Many a man has been killed or wounded by a supposedly empty gun. The only way to prevent such accidents is to be sure that all cartridges are removed from the gun as soon as the hunter stops hunting and to see that they are never replaced until the beginning of another hunt. Never handle any gun as if it were an empty gun but regard all guns as being loaded and dangerous. As a young man I, with one companion, spent about three months in the woods. We had three guns with us and they were never unloaded except for the purpose of cleaning. Since we were alone, there was no danger of any stranger's handling them and absently snapping the hammer; and as we knew that the guns were always loaded, we always treated them as loaded guns. During that time I acquired the habit of considering all guns loaded and even today my first act in handling a gun is to check both the barrel and magazine for any cartridges which might have been left there. It is not safe or practical to keep a loaded gun in a place where other persons may be expected to drop in at any time, for many characters have an almost irresistible desire to handle every gun which they see and many of these people do not have the common courtesy to ask permission before such handling.



The only answer to this empty-gun problem is to have all guns empty and to consider them to be loaded and, while at home, to keep them securely locked in a gun cabinet where children, both young and old, cannot handle them. Accidents cannot be prevented by any legal means short of prohibiting the use of firearms at all times. Such a prohibition is unthinkable to a hunter and each hunter should do all that is in his power to prevent the possibility of such a prohibition. He can do this by being accident-conscious at all times and by following a few rules which should assure safety in the woods. Never point a gun at anything that you do not wish to shoot.

Never lean on a gun with the butt on the ground. Never rest the muzzle of a gun on your foot, unless you have toes to spare. Never use your finger to remove obstructions in the barrel.

Never attempt to clean the barrel until you are sure that all cartridges are removed from both the magazine and the firing chamber.

Never use a gun for any purpose except that for which it was intended; never use it as a cane, crutch or club.

Never shoot a gun unless there is a background that will stop the bullet well within your sight range. Never shoot at anything other than game while in the woods and be sure that you have properly identified that game before pulling the trigger. If you feel the need for target practice, go to some target range. Re- member that every shot fired in the woods is potentially dangerous to any person who may be in the woods and that the fewer shots fired, the less danger there is of accidents. Be very careful while loading and unloading guns and while cocking and uncocking the old type of hammer shotguns. Remember that the safety is on a gun for your protection. Use it.

Never examine another person's gun without asking permission and never permit anyone to examine your gun until you have checked it to make sure that it is an empty gun.

Never carry a loaded gun at any time except while actually hunting or while on the target range. Remember that all guns are death-dealing instruments so treat them with the respect that all dangerous weapons deserve.

Above all, never point a gun at a human being.

Accidents cannot be prevented by any legal means short of prohibiting the use of firearms at all times. Such a prohibition is unthinkable to a hunter and each hunter should do all that is in his power to prevent the possibility of such a prohibition. He can do this by being accident-conscious at all times and by following a few rules which should assure safety in the woods. Never point a gun at anything that you do not wish to shoot; this will reduce the risk of accident.