Hunter Safety

Good marksmanship

(1) Accurately and (2) Consistently hitting the target where planned. Accuracy is critical for a clean kill.

Shotgun chokes from Most open to most narrow

(1) Cylinder (2) Improved Cylinder (3) Modified Cylinder (4) Full Choke

Parts of an Arrow

(1) Shaft, (2) Fletching, (3) Arrowhead, (4) Nock

Arrow Parts

1) Arrowhead 2) shaft 3) Crest 4) Fletching 5) Nock

5 types of arrowheads

1) Broadhead, 2)Judo, 3) Field point, 4) Bullet 5) Blunt

5 elements every habitat needs

1) Food 2) Water 3) Cover 4) Space 5) Arrangement

Firing positions

1) Prone 2) Standing 3) Sitting 4) Kneeling

When you kill a deer you should do the following in this order..

1) Report/Record the kill according to state requirements 2) field dress the animal 3) transport back to camp/home.

Four behaviors of a responsible hunter

1) Treating Landowners with courtesy 2) Being Respectful of Wildlife 3) Waiting for a clean kill 4) Being Respectful of others

When your firearm should be loaded

1) When approaching downed game. 2) When calling or stalking game.

If you drop your gun, what should you do first to check for an obstruction.

1) point muzzle in safe direction 2) look down barrel from action end.

International Sign of distress

3 of any signal evenly spaced

Wad

A seal and /shot container made of paper or plastic separating the powder from the slug or shot in the shotshell. The wad prevents gas from escaping through the shot and holds the shot together as it pass through the barrel.

Three Basic Parts of a Firearm

Action, Stock, Barrel

Keep meat cold

After harvesting a deer keep meet cold to prevent growth of harmful bacteria.

Storing Broadheads

Always store broadhead arrows in a covered quill.

Primer

An explosive chemical compound that ignites the gunpowder when struck by a firing pin. Primer may be placed either in the rim of the case (rimfire) or in the center of the base of the case (centerfire).

Broadhead

Broadhead arrowheads are the only type of arrowhead that may be used for hunting big game

Basic Components of Ammunition

Case, Primer, Gunpowder, Projectiles, Wad (shotgun shells)

Rifling

Causes the bullet to spin as it passes through the barrel.

Gunpowder

Chemical mixture that burns rapidly and converts to expanding gas when ignited.

Dry Fire

Drawing and releasing your bow string without an arrow.

How to prevent heat exhaustion

Drink plenty of water Take frequent breaks while hiking (especially if you have a large load) Dress in layers and shed some as activity increases.

Drinking Water

Even in cool weather you need two to four quarts of water per day. Under most conditions humans can only survive for 3 days without water.

Storing your firearms...

Firearms must be stored unloaded and in a locked location, separate from ammunition. The storage area should be cool, clean, and dry.

Vital Organs

Heart & Lungs, These areas also contain major blood vessels and arteries

Why Hunter Education 3?

Hunter education strives to instill responsibility, improve skills and knowledge, and encourage the involvement of beginner and veteran hunters. Responsible, ethical behavior and personal involvement are both essential to the survival of hunting.

Magazine

In repeating firearms, the magazine is the place that stores the ammunition that has not been fired. When you work the action, a cartridge is picked up form the magazine and placed in the chamber ready to be fired.

What does involvement include?

Involvement includes teaching others, working with landowners, and cooperating with game wardens. It also includes joining conservation organizations.

On Muzzle Loaders

Locks played the role of the modern-day actions.

Fletching

Plastic vanes or feathers on arrows that create wind drag and causes arrows to spin in flight like a bullet. One feather is always colored differently (cock feather) and the others are called (hen feathers).

The steadiest shooting position

Prone

The most important safety aspect for hunting from a tree stand.

Properly using a FAS (Fall Arrest System).

Suspension Relief strap

Provides a loop to stand in if you fall out of stand and are suspended in air.

Always match firearms and ammunition correctly..

Read both the caliber or gauge designation on the side of the barrel and on the cartridges or shells to ensure a match. Read the label on the box of ammunition always. For shotgun shells carefully read the length of the chamber also for which shells it can take.

Safety

Safeties are mechanical and can fail.

Accuracy can sometime be improved by

Shooting with both eyes open.

Gauge

Shotguns are classified by gauge - a measure related to the diameter of the smooth shotgun bore and the size of shotshell designed for that bore.

Rear End Shots

Should NEVER be taken.

When making a "hunting plan" you should always

Tell others where, when, and with whom you are hunting and when you expect to return.

Barrel

The Barrel is the metal tube that the projectile travels through (bullets travel through the barrels of rifles and handguns; shot travels through the barrel of shotguns)

Pittman - Robertson Act of 1937

The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, popularly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, was approved by congress in 1937. The Act provides funding for the selection, restoration, and improvement of wildlife habitat, and for wildlife management research. The Act was amended in 1970 to include funding for hunter education programs and for the development and operation of public target ranges.

Action

The action is the heart of the firearm-the moving parts that (1)loads, (2)fires, and (3)ejects the shells or cartridges. Several types of actions are used in modern firearms. Muzzleloaders have locks instead of actions.

Zone of fire

The area in which a hunter can shoot safely when hunting in groups.

Case

The container that holds all the other ammunition components together. It is usually made of brass, steel, copper, paper, or plastic

Shotgun Choke

The degree of narrowing at the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel.

Carrying Capacity

The number of animals that a habitat can sustain throughout the year without damage to the animals of to the habitat.

Hypothermia

The number one cause of outdoor fatalities.

Projectile

The objects expelled from the barrel. ( bullet, slug, shot)

How a firearm works

The same physical process is used to shoot shotshells from shotguns or cartridges from rifles and handguns. Pulling the trigger causes the firing pin to strike and explode the primer in the base of the cartridge or shotshell. The spark from the primer ignites the gunpowder, which burns rapidly and converts to gas. The gas rapidly expands and drives the projectile(s) through the barrel with great force.

Stock

The stock serves as the handle of the firearm. It can be composed of one or two pieces and is usually made of wood or a synthetic material.

Why Hunter Education 2?

To ensure the continuation of the hunting tradition.

Why Hunter Education 1?

To produce responsible, knowledgable, and involved hunters - hunters who understand the importance of complying with hunting laws and behaving ethically.

Trigger Squeeze

To squeeze the trigger without jarring the gun, simply apply slow, steady pressure until the gun fires. (It should surprise you)

Hunter Education funding sources include

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Wildlife Agencies, Non-governmental organizations (ducks unlimited, NRA, etc.)

Shouldering a Shotgun

When you bring the shotgun to your shoulder, the stock should be brought to your cheek first and then back to your shoulder.

Hunter Ethics

While hunting laws preserve wildlife, ethics preserve the hunter's opportunity to hunt.

When cleaning your gun

always point the muzzle in a safe direction and ensure that it is unloaded.

How to show respect for others

ask landowners permission don't display your trophies grotesquely don't litter don't disturb another hunter's hunt.

Most Bow Shots are taken

at less than 20 yards.

A prepared hunter will always

carry a complete first aid kit.

Elevated Stands

conceal the hunter ABOVE the level of the quarry.

Hunting laws

conserve wildlife for future generations

Most important clothing aspect

daylight florescent orange outerwear.

Always point

muzzle in safe direction.

The two handed ready carry

provides the best control of the firearm.

Hunting accidents happen most often when

the muzzle is pointed un an unsafe direction

Sight alignment

the process of lining up rear and front sights at a specific range.

Caliber

the size of the rifle or handgun bore and the size of cartridges designed for different bores.

Wildlife conservation's goal is

to ensure the wise use and management of renewable resources.

Most tree stand falls occur

when climbing up or down a tree.

Knowing your quarry...

will increase your success and add to the enjoyment of the experience as well.