Chapter 10: Safe Hunting Skills
Why Firearm Safety Is Important (continued)

Hunting-Related Shooting Incidents (HRSIs)

From a law enforcement viewpoint, a hunting-related shooting incident occurs when a hunter causes personal injury or death from the discharge of a firearm or bow.

More broadly defined, a hunting incident is any unplanned, uncontrolled action that occurs while using a sporting arm. It can include near misses.

Being responsible in order to prevent hunting incidents is your first priority.

Causes of HRSIs are:

• Hunter Judgment Mistakes, such as mistaking another person for game or not checking the foreground or background before firing
• Safety Rule Violations, including pointing the muzzle in an unsafe direction and ignoring proper procedures for crossing a fence, obstacle, or difficult terrain
• Lack of Control and Practice, which can lead to accidental discharges and stray shots
• Mechanical Failure, such as an obstructed barrel or improper ammunition

Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it. If you cannot see what lies beyond the target, do not take the shot.

Main Causes of HRSIs in Pennsylvania

The majority of HRSIs in Pennsylvania fall into two categories: hunters mistaking others for game or shooting at game when others are in their line of fire.

• Failure to positively ID target
  • Each year people are injured or killed when their movement is thought to be a game species moving through cover.
  • Never shoot unless the target is fully and plainly visible.
• Failure to maintain a safe zone-of-fire
  • Bullets and shot pellets do not stop when the target is missed, but continue to travel until they lose their energy and fall to the ground or impact with another object.
  • Never shoot if another hunter or person is in or near your zone-of-fire.

Using Firearms at the Shooting Range

A successful hunt begins with target practice at the shooting range.

Many of the rules that govern safe firearm handling in the field apply to the shooting range. But a shooting range has some additional requirements:

• Read all range rules that apply to the type of shooting you will do that day.
• If there is a range master, be sure to follow his or her instructions while shooting.
• When not shooting, unload your firearm and leave it on the range line or bench until you're given further instructions.
• Don't handle your firearm while other shooters are downrange. Step away from the firing line or bench until the range is clear and the range master instructs you to approach the line or bench.
• If no range master is present, all shooters must decide on safety commands beforehand so that it's clear when someone intends to go downrange.
• Anytime a person is beyond the firing line or downrange, unload your firearm and step away from the line until the other person returns.
• Under no circumstances should you shoot a firearm when someone is downrange or past the firing line.
• Always wear hearing and eye protection, even if you're watching others shoot.
• Respond immediately to anyone calling for a "cease fire."

	Hang fires happen when the firing pin has struck the primer and there is a delay before it fires. This can occur for several reasons, such as a faulty firing pin or spring, a defective primer, or other cartridge-related problems. A misfire is when the primer fails to ignite the powder.
Always treat a "misfire" or a "hang fire" as if the firearm is going to discharge at any second. Leave the action closed and stay in your shooting position. Most importantly, maintain muzzle control in a safe direction at all times. Failure to follow these safe handling practices could result in a tragedy.