Florida Hunter Safety Module 7 Hunting Safety

Rules of Firearm Safety

1. Keep the Muzzle Pointed in a Safe Direction 2. Treat Every Firearm as if it Were Loaded 3. Check the Barrel and Action for Obstructions 4. Be Sure of Your Target, In Front and Beyond, and 5. Keep Your Finger off the Trigger 6. Keep Firearms Unloaded Until Ready to Hunt 7. Only point the muzzle at something when you intend to take a shot 8. Unload before jumping, running, or climbing 9. Never Shoot in the Direction of Rocks and Water

Causes of Watercraft Hunting Incidents

1. Not following proper firearm safety and handling rules 2. Standing in watercraft while shooting 3. Not wearing an approved personal flotation device 4. Slipping or falling when entering or exiting watercraft 5. Not knowing the safety rules for safe watercraft handling

Watercraft Safety Rules

1. Plan your route 2. Examine your craft and licensing requirements 3. Make sure you have all required safety equipment and evenly distribute equipment in the boat 4. Safely transport firearms in watercraft ( all firearms transported in any watercraft should be unloaded, actions open, cased and pointed in a safe direction.) 5. Safely board a watercraft (place all of the firearms and equipment in the watercraft before boarding. Also be sure to put on your PFD before boarding. For groups, start by having one hunter board the watercraft while a second holds and steadies the watercraft. Once the first hunter is seated, the other can hand over all firearms and equipment for stowing.)

Causes of Firearm Handling Incidents

1. Pointing the Muzzle of a firearm at someone 2. Not identifying a target carefully and what lies beyond it. 3. Not keeping finger out of trigger guard and off trigger until ready to shoot. 4. Assuming that a firearm is unloaded and not handling it safely. 5. Stumbling or falling while carrying a loaded firearm 6. Falling while climbing into/out of position 7. Assuming that a firearm is unloaded when crossing a fence 8. Jumping over a ditch or creek with a loaded firearm 9. Transporting a loaded firearm in a motorized vehicle 10. Swinging out of a safe zone of fire into another hunter's zone.

Crossing a Fence with Another Person

1. Unload all firearms first. Stand back-to-back with your partner while unloading. Pass your firearm to the other hunter with the action open and visible. 2. Once the second hunter is safely holding both firearms, the first hunter may cross the fence. 3. Once safely across, the unloaded firearms are handed to the hunter who has crossed the fence. The muzzle should always be pointed in a safe direction. 4. With the muzzles still pointing in a safe direction, the second hunter can now cross the fence. 5. Now that you've safely crossed, check your firearm's barrel for obstructions, load the firearm while standing back to back with your partner, engage the safety and continue your hunt.

Crossing a Fence Alone

1. Unload your firearm 2. While protecting the muzzle from debris, place your firearm on the ground with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction away from where you plan to cross the fence. 3. Cross the fence away from the muzzle, retrieve your firearm, check the barrel for obstructions, load, engage the safety and continue your hunt.

Watercraft Safety Rules Continued

6. Observe and Respect Zones of Fire in a Watercraft 7. Pack Appropriate Clothing to stay warm and dry 8. Tie Down Equipment in the Watercraft 9. Exit All Watercraft Safely 10. Know What to do if Your Watercraft Capsizes (Stay with it, most boats remain buoyant even when full of water. If you have a whistle connected to your Personal Flotation Device, use it to signal another person. If you are planning on hunting on or around water, you owe it to yourself to learn how to swim - it could save your life. If you are not very far from shore, slowly make your way back to shore. Get warm and dry fast.)

Sling Carry

Attach a sling, making sure it fits, and place the rifle over your shoulder while grasping the sling with your hand. This is a great carry when traveling over long distances. If you bend over to pick up an object, remember that the muzzle is now pointed in front of you.

Turkey Hunter

Both turkeys and waterfowl have great eyesight. The smallest movement can spook them. Facemasks are often used to cover any bare skin. Use a camouflage that blends with the habitat where you are hunting.

Cold Wear Protection Gear

Floater suit - a full nose-to-toes PFD An anti-exposure worksuit - a PFD with a thermal protection rating A dry suit - used in conjunction with a PFD and a thermal liner A wet suit - traps and heats water against your body An immersion suit - used in extreme conditions (usually off-shore)

Surviving Coldwater

If rescue is not imminent: -If you can, climb onto your capsized boat or something to get out of the water. -If the shore is near, try to swim to it but be sure not to stand up where there is a current. If rescue is imminent: -you should conserve energy and body heat. You may extend your survival time by wearing your lifejacket. -H.E.L.P. - 'heat escape lessening posture.' You want to keep as much body heat as possible from escaping. If you are alone, cross your arms tightly against the chest and bring your knees up close to the chest - If other passengers are in the water as well, use the 'Huddle' technique to maintain body heat. Get the sides of everyone's chest close together with arms around the back and legs intertwined.

Safe Zones of Fire

If there are other hunters to the left and/or right on you, hold your arms out in front of you at a 45-degree angle. Your safe zone of fire is the space between your outstretched arms. It is important that you never swing the muzzle out of this zone of fire.

Hunter Responsibilities

It is a hunter's responsibility to complete their hunter safety certification and purchase any required hunting license and permits before going on the hunt. Be aware of local hunting laws and regulations. Remember, those laws and regulations can change from year to year!

Shoulder Carry

One hand is holding the firearm's grip, barrel resting on your shoulder and the muzzle is pointed behind you. Only use this type of carry if you are absolutely certain that no one is behind you.

Elbow Carry

Place the butt of the firearm in your armpit and let the forearm of the firearm rest on your arm. The muzzle is pointed down and in front of you. This is also a very comfortable position but does not give you very good control of the muzzle. Remember that when you turn right or left, the muzzle will follow you.

Cradle Carry

Placing the firearm across your chest, rest its action in the bend of your arm. Next, grasp the butt of the firearm with your other hand or cover the trigger guard. It's a very comfortable position. If there is another hunter walking beside you, make sure that each muzzle is pointed in a safe direction

Two-Hand Carry

Provides the best control of the firearm. One hand holds the firearm's grip and the other is on the forearm of the firearm. This is sometimes referred to as the ready carry. It gives the hunter the best control of the muzzle, and the firearm can be shouldered quickly.

Stages of Coldwater Immersion

Stage 1: body's initial reaction is a gasp reflex, which can included hyperventilation and muscle spasms as well as significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure. Present 2-3 minutes of immersion. Stage 2: loss of basic motor skills after only a few minutes. Between 3-30 minutes after immersion a person's hands quickly lose strength and sensation and subsequently their ability to swim, even strong swimmers Stage 3: immersion hypothermia becomes a concern following 30+ minutes of immersion and hypothermia, a drop in body temperature below the normal level will begin to set in. The persons' overall body temperature will continue to drop until it reaches the same temperature as the water. As the body's core temperature falls, a person will eventually lapse into unconsciousness. Stage 4: Post Rescue Collapse results from a drop in blood pressure which may lead a person to become unconscious or to stop breathing at the point of rescue or up to several hours afterward.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

Type I Offshore Life Jacket - all water; rough and remote Type II Near-Shore Buoyant Vest - calm, inland water Type III Flotation Aid - calm- inland water Type IV Throwable Device - required on-board watercraft

Camouflage PFDs

Type III Flotation Aid (jacket) Type III Flotation Aid Sportsman Coat Type III Inflatable Flotation Aid Type III Flotation Aid Sportsman Suit (thermal protection)

Al Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Safety

Use proper safety equipment Only use designated trails Maintain a safe speed Safely Transport Firearms Check Local Regulations

Trail Carry

Use this carry only when no one is in front of you. Grasp the stock with one hand, just in front of the action. Ensure the muzzle is pointed away and in front of you. This positions the muzzle toward the ground but does not offer good control of the firearm. Be careful that the muzzle does not hit the ground - if it does, you have to check the barrel for an obstruction.

Coldwater Immersion Prevention

Vessel capsizing and falls overboard are the leading causes of cold water immersion. Capsizing is most often caused by overloading, poorly secured loads, improper boat handling and anchoring or loss of power/steerage.

Upland Bird Hunter

hunter orange is necessary to indicate your presence and where others are located. Chaps will help protect your legs when walking through thick brush.

Big Game Hunter

hunters are required to wear a minimum of 500 square inches of blaze orange above the waist line. Make sure blaze orange clothing is visible from all sides!