Good Hunting Practices
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to cover some good hunting practices for hunting. We are going to cover a variety of things one can bring with them on a hunt to optimize their experience and ensure that game is dispatched humanely. Without further ado, let’s go over good hunting practices.
Observe Rules of Firearms Safety
When hunting, or handling firearms in any setting, one should observe safe firearm handling practices. These practices are commonly enumerated as four major rules for gun safety.
These are the four rules for firearms safety
as outlined by the NSSF:
- Always Keep Firearms Pointed in a Safe Direction
- Treat All Guns as Though They are Loaded
- Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger until You are Ready to Shoot
- Always Be Sure of Your Target and What’s Beyond It
If these foundational safety rules are adhered to, one is setting themselves for a safe hunt. Additionally, hunters and shooters should refrain from any drug or alcohol use before handling firearms.
Wear Orange/High Visibility Clothing
Wearing high visibility, orange clothing is also a great practice when hunting. Clothing of this type is typically found in the form of vests and hats. By doing so, one makes themselves more visible to other hunters in the field. This is done to reduce the likelihood of being shot by another hunter. Unfortunately, there have been many instances of hunters taking shots at any perceived movement in the field, only to hit another hunter. By utilizing an orange vest and other articles of clothing, one can seek to limit this potentiality. As always, one should ensure that they are aware of their target and surrounds, only pulling the trigger when sighted on something they intend to kill.
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Protect Your Eyes
When firearms are involved, one should always utilize eye protection. The need for eye protection is just as important in the field as it is on range. In the field, one may need to contend with brush and brambles, meaning one can potentially be exposed to things like sharp branches and thistles.
Hearing Protection
One should also strive to protect their hearing any time they are shooting firearms, with hunting being no exception. In the past, many hunters would forgo the use of ear protection in order to better hear their fellow hunters and listen for auditory cues from the game they were pursuing. By not using ear protection, shooters subject themselves to the immediate and permanent hearing loss. With modern ear protection offerings, one can take advantage of electronic ear protection which will aid in amplifying sound. The sound amplification qualities of many electronic ear protection offerings aid shooters in hearing game without having to risk their hearing. Hunters do not have to compromise between protecting their ears and being able to hear with modern electronic ear protection.
Bring an Appropriate Firearm
One should ensure that they bring an appropriate firearm for the game they are pursuing. Different types of firearms are good for different game. For example, rifles are well-suited for larger game such as elk while shotguns are suitable for various types of winged game. Additionally, some calibers are more suitable for certain game than others. For example, .22 Long Rifle ammunition is well-suited for hunting small game while larger sized game is best taken with larger calibers such as .30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester.
Bring Appropriate Ammunition
Like firearms, one should ensure that one brings appropriate ammunition with them on their hunt. One should seek ammunition which functions reliably with their chosen firearm as a nonfunctional firearm will not serve you well in the field. With modern ammunition offerings, one will be able to select loadings optimized specifically for hunting use cases. This holds true across pistol, rifle, shotgun, and rimfire ammo offerings. By choosing an optimized loading, you are selecting ammo which aids in ethically dispatching game.
Hydration and Food
Provisions in the way of hydration and food should always be on one’s mind when going into the field. Hydration is particularly important if you are walking around in the field all day. One can accomplish this by carrying water bottles, a canteen, or by making use of a Camelbak. Camelbak hydration solutions are especially useful as the hydration bladder is worn on one’s person and easily accessed by the unit’s tube. The hydration tube of a Camelbak can be tethered or routed through backpack straps, placing it well within reach of a hunter. Simply put, it would be wise to have some means to feed and hydrate oneself when out in the field.
Comfortable Footwear
If one sees themselves walking around and moving a lot while hunting, appropriate and comfortable footwear is a must. Even if you are doing some more stationary hunting, it is still worth having comfortable footwear which is built for austere conditions. Appropriate footwear will aid in providing sufficient traction and support on the various types of terrain one will encounter.
Medical Supplies
Medical supplies are also essential in the field. There are many opportunities for injury during a hunt, one should prepare accordingly and have appropriate medical supplies on hand. In this day and age, one can find a wide variety of medical supplies and kits available on the market. Specifically, there are many first aid kits which are incredibly portable and efficient for their size. These can easily be packed away in one’s gear or even worn on one’s person for easy access.
A Means to Clean Game
When hunting, one should carry a means to clean and process game on their person. This can be accomplished by a sharp
knife or blade. These forms of cutlery are available in a variety of configurations such as fixed blade or folding
knives. Additionally, one may want to carry a pair of scissors for cutting the wings off of recovered game. With a good
knife and pair of scissors, one will be able to easily process game expediently and efficiently.
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A Way to Carry Game
Of course, one will need a reliable and efficient way to carry the game they recover in the field. If you are hunting upland game, many vests implement a means to store recovered game on one’s person, essentially acting as a game bag. Other tools such as game stringers are an efficient means to haul game that has been recovered in the field. Like the name suggests, game stringers can be used to string up multiple animals for ease of carrying. Additionally, one can employ something such as a bucket to carry game. Game bags can also be employed to carry recovered game in the field. Of course, one can carry game themselves if their gear load permits.
Be Aware of Regulations
As with any type of hunting, one should always check the regulations and rules for their hunt and area. Some areas require lead-free ammunition, meaning that those caught with lead ammo in these areas will be subjected to consequences such as fines. There are also regulations regarding specifically when and where one can hunt. Regulations can vary widely depending on where you are hunting. Additionally, local, state, and federal regulations may apply for your specific circumstance. These regulations can also be subject to change, meaning that one should ensure that their knowledge is current.
Conclusion
All in all, this covers many good hunting practices. Of course, specific types of hunting may require specific tools and equipment for their use case. By sticking to these recommendations, one will ensure that they will have a safe hunt which is optimal and ethical. If you are going into the field and need ammunition, we here at True Shot Ammo offer a wide range of ammunition for sale. These offerings encompass specialized loadings and are available in individual boxes and in bulk ammo offerings. Whether you are after shotgun ammo or need to buy ammo of a different type, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
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