It’s easy to get carried away by the excitement of hunting. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or a novice, it’s important to remember that overconfidence can lead to poor safety. There are many ways to prepare for your next hunting trip that will keep you safe and get you back home to your family.
1. Know Your Firearm Well
Before you go out hunting, you must have the necessary knowledge about how to carry your gun safely. This includes learning how to load and set it up properly. Another important aspect of this is to practice shooting it inside a controlled environment before you head out into the wild. If you plan to shoot at night, you need to consider adding a mounted light to your gun. When considering a weapon mounted light vs handheld lights, the mounted option will allow you to keep more control of your weapon.
2. Be Vigilant About Firearm Safety
Most of the accidents that occur during hunting trips are caused by careless handling of a firearm. Even if you’ve been on many trips, practicing proper firearm safety and talking to others about it will help prevent getting injured.
Basic tips for firearm safety:
•Handle every gun like it is loaded.
•Unless you are about to shoot, keep your finger away from the trigger.
•Never point the firearm at a person.
•Keep the firearm’s safety on until you are ready to fire.
•Be completely sure of your target.
•Be aware of what may be behind your target before shooting.
3. Keep Your Phone On You
More hunting-related injuries and deaths occur due to tree-stand falls than firearm safety. If you’re not carrying your phone with you, you’ll not be able to call for help if you fall from your stand and get injured. This is why it’s important to keep your phone inside your pocket. If you are hunting with a friend, both of you should keep your phones handy in case of an emergency.
4. Use a Harness in Tree Stands
While using a tree stand to hunt, wear a full-body harness. Never remove your harness while you’re ascending or climbing from a tree stand. This is because this practice can lead to an accident. It’s important to keep the harness secure at all times.
5. Keep Your Tree Stand in Good Condition
You must regularly inspect your tree stand to make sure that it’s in good condition. Doing so will allow you to avoid getting injured. To keep from getting hurt, it’s important to have at least one other person present when you perform repairs.
6. Let Other Hunters Know You’re There
You should always be aware of other hunters in your area to create a safe hunting environment. This can be done by wearing brightly colored clothing or wearing bright hunting equipment such as hats and vests. You should also raise your voice whenever other hunters are around you and when you’re walking in the area.
7. Check the Weather Forecast Before Leaving
If you’re not prepared for the unexpected snowstorm that may occur during your hunting trip, you might get stuck in it and suffer from hypothermia. Before you leave your house, make sure that the weather forecast is not predicting severe storms for your area. To avoid freezing in the cold weather, make sure that you wear multiple layers of clothing.
8. Understand Hunting Season and What Land You Can Hunt On
Before you start planning your hunting trip, make sure that you’re in the season that’s right for you. Depending on the state where you live, the hunting season may vary. To ensure that you’ll be able to hunt legally, apply for the proper license.
9. Plan Your Trip
A trip plan is important and needs to be told to at least one other person. This should include the time and place where you’re going to be staying and the details of your equipment. It’s also a good idea to provide other details such as the type of food that you’ll be carrying and the contact information of the people who will be helping you.
Final Thoughts
Although it’s normal to be excited about hunting, it’s important to take the necessary safety precautions to ensure that you and your companions are protected. This can be accomplished by being cautious while out hunting. Having the proper safety practices can help keep you and your companions safe.