Worst Deering Hunting Advice

[huntnnw]

I’m a hunter education instructor now but when I was a brand new hunter(not required to take hunter Ed because of my age) I was told to always hunt with a full magazine, one in the chamber and the safety off because I was going to have to shoot quick and shoot a lot.

I share this story with every class I teach and advise them to have the magazine full, chamber empty and safety on. If there isn’t time to load chamber and flip the safety off it probably isn’t the best shot.

I'll compromise with you - I always, always hunt with the chamber loaded, safety on.  Racking a round is relatively loud, and when hunting close quarters in dark timber I want the advantage.  I can snap off the safety in the amount of time it takes me to get the gun shouldered if I need to (grouse and waterfowl jump shooting skill there), so that's not an issue.  But leaving the chamber empty seems like a mistake.

 

  wouldnt catch me in the whitetail woods walking around with an empty chamber. Usually get seconds at a shot

[Doublelunger]

A wounded animal always runs downhill and/or towards water.

[blackveltbowhunter]

    -Killing one elk every few years is what I chould expect.
    - All the big critters are 5 plus miles from a road

  If im hunting with folks, or in a spot a sling could be used no round in chamber.  When hunting stands of timber, tracking, rattling etc..... i will chamber during that activity, then unchamber when done. I dont put any ammo in the gun till im actually hunting. Hiking in dark etc.... unloaded completely. I did witness a buck nearly escape a hunter who approached with an unloaded gun. IMO the most dangerous portion of a hunt.

[boneaddict]

Soapbox...

Get a doe tag.... dont take away opportunity,  let the youth shoot a doe...its for the children .    DUMB DUMB and more DUMB.   Then come on Huntwa and complain (I can't see a deer, there are no bucks).    Same with Ewe tags.  How F'in dumb.   You want numbers, stop shooting the baby makers.   Either sex hunts are only needed when there is a surplus of animals.   I would love to find a place in the West that has too many animals.   And Oh, the kid needs to kill a doe to be interested in hunting.....I think I proved that wrong some 50 deer ago.   

[Bushcraft]

Soapbox...

Get a doe tag.... dont take away opportunity,  let the youth shoot a doe...its for the children .    DUMB DUMB and more DUMB.   Then come on Huntwa and complain (I can't see a deer, there are no bucks).    Same with Ewe tags.  How F'in dumb.   You want numbers, stop shooting the baby makers.   Either sex hunts are only needed when there is a surplus of animals.   I would love to find a place in the West that has too many animals.   And Oh, the kid needs to kill a doe to be interested in hunting.....I think I proved that wrong some 50 deer ago.

AMEN BROTHER!!!

[Rainier10]

I get that those of you that have been on Huntwa for 10 plus years and have hunted for 30 plus years  hunt with a round in the chamber all the time or when in thick woods or when approaching an animal.  My comment was for a brand new hunter on day in the woods with a fire arm hunting with a round in the chamber safety off is not the best advice in my opinion.

I doubt any of you 30 plus year veterans would feel comfortable with a bunch of first time hunters in your area walking around trying to find their first deer with a round in the chamber, itchy trigger finger wanting to succeed with safety off.  I sure wouldn't.  I think it is terrible advice for a newbie hunter.

[bobcat]

Safety should always be on until just before you pull the trigger. I don't think anyone has ever said to hunt with the safety off.   

[Angry Perch]

I get that those of you that have been on Huntwa for 10 plus years and have hunted for 30 plus years  hunt with a round in the chamber all the time or when in thick woods or when approaching an animal.  My comment was for a brand new hunter on day in the woods with a fire arm hunting with a round in the chamber safety off is not the best advice in my opinion.

I doubt any of you 30 plus year veterans would feel comfortable with a bunch of first time hunters in your area walking around trying to find their first deer with a round in the chamber, itchy trigger finger wanting to succeed with safety off.  I sure wouldn't.  I think it is terrible advice for a newbie hunter.

Do you advise not having a round in the chamber hunting ducks, grouse, pheasants?

[Rainier10]

I get that those of you that have been on Huntwa for 10 plus years and have hunted for 30 plus years  hunt with a round in the chamber all the time or when in thick woods or when approaching an animal.  My comment was for a brand new hunter on day in the woods with a fire arm hunting with a round in the chamber safety off is not the best advice in my opinion.

I doubt any of you 30 plus year veterans would feel comfortable with a bunch of first time hunters in your area walking around trying to find their first deer with a round in the chamber, itchy trigger finger wanting to succeed with safety off.  I sure wouldn't.  I think it is terrible advice for a newbie hunter.

Do you advise not having a round in the chamber hunting ducks, grouse, pheasants?

Not at all.  I do go over zones of fire and how far you can swing on a bird as well as how to safely carry the firearm.  Three hunters walking a field for pheasants or sitting a duck blind.  The hunter to the right should have his firearm point straight ahead or to the right.  Middle hunter straight ahead and the left hunter straight ahead or to the left.

I also don't advise on an empty chamber when hunting in a ground blind for deer or elk.  No need for an empty chamber when hunting out of a tree stand.  When entering or exiting the ground blind or tree stand you should have an empty chamber. Same with entering and exiting a duck blind.

[Rainier10]

Safety should always be on until just before you pull the trigger. I don't think anyone has ever said to hunt with the safety off.   

That is exactly what I was told my first day hunting by my father in law.

I was told to load the magazine full, then depress the last round in the magazine so I could load a fifth round into the chamber, close the bolt and click the safety off.  "Now  you are ready to shoot and to shoot alot.  If it's brown knock it down, keep shooting until it is down."  In my opinion that was very bad advise for a brand new hunter.

[boneaddict]

That indeed is very bad advice. Lol

I’ve heard don’t carry one in the chamber. I figure to each is own, but you’ll likely miss opportunity.
My SIL was told that in hunters Ed.  I just smiled at him and told him what I thought,
To not have safety on.   That’s just Nuts!