Are You A Safe Hunter?

Is there an accurate description of the person who is most likely to shoot you in a hunting accident? According to statistics there is; you need only look in a mirror. The greatest number of injuries and deaths during hunting season are self-inflicted due to carelessness.

Where are the most common crimes scenes located? According to Tim Poole, the Hunter Education Coordinator for Montana, it is in the vehicle that was driven to the hunting site. "The leading causes in our state are either having a loaded weapon in the vehicle, or loading, unloading, or carelessly handling a gun in or near the vehicle." He adds that most national hunter fatalities are caused by firearm discharges at distances of less than 10 yards.

Hunters should never carry loaded firearms in their vehicles. Poole states that carrying loaded firearms increases the chance that excited hunters will grab rifles and shotguns out of the racks to shoot at game a short distance from the road. Accidental discharges in these instances tops the list of reasons so many fatalities occur each year.

Another cause of injury and death to hunters is mistaken identity through "premature closure". "Premature closure" refers to the instance when the brain has become so focused on expecting a certain object to appear that movement or the merest glimpse of a fairly similar object causes the imagination to actually "see" the expected object, i.e., a hunter waiting for a white-tailed deer sees a flash of white in the distance and shoots, not realizing that it was the white stocking cap of an innocent bystander.

How can you cut down on these acts of negligence? While there is no absolute solution, following the three golden rules of firearm safety will help.

• Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
• Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
• Be sure of your target and beyond.