my 1st try at grouse

[TurkeyRookie]

Not all guns have a safety, I have an old single Cooey shotgun Hammer and there is no halfcock. It's either pulled back and loaded or not. No the gun isn't broken.

That's the safety right there, don't bring it back until you're ready.

[seabast]

Is anybody know how many people die a year because of a safety off, in %? Some #s would really show who are the idiots, the one that shot without seen but that had the safety on or the others....

[welsh]

Is anybody know how many people die a year because of a safety off, in %? Some #s would really show who are the idiots, the one that shot without seen but that had the safety on or the others....

Such numbers, if available, would be meaningless. What percentage of fatal auto accidents is caused by driving while blindfolded? If that percentage is very small, does it mean that driving while blindfolded is safe? For the number of victims to be meaningful, we would have to compare the number of Darwin Award winners to the total population of Darwin candidates.

Google the word "innumerate."

[yellow dog]

You may agree that just by having a firearm safety ON (during a hunt) shouldn't be deemed as having rendered that as 100% safe. So many other factors form part of the equation too i.e. mechanical condition of the firearm being used, diligence in muzzle/trigger finger control at all times, being fully aware of surroundings etc etc. Having said that, with all other necessary precautions in place, technically, the safety switch is a foremost safety component that would prevent an accidental discharge.

It's a personal decision obviously, however, simply because one may hunt solo must not justify keeping the safety off. One example - I've observed instances in the field where an individual has leaned a loaded firearm against a tree in order to quickly relieve himself or to get rid of ants or leech inside one's clothing.......the firearm slid over from it's support falling to the ground with some force while the muzzle pointed dangerously at the person. One occasion, I encountered a Brown Cobra that suddenly slid down a vine only a few yards away......the fright caused me to jump backwards and fall on my back with the shotgun muzzle close to my face. Fortunately, in all those instances safety was on.

Ear plug use perspective, that could be well justified in hunt scenarios where high volume shooting may be involved (driven birds/duck blinds etc). For Grouse hunting, one would be considered lucky indeed to be able to fire off more than 5 shells in a given day!

Yes and that is why i always cover the trigger with my hand just in case i forget to put the safety on.

[TPM]

I would forget the safety too, if you learn how to hold a gun, in a safe direction, you don't need it. The only time you need it it's when you cross an obstacle and technically you should remove you ammo from the gun.

That's like saying if you learn to drive you don't need a seat belt or if you know how to swim you never need a life jacket. True, a safety should not be a primary means of protection but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be used. It's there for when things go wrong much like PPE in the workplace. Safe practices in any situation should always be multi level.

[Hawkman]

Hmmm.... I made a post earlier and got several comments. Apparently nobody bothered to READ the last paragraph of my post.
It is still there - UNEDITED - for those of you who care to go back and read and UNDERSTAND what I wrote.

To each his own I guess... I do not know a hunter safer than myself and teach and preach safety to ALL hunters young or old even if they dislike me for doing so. That will never stop!

My right ear has diminished hearing and my right ear used to ring every time I fired a gun. I have never been a prolific shooter and don't shoot trap or skeet regularly. When working in manufacturing my hearing was tested and the guy knew immediately that I shoot guns, due to my right ear failing some of the tests!

Since then I have been putting a rubber plug in my right ear - not the "wrong ear" for me - and guess what, no more ringing in MY RIGHT EAR after I shoot the gun.

[yellow dog]

I UNDERSTAND NOW !