Applying hunting safety tips to your time spent outdoors is essential for all hunters.
The drop in temperatures and falling leaves is the signal all hunters eagerly await. Whether you are accomplished in the sport, a novice, or simply enjoy the great outdoors, everyone can use tips for hunting. Safety is, and should always be, the highest priority.
By nature, hunting poses many threats and should not be taken lightly. Every year, there are thousands of hunting-related injuries, many of which are entirely preventable. The last thing any hunter wants on their long-awaited adventure is an unexpected trip to the hospital or worse.
Hunters and their guests can avoid these accidents by practicing caution and implementing these helpful hunting safety tips. Continue reading below.
6 safety tips for hunting
Hunting is a thrilling adventure, but it also comes with great responsibility. There are many safety precautions that every hunter should implement to ensure a safe, successful hunt:
Always implement gun safety practices
While gun safety may seem obvious, it is one of the most crucial aspects of hunting. Holding and using a firearm entails numerous responsibilities. As a hunter carrying a gun, your number one priority must be safety. Here are some gun and hunting safety tips to keep in mind:
- Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Even when you are 100% sure it is not loaded, act as though it is at all times.
- Always utilize the safety lock feature on your firearm.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
- Before firing, clearly identify your target and all that is beyond it.
- Only aim your firearm at what you plan to shoot. Keep your gun pointing toward the ground.
- You should only load your gun when you are ready to fire; only then should you pull the trigger.
Always wear blaze orange
As the hunting season settles in, it’s important to remember that you are likely not the only hunter in the backcountry. Even if you are hunting on private land, wearing blaze orange can protect everyone against unfortunate accidents.
Animals like deer do not see the wavelengths of orange; rather, they see the color as a muted grey or brown. Humans, however, are able to spot it easily and help keep hunters safe from others hunting on the same mountainside.
Know basic hunting first aid skills
All hunters should consider taking a first aid class before a hunting trip. Burns, scrapes, and broken bones are common injuries that can occur during a hunt. Having a basic understanding of what to do in the event of an injury matters. In more intense cases, it’s also wise to know how to manage injuries like gunshot wounds and animal attacks.
Among the items you pack, bring a basic hunting first aid kit, complete with a gunshot wound kit. If you and your companions practice common-sense safety skills, you likely won’t need to use the first aid kit. But you don’t want to be in the backcountry, unable to stop severe bleeding in an emergency.
Remember tree hunting safety
Hunting from a tree offers hunters several benefits, including an ideal vantage point, enhanced safety for other hunters, and protection against detection. Even if a deer notices your scent, these animals rarely look above their eye level. However, tree stands can also be dangerous.
If you decide to use a tree stand, read the user manual carefully and thoroughly, always use it as directed, and consider wearing a safety harness to avoid any mishaps that could send you plummeting to the leaf-covered ground below.
Never hunt alone
Hunting is an exciting sport, but it is also dangerous and involves unknowns. Because of this, it is wise to always bring at least one other person with you.
Hunting alone does not give you the safety net of being with another person. You don’t get another set of eyes or extra strength.
When you hunt together, you can help each other if someone gets injured. If you are unable to bring a friend along or really want to go by yourself, make sure someone knows where you’ll be, the routes you’ll take, and when to expect you home or to check back in.
Even if you are with a group, it’s good practice to share your hunting plan with someone at home.
Remember common-sense safety rules
Hunting is a lot of fun but can turn ugly in the blink of an eye if you’re not careful. Here are a few more things to remember as you head to the hills this hunting season:
- Check the weather report in the areas where you are hunting before you go.
- Never use drugs or alcohol that could impair judgment before or while hunting.
- Bring plenty of water, food, and dry clothing.
- Store your firearms and ammo separately in locked compartments when not in use.
- Use your guns cautiously around hard, flat surfaces, since these could cause bullets to ricochet.
Need more tips for hunting? R&K Hunting Company is here to help.
Hunters are only as successful as they are safe on their hunting adventure, making applying these hunting safety tips essential. Between gun safety, wearing blaze orange, knowing hunting first aid, and tree safety, there’s only one more thing that will improve your hunting experience: partnering with R&K Hunting Company.
Our team of expert guides is here to offer you unmatched knowledge of wildlife behavior, the terrain, and proven strategies and practices for success.
Whether you’re stepping onto the mountain for the first time for your very first season or you are an experienced hunter honing your skills and broadening your experiences, the R&K professionals offer more than guidance. Our team delivers access, advice, and a hunting adventure you will remember for a lifetime.
Book with R&K Hunting Company today!