Sportsmen and women who participate in shooting sports or hunting may be more aware of firearms safety issues than most people, but the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) encourages all hunters to review firearms safety tips before heading out into the woods for firearms season.  Last year there were 45 hunting incidents, 20 of which involved firearms.    

“Ultimately, each hunter is responsible for keeping themselves and others safe while pursuing deer this year,” says WRD State Hunter Safety Coordinator Capt. James Bell.  “This includes respecting all firearms and being absolutely certain of their target.”

The “Ten Commandments of Firearms Safety” is an excellent safety checklist that is taught in hunter education courses:

1.    Control the direction of the firearm’s muzzle.  Keep the safety on and fingers off the trigger at all times until ready to shoot.

2.    Identify the target and what is beyond it before shooting.  Know the identifying features of the game hunted and be absolutely certain that what you are aiming at is that game.  

3.    Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

4.    Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions and that only the proper size of ammunition is used in the firearm.

5.    Always unload a firearm when it is not in use, leave the actions open, carry empty firearms in a case to and from shooting areas.

6.    Never aim a firearm at anything that you do not intend to shoot.  Avoid all horseplay with a firearm.

7.    Never climb a tree or fence, or jump a ditch or log, with a loaded firearm.  Never pull a firearm towards you by the muzzle.

8.    Never shoot a bullet at a flat, hard surface or at water.  Make sure backstops are adequate during target practice.

9.    Store firearms and ammunition separately and beyond the reach of children and careless adults.

10.    Avoid all alcoholic beverages and drugs before and during shooting.

Sportsmen and women now have two ways to take a hunter education course – by attending the traditional ten-hour classroom course or by taking a CD-Rom home study course accompanied by a two-hour classroom review and test.  The CD-Rom course is available by calling or stopping by any WRD Law Enforcement Office.  Pre-registration is required to attend both the 10-hour hunter education course and the CD-Rom review and test course.  Hunters can call the Central Reservations System (CRS) at 1-800-864-7275 to register by phone or go to www.georgiawildlife.com to register.    

For more information on firearms safety, contact the WRD Hunter Education Office at (770) 784-3068.

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