |
| Never use mind-altering substances
(alcohol, drugs, inhalants, or some medications) before or while hunting. Even
"a few beers" can damage your ability to think and see clearly. |
| Store firearms and ammunition
separately, and do not transport loaded firearms. |
| When cleaning your guns, treat them
as if they are loaded -- even if you're certain you've emptied that last
bullet from the chamber. It might be wise to clean your guns when your family
isn't around. |
| Do not attempt to go through a fence or
thick brush with a loaded gun at your side (the trigger can get caught on
something and accidentally go off). Instead, hand your firearm to a friend or
slide it through separately. |
| Don't trust your gun safety to keep you
safe. |
| Take binoculars with you (and use them)
to help you see your targets clearly. |
| Be absolutely certain of
what your target is (and also what is beyond it). If you aren't sure, don't
shoot. If you're conflicted, don't shoot. If you can't see clearly, don't
shoot. |
| If you find yourself
getting impatient, cold, hungry, thirsty or tired -- be extra-certain you're
shooting wisely, and consider taking a break to rest and refresh yourself. |
| Never shoot at sound or a
flash of color. |
| Remember that other people
(including children) will be out there who do not know the rules. Be alert to
their mistakes and to their lack of knowledge and experience. |
| Wear appropriate clothing
to alert others to your presence. Make sure your children do, too. |
| Never think you will never
make a mistake -- and never think an accident will never happen to you (or
your children). |
| Always be willing to come
home without any game at all. |
