what method and condition do you carry?

[Ice-Pick]

Don't hunt now, carry in a locked case to the firing line.
Used to hunt and kept it loaded / safe and across my arm pointed to the ground depending on terrain.

M.

 

[Wrong Way]

Huh...looks like the holier than thou club have spoken.....

As far as carrying in condition one, if you follow the #1 and #2 rules of hunter safety, even IF the gun "went off by itself" all it would do is make a bang....problem is that too many guys rely on their "safety" and ignore #1 and 2

Treat every gun as if it were loaded (especially if it is!)
Safe Muzzle Direction

I would MUCH rather be hunting with a guy who is cocked and locked and anal about muzzle direction than the safety nazis and morons I see out there sweeping people "but it's OK because the safety is on"

A safety is a mechanical device, designed to block the trigger or the hammer....and it can fail. If it comes down to trusting a multi-linked mechanical device or simply using your noodle, I'll pass on the mechanical device.

BTW, does it actually say anything about walking with a loaded rifle, beyod safe carry positions (see rule #2) in the course(s)? Or is this just more "I'm smarter/better/safer than you because I do this" bull#### that is akin to nothing more than extra "self imposed rules" and soap boxing?

Just curious.....

 

[lone-wolf]

If A person pointed a firearm at me, loaded, I'd never hunt with them again.

A round in the chamber because my family always tell me to.
"You always see a deer when you don't expect to"
They also tell me not to rely on safeties.

 

[CptnBlues63]

Can deer hear the chambering of a round? I am going hunting for the first time this fall, and chambering the first round is rather loud on my rifle.

Yes.

They can hear a safety being flicked off too if you're close enough. Had a mulie perk up it's ears, lift it's head and look at me from about 60 yards away just last fall at the sound of my tang safety sliding into the "fire" position. Keep in mind, it was a very calm, quiet day and in the cold, sound does carry a lot farther than on a warm day.

Deer can also hear the sound of your truck door closing so always push them gently closed so the 'click' is as inaudible as you can make it. Also, turning off the truck will cause most deer (most especially whitetail) run away so don't turn it off until after you've made your shot.

I don't spend a whole lot of time walking or pushing bush these days. After having had surgery on both knees now, they're not up to it. So I slide the mag in and chamber a round and slip the safety on after I get out of the truck.

Once I'm in position and ready to fire, safety comes off. I don't rely on a safety, but I definitely use it.

Muzzle control is #1 and anybody who thinks otherwise is a fool.

 

[Mike Webb]

Huh...looks like the holier than thou club have spoken.....

As far as carrying in condition one, if you follow the #1 and #2 rules of hunter safety, even IF the gun "went off by itself" all it would do is make a bang....problem is that too many guys rely on their "safety" and ignore #1 and 2

Treat every gun as if it were loaded (especially if it is!)
Safe Muzzle Direction

I would MUCH rather be hunting with a guy who is cocked and locked and anal about muzzle direction than the safety nazis and morons I see out there sweeping people "but it's OK because the safety is on"

A safety is a mechanical device, designed to block the trigger or the hammer....and it can fail. If it comes down to trusting a multi-linked mechanical device or simply using your noodle, I'll pass on the mechanical device.

BTW, does it actually say anything about walking with a loaded rifle, beyod safe carry positions (see rule #2) in the course(s)? Or is this just more "I'm smarter/better/safer than you because I do this" bulls**t that is akin to nothing more than extra "self imposed rules" and soap boxing?

Just curious.....

Personally I don't feel I'm being holier than thou, it's just common sense ,man.
I said a safety is only part of intelligent gun handling but if you have a round chambered and are not in the act of firing the safety should be on.
My earlier post said that muzzle control was just as important but IT'S INSANE to walk through the woods with a round chambered and the safety off, that's not just my opinion, it's in every hunter safety course I've ever seen. As well, none of the people I've hunted with have exhibited this behaviour.
You guys can do whatever you like but I think it reflects badly on the gun community as a whole and we get enough bad press as it is.
And I hope you never have to face a friends family and explain how you shot their loved one.

 

[Hawes]

Not just explaining it to the family of the guy you shot, but also the cops. I am in no way a lawyer, but I can't see the cops being too easy on a guy that wasn't being as safe as possible with a firearm while hunting. I'm betting that the crowd that says it's fine to carry without a safety engaged will be telling the cops "I don't know what happened, the gun just went off.....of course I had the safety on!"

 

[savagefan]

Can deer hear the chambering of a round? I am going hunting for the first time this fall, and chambering the first round is rather loud on my rifle.

I spooked a deer with the sound of me flicking off my safety on a Winchester Mod 70. I was used to the silent Lee-Enfield unit before that. Lesson learned sold the Win, bought a Savage.

 

[savagefan]

I too was suspicious that there were more than a couple folks that carried with a loaded chamber, cocked, no safety that's why I ran the poll.
The one guy I met in the woods with the winchester 30-30 chamber loaded, hammer cocked walkin the woods really scared me, and I made a point to ask him where he was hunting so I could stay well away.
Personally, I won't take one footstep in the bush in that condition, and won't hunt with anyone I know that does. For me, the act of releasing the safety as I take aim is ingrained, and doesn't slow down the shot what so ever, I don't have any valid reason to walk in the bush with round chambered, cocked, safety off. You may have a mastery of trigger finger control, but that doesn't eliminate the chance of branches, or other items on your person from finding they're way into the trigger guard and then you have an ND.

If it was half-cocked it is safe.

 

[Wrong Way]

Yup. Because we all know a branch can sneak past your guard hand and pull your trigger, but it could never click your safety.......

Anyway, can you post the relevant course material that you say "Is in every hunter safety course you've ever seen"? I'd like to see it for myself.

 

[AG]

If it was half-cocked it is safe.

No half cocked, it was fully cocked, hammer back. His reasoning when I questioned was that he missed a deer the day before because he wasn't ready enough, he would be ready the next time he jumped one. I made tracks in the opposite direction quick like.

 

[lone-wolf]

I could care less if someone else doesn't use a safety, as long as they don't be pointing the rifle at me.

This is my safety, sir.

 

[savagefan]

No half cocked, it was fully cocked, hammer back. His reasoning when I questioned was that he missed a deer the day before because he wasn't ready enough, he would be ready the next time he jumped one. I made tracks in the opposite direction quick like.

Then he's a twit and you took the right course.

 

[mosquito99]

i cant believe the number of people that walk around with the chamber loaded and the safety on. i wish i had a dollar for every rifle ive seen droped with the saftey on and there was still a click

 

[Camp Cook]

WOW who do you hang out with?

Myself I have never seen anyone drop a firearm be it loaded unloaded or freaking cased and I'm even including the kids that come along.

or is this an eastern thing?

 

[cdngunner]

locked and cocked.......

safety on

if it was good enough for me when I was in the military, its good enough for me when I go hunting.

(ps I'm east of you)

 

[Rick O'Shey]

Hi,

I didn't have time to read to the last post regarding this matter. But, what are we hunting....Rabbits, coyotes, deer, black bear, grizly. Knowing this makes a big difference how I'd carry my rifle ( in both hands and pointed in a safe direction or cradled across one arm again pointed in a safe direction and holding the grip with the other) and as far as the chamber being empty or not, if I'm "hunting", I have the weapon loaded with safety on and still pointing in a safe direction. Where I hunt, the hunting starts after I gently close the truck door but the weapon doesn't get loaded until after I've crossed the fence or walked beyond beyond the 90' mark away from the maintained road. There are too many variables here. Location, bush, prairie, pits, crown land, private land, party hunting, how many hunters per square mile, dwellings, livestock, farm machinery, etc., etc. (Verbal diarhea stops) Safety always first. If the weapon warrants being unloaded, the action will be open to be visible by myself and others and still pointed in a safe direction.
A poll regarding hunting ethics could use some more clarity.
I've been around a few hunters who think they are good role models that I wouldn't be near if they are handling a weapon because they are dangerously scarey in soooo many ways. And certainly wouldn't ask them to come hunting unless they leave their weapon at home. Hope that wasn't too over-board.

Rick O'

 

[Camp Cook]

(ps I'm east of you)

Everyone is east of me...

 

[Wrong Way]

Hi,

I didn't have time to read to the last post regarding this matter. But, what are we hunting....Rabbits, coyotes, deer, black bear, grizly. Knowing this makes a big difference how I'd carry my rifle ( in both hands and pointed in a safe direction or cradled across one arm again pointed in a safe direction and holding the grip with the other) and as far as the chamber being empty or not, if I'm "hunting", I have the weapon loaded with safety on and still pointing in a safe direction. Where I hunt, the hunting starts after I gently close the truck door but the weapon doesn't get loaded until after I've crossed the fence or walked beyond beyond the 90' mark away from the maintained road. There are too many variables here. Location, bush, prairie, pits, crown land, private land, party hunting, how many hunters per square mile, dwellings, livestock, farm machinery, etc., etc. (Verbal diarhea stops) Safety always first. If the weapon warrants being unloaded, the action will be open to be visible by myself and others and still pointed in a safe direction.
A poll regarding hunting ethics could use some more clarity.
I've been around a few hunters who think they are good role models that I wouldn't be near if they are handling a weapon. And certainly wouldn't ask them to come hunting unless they leave their weapon at home. Hope that wasn't too over-board.

Rick O'

So....you hunting Taliban there Rick? 'Cause unless you are using your firearm aginst a human being, it is NOT a weapon.

FFS, I don't know if this is the new tacticool word for hunters, but I've seen more and more people referring to everything from their Gramps 30/30 to a friggin crossbow as a "Weapon"

A weapon is a tool of combat....C7, C8, C9, LMG, GPMG, Carl G.....stuff designed to fight PEOPLE. If you are using it to hunt it is a TOOL....NOT a goddamn "weapon"

 

[cdngunner]

So....you hunting Taliban there Rick? 'Cause unless you are using your firearm aginst a human being, it is NOT a weapon.

FFS, I don't know if this is the new tacticool word for hunters, but I've seen more and more people referring to everything from their Gramps 30/30 to a friggin crossbow as a "Weapon"

A weapon is a tool of combat....C7, C8, C9, LMG, GPMG, Carl G.....stuff designed to fight PEOPLE. If you are using it to hunt it is a TOOL....NOT a goddamn "weapon"

My ####'s a weapon too!
And my wife sometimes calls me a tool!!!!!

How does that make you feel????

 

[Wrong Way]

My ####'s a weapon too!
And my wife sometimes calls me a tool!!!!!

How does that make you feel????

My ####'s a weapon too!

Talk about being undergunned.....

And my wife sometimes calls me a tool!!!!!

When she calls you "her personal cordless power hammer" check back.....

How does that make you feel????

Sorry for your wife?