Hunter Tip: How to Safely Cross a Fence With Your Firearm
You may encounter many things while out in the field for your hunt—including man-made obstacles like barbed wire fences—and it’s important that you know how to safely cross.
If you encounter a fence when you’re hunting alone, follow these steps:
- Unload your firearm.
- Protect your muzzle.
- Place the firearm under the fence, pointed away from you.
- Cross the fence without damaging it.
- Pick up your rifle, reload, and check the safety again.
The process is similar when you’re traveling with a friend.
- Unload the firearms, pointing the muzzles away from each other.
- One person gives the firearms to the other person.
- The person without the firearms crosses the fence (taking care not to damage it).
- Both firearms are handed across the fence to the first person who crossed.
- The second person crosses the fence safely.
- After both hunters are safely across, return the firearms to the proper owner. Be sure to verbally acknowledge you have control of the firearm (with a “thank you” or “got it”) before the other person lets go!
- Turn back to back, check the safety, and reload—then enjoy your hunt!
You can learn these tips and more in a state hunter education course. Start your hunter ed today!