Hunting is one of the sports that use firearms, and therefore, a lot of people take hunting to be a dangerous activity.
But how dangerous is hunting and are firearms a number one problem?
They’re not! In fact, most hunting injuries are non-firearm related, but nevertheless, you should still stay safe when hunting.
Therefore, in this post, I’ll be sharing some of the best tips on how to stay safe while hunting, but also how to keep everyone around you safe too.
Whether you grab a cup of coffee and sit down or you read this on the mobile phone as you go – make sure to read it until the end to gain as much knowledge as possible!
How Dangerous is Hunting?
It’s true, hunters get killed during hunting. Accidents happen but there is always a way to prevent them.
Hunting is often considered to be a dangerous activity. Most people who aren’t hunters will blame the firearms.
However, hunting isn’t only dangerous because of firearms. In fact, the fewest accidents happen due to the firearms and yet most accidents happen in other hunting situations.
Therefore, the reality is a bit different than the predictions from non-hunters.
Fewer than 1,000 hunters in the US & Canada are accidentally shot by other hunters. Only about 75 and fewer are fatalities – according to the International Hunter Education Association. However, what’s interesting is that most fatalities are self-inflicted (etc. by a hunter who trips, falls, or has an accident that involves his firearm).
And when you compare this type of accidents with accidents that don’t involve firearms – you’ll actually be able to notice how firearms aren’t really the cause of danger.
Most accidents that involve hunters happen in motor vehicle crashes, falls from hunting blinds, or even from drowning or from a lightning strike.
International Hunter Education Association did research that clearly shows how there are bigger chances of accidentally drowning than being hurt by a firearm during a hunting trip.
However, don’t let these statistics fool you into thinking hunting isn’t dangerous. Since hunting is a very active sport – it is dangerous and accidents can happen whether they involve firearms or not.
Therefore, better make sure you stay safe! And in order to stay safe – keep on reading to find out my best tips for hunters (of all experience and background).
How to Stay Safe When Hunting – Most Important Hunting Safety Tips
Firearm Safety Tips
Firearm accidents happen, not as often as people think – but they do happen, and they can happen to anyone. Don’t underestimate your firearm and never stop using it with caution. That’s why I am starting off with the firearm safety tips in order to raise awareness before we jump into other hunting safety tips.
- Keep your firearm barrel pointed in a safe direction and always keep it unloaded when not in use
You should never rely on your firearm’s safety. Instead, you should always ensure it’s pointing in a safe direction, whether it’s loaded or not.
When you’re not using your rifle, you should always unload it. It only takes seconds and you will always be able to rest assured knowing you and everyone around you is safe.
- Use proper ammunition and be aware of your target’s background
Spotting your prized possession can be an exciting moment, but you should always ensure that you’re safe to fire a shot. Therefore, you should always look further than your prey and make sure there is no one in the prey’s background before taking a shot.
Using proper ammunition is really important – and if you don’t know which ammunition to use, make sure to check my other article where I explain these things in detail.
- Treat a misfired gun as it could fire at any moment
Gun that misfires is a very dangerous gun and it could lead to a lot of different injuries and accidents. If your gun misfires, you should treat it as it could fire at any given moment – which requires you to point it into a safe direction before proceeding.
- Always unload rifles before riding in any type of vehicle
The worst mistake you can make with your firearm is keeping it loaded while riding in any type of vehicle, whether it’s an ATV or an electric hunting bike. This could lead to unintentional shots that could lead to all sorts of accidents.
- Never climb or cross fences with a loaded gun
I know this can seem like a hassle, but no matter how agile you are – you would want to stay on the safe side and unload the gun before proceeding climbing or jumping fences. It takes only a couple of seconds and yet it could save you, or someone around you, life.
Hunting & Other Safety Tips
- Wisely choose a tree before climbing and always use a high-quality safety harness
Don’t rush the tree selection, yet instead, always go for a tree that’s alive & healthy without any rot or damage to it.
When you’re hunting from the tree, you should always use a safety harness. Most hunting accidents happen by hunters falling from the trees or hunting blinds resulting in neck & back injuries that can be even deadly or life-changing.
- Never climb with anything in your hands – use a haul line
Even if your gun is unloaded, you shouldn’t climb with it. Instead, get yourself a quality haul line to pull things up for you so you can have both hands free when climbing. This drastically increases your safety.
- Be aware of slippery and hazardous conditions
Whether it’s rain, snow, or ice – you can experience slippery and hazardous conditions that can be very dangerous when you’re climbing. Always plan your steps ahead and make sure you’re secured with the help of a safety harness.
Conclusion
Even though most hunting accidents aren’t related to firearm, and yet are most of the time related to climbing – it’s still important to take proper care of both.
Never underestimate your rifle and never underestimate or take chances when you’re climbing, crossing, or moving.
What are some of the worst hunting mistakes you’ve made? Have you found anything useful among these hunting safety tips that will help you the next time you go hunting?
Feel free to leave a comment down below!
