Unsafe hog hunters

[sfhoghunter]

Hi All-

On President’s Day weekend, I took a couple of fellow hunters down to the family property to do a little hog hunting. Although we didn’t have any opportunities, the weekend was great except for one thing: my idea of gun safety, and their ideas of gun safety were not compatible.

Many, many times over the course of the weekend I was extremely nervous, because of their (in my opinion) terrible gun handling skills. Some highlights of the weekend:

Heading out on the hunts with a round in the chamber (bolt action rifle). I cannot think of any circumstance where not having a round in the chamber would cost me a shot at an animal. If I need to shoot so quickly that I don’t have time to rack a round, then I’m not going to take the shot.

Leaving a loaded gun unattended (propped up against the truck) while a 6 year old is running around in the yard. When I saw this I asked the gun owner to please put the gun away, because I didn’t think it was a good idea to leave the gun out with a curious kid running around. His reply: “Well, I’ll be heading out hunting in a few minutes anyway, so it’s not a problem.” I held my tongue but stayed near the truck until he went hunting, to make sure that the kid didn’t get too near.

Handing a loaded .45 to a brand new shooter, before we left the house to walk down to the target shooting area (this guy had literally had never touched a gun before). I checked to make sure the safety was engaged, and then told the new shooter to hold the gun with the muzzle pointed at the ground at all times, and not to touch the safety or the trigger until he was standing on the firing line and aiming at the target.

Carrying a loaded rifle by the muzzle, slung over the shoulder so the barrel is horizontal to the ground. This seemed to be the preferred method of carrying the rifle for one of the hunters. Eventually I just stopped hunting with them, and went off on my own to the other end of the property.

Leaving a loaded .22, round chambered, safety off, leaning up against the side of the house, 10 feet from the front door. This one I really couldn’t believe. After coming back from squirrel hunting, one of the hunters put the .22 I had loaned him up against the side of the house. When I saw it 20 minutes later, I walked over to get it and put it away. It was loaded and ready to fire. That one really ticked me off.

This is just a sampling of the behaviors I saw over President’s Day weekend. Needless to say I was shocked and appalled at their behavior. They didn’t even seem to realize they were making me nervous, except when I said something (which I did a number of times).

Have any of you had similar experiences? If so, how have you handled them? I’m really in a bind, because I really like these guys and would like to have them come down again. However, being around them when they were handling guns was just too much – before I go hunting with them again I’ll have to have a long and difficult talk with them, or they’ll have to take up bowhunting. Any comments/advice is appreciated as always.

 

[BDB]

Yeah, many of those events would have bothered me too. I agree you should talk with them. If they are guests on your property, or property you have access too directly but they don't, the talk should be a little easier. Difficult or not, if you don't have the talk you may regret it!

I'd use the loaded rifle left alone proped up against the house with no safety on as the example of something that is absolutely not acceptable under ANY circumstances. Then you may have an in to talk about some of the other things you felt were unsafe. Having a solid example they can relate to may make the whole discussion easier. If they don't see that a loaded, unattended gun left up against the house is a no-no, well, that's a whole other discussion

Or you could just invite me as an innocent bystander to be the bad guy and talk gun safety

 

[boarcrz]

I guess in your case you do have a simple solution, don't invite them! I don't think they will do any better with bow either.

 

[pbrdog]

There are a couple guys that I won't hunt with anymore. Reasons being similar to yours. If I'm invited on a trip and know these guys are going, I just happen to be busy that weekend. Or going somewhere else.

 

[jindydiver]

An easy solution is to never hunt with those bozos again. You can't make someone show safety sense around guns, but you can control safety around yourself by not taking the "accidents waiting to happen" hunting with you.

 

[EvBouret]

yikes, sounds like a few people shouldn't be invited back to the family property.

When stalking I have a round in the chamber however. There has been many oppurtunies missed for me because the hogs can hear me chambering a round in the lever action and dissapear before I can finish and bring the rifle to my shoulder. My rifle doesnt have a safety or a half cock either. I am just very careful not to click back the hammer. While stalking my finger is on the back of the hammer making sure it doesnt click back and my trigger finger is in the lever loop. I havent had an accidental discharge, or even had the hammer click to full cock. I know it's not the safest method but it's really my only choice with the gun I have. Thsi is why I've been looking for a short barreled bolt action with a safety. Silent round chambering and a secure safety button.

If I'm hiking, or the rifle is on my shoulder. No rounds in the chamber.

 

[Litch]

Sounds like they didn't listen when you asked them to modify their behavior, your requests were not out of line. It was your land and they were the guests, so simple, no more invites. I wouldn't hunt with those guys in the future either, even if they were doing the inviting.

 

[1fitspirit]

You should have insisted they unload their weapons, THEN thrown them out on their asses. You tried tact, hints, etc. I have run across this type of arrogant hunter before, and the best thing to do is put LOTS of space between you and them. Idiots not only risk hurting themselves (an evolution thing), but they can hurt innocents as well.

 

[hatchet1]

beat um down like a step child,and not have them back?

 

[oneshothunter]

just my 2 cents but if you have to tell a guy how to not handle his weapons hes the guys you should not be hunting on your land with lol invite me lol I play well with others

 

[MJB]

Have the talk give them a chance.
If you can find a hunter safety book that would be really good to point to examples.

Good luck!

 

[efm1aug1]

When I go out even with experianced hunters,I have a quick gun safty class befor we start hunting..

 

[Speckmisser]

Tell them what's on your mind, but be mindful that if they don't wanna hear it they're probably NOT going to. Give 'em that much of a chance, not just for your own sake, but for the sake of anyone else they may endanger in the future.

If they don't get it, then they don't come back. Make clear to them WHY they're not being invited back...so at least maybe they'll get part of the message.

I've found that a lot of folks who don't handle guns well simply don't know any better (even though you'd think they should). They're complacent due to familiarity (or machismo), and don't realize how unsafe they've become. Often, just saying something is good enough... even though most "tough guys" will resent your correction. Usually all you have to do is raise a flag, but don't do it with hints or suggestions. Be blunt and honest. Their behavior puts you and everyone around you at risk.

 

[Kentuck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (sfhoghunter @ Feb 25 2008, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Leaving a loaded gun unattended (propped up against the truck) while a 6 year old is running around in the yard. When I saw this I asked the gun owner to please put the gun away, because I didn’t think it was a good idea to leave the gun out with a curious kid running around. His reply: “Well, I’ll be heading out hunting in a few minutes anyway, so it’s not a problem.” I held my tongue but stayed near the truck until he went hunting, to make sure that the kid didn’t get too near.[/b]

I learned this nearly the hard way. A friend and I were driving back to camp up in the B-zone area he hunts. He had his youngest boy (5) and I had my son (4) in the truck. Our rifles were in the front with the barrels resting on the floor board. We run into some other friends that had just got a buck back to the truck. We get out and let the boys check it out. while shooting the bull the boys got back in the truck. When we get back into the truck my friend notices his bolt open on his rifle. He looks and one round was in the chamber and another is hung-up on that load. His son had loaded the gun and had tried to feed another when it jammed. I felt sick. Only then did it dawn on me what could have happened. Won't ever happen again.
Don't know what it is with his kids though. They err on the conservative side of gun safety but his kids still can't seem to keep their hands off of guns. Can't figure that one out. Luckily mine doesn't seem so anamored with firearms.

 

[sancho]

if it were me, i would have sat them down and had a "safety talk". if they dont listen, then you really have no choice but to un-invite them. safety first! you really have to take this opportunity to teach them what is up.

my stepdad recently blasted a hole into the bottom of my brothers 4x4. i never even considered the possiblity that the man had a live shell in the chamber. some folks just dont have the same amount of sense. i am downright anal about it. my brother almost shot me once. i couldnt imagine the hell he would gone thru. i would have had the easy part,,,just being dead. next time, i have the safety talk with good old stepdad. no exceptions.

 

[bigtusker]

I guided rifle hunters for 6 years before switching to Archery Only. Too many incidents to write down here. One guy nearly shot me in 2002, that was the last rifle hunt. You should have been more stern with them. I still hunt with a gun and whenever I run into a problem with unsafe gun handling (whether friends or not) I put them in their place and if it continues, they are told to leave. I will go as far as unloading someone's weapon.

 

[bpnclark]

That’s too bad. I would never hunt with them again, have them around my children or even leave them alone. Those are the kind of people that burn the cabin down because they left the stove on.

I agree with almost all of your gun safety points except for your first one. I always head out with a round in the chamber (as soon as I start walking). My muzzle is always pointed up and the safety is always on. When I cross a creek, cross a big downed tree or have to go over a barbwire fence, the round is taken out. When I get back to the truck, the gun is completely emptied. I have never had a problem (thank god) and don’t really see a problem with walking with a round chambered. I’m hunting with a loaded gun and I’m always aware of it.

Everyone I hunt with hunts the same way. But they all handle their guns in a safe way and I have never felt unsafe around them. I guess it’s because do a lot bird hunting with them. In bird hunting your gun is always chambered in the field and you're ready to go.

I went with one hog guide and he had a problem with it. He said he would feel better if I took it out, so I took it out. When I’m invited on a hunt, hunting on someone’s property or I’m with a guide, I follow their rules. I want a happy guide and I want to be invited back.

 

[Muggs]

Talk once - all of these safety rules should go without saying.

After that get new hunting partners

Stay Safe

 

[sfhoghunter]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (EvBouret @ Feb 25 2008, 12:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

When stalking I have a round in the chamber however. There has been many oppurtunies missed for me because the hogs can hear me chambering a round in the lever action and dissapear before I can finish and bring the rifle to my shoulder.[/b]

I hear you EvBouret, but you hunt thick jungly terrain, while I hunt open hill-sides with scattered oaks. There is no reason for me to hunt with a round in the chamber, because I'll always seen the hogs at 75 yards or more, so chambering a round is never a problem.

 

[BrysonHesperiaResort]

Always discuss your rules before you go in the field. Before they take their firearms out of their cases.
Gives them time to digest.
Then you watch like a hawk.
I will watch as they unload. Then I'll check their gun to see if it's unloaded. And yep, I also take guns away from the irresponsible and the inexperienced if they don't listen and behave. You've got to.