Hunters Safety for Children!

With hunting season just around the corner, thousands of people across the country are going to be gearing up to participate in this classic sport. Many people who are not familiar with hunting may perceive the sport to be quite dangerous due to the use of weapons. However, hunting is one of the safest sports that someone can engage in as long as the proper safety measures are being followed. There are far less injuries in hunting than in a sport like football. This means that introducing your children to the sport is fine as long as you teach them how to hunt safely.


Before jumping straight into the woods and handing your child a gun, there are a few important restrictions to think about enforcing in your own life:

• Children under 15 who are shooting should have a state hunting license, undergo a hunter safety course, and always be with an adult – preferably one who is certified in hunter safety.
• Do not leave a child alone in the woods when you are hunting.
• You and your child should wear florescent orange to lessen the chance of an accident.

Once you and your child are out in the woods and ready to hunt, there are a few more things to think about. Your child needs to be aware of the safety measures that have to be taken any time there is a gun involved. Injuries and deaths only occur when someone doesn’t follow some of these basic safety measures:

• Always point the firearm in a safe direction and never at anything you are unwilling to destroy.
• Always keep the finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
• Always keep the firearm unloaded with the ammunition stored separately until you are in the hunting area and ready to shoot.
• Be sure of your target-and that means what might be beyond or behind that target.
• Make sure that any animal you bring to your vehicle is dead before loading into the car and leaving.
• Do not bring small children with you to hunt.
• Do not let your child climb down a tree or throua fence with a loaded gun. Make them hand the gun to you before climbing to down the tree or through the fence.
• Make sure that your child knows to never shoot at a sound or a movement. They need to see the target at which they are aiming.

Hunting is one of the oldest sports known to man, and it can be enjoyed with people of all ages as long as the proper safety precautions are being followed. If you are an experienced hunter, do not be afraid to introduce your child to hunting.

There are valuable life lessons to be learned in this sport, and children are more receptive to rules and guidelines than we sometimes give them credit for. Be clear in your instructions, and model the proper behavior so they see you are taking it serious as well.