Hunting Safety: Often dictated by common sense, the safety rules governing hunting are able to avoid even serious hunting accidents.
Hunting is not exactly a sport, it is rather a philosophy of life. But as much as you have passion, love and esteem for this ancient activity, respect for yourself, for others and for the environment must always be at the fore when you pick up a rifle: after all, hunting is not a game. This is why every hunter must first of all focus on safety when preparing to live a hunting day; the number of dramatic events, more or less serious that occur at each hunting season, make us reflect: the solution probably does not lie in interrupting the hunt, even if only for a few days, but rather in raising awareness even more those who engage in this activity. Prevention and safety are the only elements capable of guaranteeing a reduction in hunting accidents that often cost the life or health of enthusiasts.
On the other hand, the rules to follow are more than simple and involve not only the actual hunting activity, but also all those moments that gravitate around hunting: attention must be paid not only during the day outdoors, but also to home and especially during transfers from one place to another in the company of his shotgun, the hunter's best friend who suddenly can turn into his worst enemy. On the other hand, the hunter's bad advice is always the habit that one inevitably acquires after years of practice, but above all the confidence with the weapon that causes a dangerous decrease in attention towards what one does.
Another trend to fight is the frenzy of hunting, which in some moments takes even the most experienced hunter: in those moments we must always remember that no wild is worth the life or safety of a man; if a wild boar passes or if a turtledove gets the better of the hunter, never mind, you will always have a second chance.
The rules dictated by the law, already sufficient in themselves to protect hunters, not hunters and the environment, contained in the national law 11 February 1992 n. 157, in article 21 on prohibitions, a series of rules imposed only by common sense must be added.
One could start by remembering that before shooting it is always necessary to identify the target: shooting blindly is not only useless, but also silly; behind a bush, a hedge, or a tree there may be a hunting companion. Therefore never shoot at natural obstacles such as hedges, bushes or bushes and never shoot at eye level or in the direction of a person. Before shooting make sure you have secured the area, but above all every hunter must respect the safety distances, especially if hunting with companions: in this case it will be essential to know the position of your neighbors, preferably making yourself visible to fellow hunters. .
During the shot it is also important not only to never point the barrel towards a partner, but to respect the rule of 30 degrees of shooting angle and of course to remember to always practice the ball shot downwards.
When you move with the gun in your hand, on foot or by any means, it is essential not to have the index finger near the trigger, but above all it is essential to have put the gun on safety. Needless to say, at the end of the joke this must be unloaded and never, for any reason, weapons that are not secured on the vehicles must be loaded.
Even in your own home, especially if inhabited not only by adults but also by children, security is never too much. It might seem useless to remember, but the weapon must always be unloaded and stored in a safe place, preferably under lock and key. Armored lockers today are within everyone's reach and guarantee safety and tranquility. It goes without saying that ammunition and weapons must be stored in different places.
With these small attentions, which really seem like a trivial matter, many hunting accidents could be avoided. In the next articles we will find out which rules it is good to follow in the different forms of hunting, from hunting to wild boar, to wandering in the plains.
Would you like to recommend some safety rules that you think will also help your fellow hunters and friends?