The Top 10 Hunting Safety Tips You Should Know

Hunting is thrilling and challenging, yet potentially dangerous sport that requires several precautions to be put into place before heading out. It is not as easy as grabbing a gun or camo gear and heading out the door; there are many safety concerns to consider. Whether you are a beginning hunter or well-seasoned outdoors person, check out these top ten hunting safety tips you should know so that you can have a safe and successful season every year.

1. Pack and Carry Weapons with Care

Guns, knives, crossbows, and muzzleloaders should all be carried with caution. Hunters should always treat their weapons, particularly guns as if they are loaded which means handling them with extreme care. While traveling in a truck or car, or even when walking around with others during a hunt, it is important to keep the safety lock on all equipment. This will hopefully prevent a gun going off and injuring or killing a fellow hunter. Moreover, never have your finger on the trigger of any gun at any time other than when you are planning to shoot. If packing knives or bows, ensure they are securely packaged and not dangling out where they could cut or stab someone.

2. Be Confident in Your Kill

Sometimes you see sad stories in the news of hunters who misread their target and end up shooting a fellow hunter or innocent hiker. You should never pull the trigger on a shotgun or release an arrow until you are absolute and one-hundred-percent sure you have your eyes on a proper target. Novice hunters may fall victim to a premature kill because of nervousness or excitement, and they accidentally shoot without making sure of their target. The scope on a gun is, of course, what you should trust the most, but investing in a high-quality pair of hunting binoculars will serve as an additional way to check your target.

3. Plan and Be Prepared

Planning for a hunting trip should be no different than planning for a camping or hiking trip. One never knows what kind of weather or scenarios they might find themselves in. Always carry a first aid kit, matches, bottled water, GPS, snacks, flare gun, flashlights, blankets, maps, and extra clothing. Even on a spring or summer night, temperatures can drop and make for an uncomfortable night’s stay in the wild.

4. Never Go Alone

For whatever reason, never go on a hunting trip solo. If you were to fall or injure yourself, it is likely that no one would be able to find you for a few days. Even if you are a seasoned hunter, going alone is never a smart idea. At the least, it is recommended that hunters travel in two’s.

5. Protect Eyes and Ears

It is important to wear ear and eye protection to ensure that they stay healthy. Guns can be piercing and can actually permanently damage your hearing if your ears are not covered. Moreover, eyes can equally be damaged if debris flies into them.

6. Protect Dogs

Dogs are a hunter’s greatest companion, and this means they should be kept just as safe as humans. Do not let dogs off a leash in heavily forested areas where you can’t see them far away. Also, avoid letting them run loose when you know other hunters are nearby and could accidentally shoot your dog. Dogs get excited during a hunt, so it is important to be their extra eyes and ears and extend them the same safety precautions as you would to yourself.

7. Practice Tree Safety

Hunters who hide in trees face one of the most dangerous positions. Therefore, ensure that you are always wearing a harness while in the tree in case of a fall. And, using hunter binoculars, look around from the top of the tree where you are sitting, so you are aware of your surroundings below. The last thing you want is to have a mama bear come climbing up to protect the bear cub.

8. Plan the Hunt and Tell Someone

Carefully plan your hunting route and let a loved one know where you will be, who you will be with, what number they can reach you at when you plan to return home. This way, if you do not show up and are in danger, someone will know where you are.

9. Check Over Equipment

Before heading out the door on a hunting trip, thoroughly check over all weapons to make sure they are in perfect condition with no malfunctions. You do not want to get to your destination only to realize that a shotgun is not functioning properly or that you have forgotten to pack a certain piece of equipment. Please watch the video below for firearm safety tips.

10. Enroll in a Safety Course

No matter how experienced you may be, taking a firearm safety course and hunting safety course is a helpful idea that refreshes the basic and provides you with any new important information. Beginning hunters should absolutely take a hunting course so that they know what to be aware of before heading outdoors. Hunting courses are usually available to take in almost every city around the country.
