Before Going Duck Hunting, Don’t Forget to Have 'The Talk'

Despite how many times we have been out in the field, it’s always a good idea to review and reflect on gun safety and handling. While our crew has spent countless mornings in the predawn setting up for the hunt, we still have a full-fledged safety talk before any guns get loaded and the action begins.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in layout blinds, pits, or A-frame setups; the same rules apply every time. Remember, this is supposed to be fun, and everyone can prevent accidents with some good old-fashioned paying attention. The items below are not in order of importance, as they are all equally serious. In our crew, failure to abide by these rules would be a great way to avoid getting invited back on more hunts.

Safety On

It should go without saying (but you’d be surprised) that guns should always be on safety unless you’re pointing it safely at a bird and are about to shoot. When the shot is called, and everyone begins to stand or sit up, everyone’s guns must get out of and clear the blind before the safety is clicked off.

We all love the moment when the shooting happens and (hopefully) the rainouts occur, but waiting till it’s right to push that safety button to red is vital.

Guns in Blinds

As the hunt progresses, there is plenty of time when the shotguns are just leaned up against the blinds or laid next to (or in) the layouts. Making sure the guns are secure is something we watch for. Whether you use gun-holding magnets, clips, or cutouts in the upright blinds, make sure your gun is safely locked in during the off time. As guys get out or move around, accidentally knocking a gun over causes everyone to hold their breath. Even if a gun is on safety, it can discharge when it tumbles to the ground.

In a layout hunt scenario, making sure the guns are pointing in a safe direction in the downtime is key. We’ve all seen gun barrels facing forward, and guys standing up in front of the blinds. For anyone paying attention, this will cause concern. While it’s Hunter Safety Course 101, standing in front of loaded (and chambered) guns is always a bad plan.

Shooting Time

When the moment happens, and your bead finds the bird, everyone can be a bit distracted. That said, “shooting your lane” is the way to not only stay safe but help tremendously in killing more birds per flock.

For example, the person on the left side of the blind should be shooting the far left bird first, and so on down the line. There is nothing more annoying than a buddy swinging his barrel in your direction, blasting away, and rocking your eardrum to where it’s ringing for days.

Post Shooting

When the chaos calms down and everyone is visually marking where birds fell, knowing how many times you pulled the trigger is key. While there are a variety of guns being used, most waterfowlers are shooting some type of autoloader, therefore, unless you pull the trigger 3 times, there will be a “hot” round in your chamber. Putting the gun back on safety before bringing it back in the blind and giving all your pals a round of high-fives has to be common practice.

If there are dog(s) present on the hunt, and for some reason, the dog breaks (leaves the blind before he/she is supposed to), all shooting should stop immediately. While we are all there for the wing shooting, it’s not worth risking a dog’s health for a couple more ducks or geese. We can all agree that the onus falls on the dog handler to ensure his dog is steady before hunting, but even the best-trained retrievers will have a moment of weakness and break sometimes. If you are the handler and are unsure of your dog's steadiness, there are tethering and quick-release options on the market to make sure man's best friend stays in place and safe.

Final Thoughts

Choose your hunting partners wisely. It's always a plus to have ones who chip in for fuel, help buy snacks, and make good jokes. However, hunting with someone who’s lackadaisical about safety is a solid no-go for us. We have dear friends who have had accidents where individuals were either injured or, worse, lost a life.

So, as season approaches and dreams of whistling wings abound, make sure to keep gun safety at the forefront of everyone’s mind. It’s OK being “that guy” who’s always reminding others to be aware.

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