Effective November 18, 2009, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in North Carolina online course—the official hunter education course of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your North Carolina certification.

Safely Loading and Unloading Firearms

Even something as simple as loading or unloading a firearm can result in tragedy if it isn’t done properly. Here’s how to do it safely.

Loading

Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
Open the action; make sure the barrel is unobstructed.
Put the safety on if the firearm can be loaded with the safety on.
Load the ammunition.
Close the action.
Put the safety on if you were not able to do so before loading.

Hunters loading firearms

Unloading

Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
Put the safety on if it is not already on.
Keep your finger outside the trigger guard.
Open the action.
Remove the ammunition by first detaching the magazine. Eject cartridges or shells if it’s the only way to remove them. (Read more about "Firearm Actions" in Chapter Two for details on specific actions.)
Make sure the gun is empty by checking both the chamber and the magazine.

Removal of ammunition from the magazine or removal of the magazine from the firearm does not mean the firearm is unloaded!