BrownDogsCan2
Well-known member
Jeff, I have been through hunter safety with myself, two brothers, a sister, a wife, a friend , and shortly a daughter. They have all been worthwhile. There is always time on my schedule for a refresher.
Thanks BDC2
How Do You Carry Your Gun in the Field?
- Thread starter V-John
- Start date
Jeff, I have been through hunter safety with myself, two brothers, a sister, a wife, a friend , and shortly a daughter. They have all been worthwhile. There is always time on my schedule for a refresher.
Thanks BDC2
jeffstally
Member
I am sorry if folks were demeaning to you. There are certainly people like that out there in every hobby.
I think many would agree that we need all of the hunters that we can get. I try to bring newbies out hunting if they show any interest. I have introduced 2 people to pheasant hunting this year that had never shot a gun before going to the range with me before hunting. One of them wasn't all that into it, the other bought a dog to start hunting on his own.
Certainly upland hunting is harder to get into than some of the other types. The investment in the dog alone is enough to deter many people. It is much easier to buy a gun and some orange and go sit in a boredom platform (my term for deer stand) and hope to get lucky with a buck walking by.
Here in Minnesota everyone born after 1980 needs a firearm safety certificate. They do offer an apprentice certificate good for one year. With this apprentice certificate you can only hunt with a veteran hunter. The theory is he will show you the ropes and then if you like hunting, you need a safety certificate for the next season. I think it is a good program.
I read it.
You have a great deal to learn, apart for the use of a scattergun's safety afield.
Mostly in the definiton of "disparaging", the wisdom found in the consideration and acceptance of sound advice thru experience and, perhaps, the dislodging of chips on shoulders.
Re upland hunting being a dying sport...any sport is often only as strong as it's weakest participant's actions....viewing a practice that can be dangerous and cast a bad light upon all involved in the sport, should lightning strike, will go a long way toward hastening that sport's death if left unaddressed.
Many of the comments made your direction in this thread have been in the sprit of ensuring....an ongoing upland tradition.
Good Luck.
quail hound
Moderator
My comment about disparaging words had nothing to do with anything said on here. It had more to do with real life experiences with people who would just as soon see you give up than offer encouragement or helpful advice.
I'm sure any young man would be greatful to have a mentor like yourself if you could stop extolling your own virtues for a moment and actually teach them a thing or two.
"extolling virtues"?...friend, what ever put that chip up there, be it California folks or whatever,, I'm sorry it affected you so but if you read some of these posts slowly and sans chip then you would discover the error that you are making.
I encourage you to discover the "helpful advice" you have received in spades in this thread....already.
I encourage you to discover the "helpful advice" you have received in spades in this thread....already.
quail hound
Moderator
Lol California folk, oh that's fresh.
I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'm Robert avid upland hunter specializing in western quail. I hunt some 60 or so days a year and love my dogs. The last rooster of the season I passed on hoping we may play our game again next season and I am very appreciative of all theadvice I have gotten on this site, including in this thread.
I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'm Robert avid upland hunter specializing in western quail. I hunt some 60 or so days a year and love my dogs. The last rooster of the season I passed on hoping we may play our game again next season and I am very appreciative of all theadvice I have gotten on this site, including in this thread.
SetterNut
New member
Quail Hound
I think you made a good point that many of the folks here may take for granted. Some people coming into upland bird hunting don't have experience people showing them the ropes when they get started.
My Dad did not hunt, but I was lucky enough to have a guy across the street that loved to bird hunt, and he took me. He spent time showing me how things were done.
On the Internet it is sometimes hard understand where someone is coming from and what their level of understanding is.
But I would agree with others on the drill to train yourself to take the safety off as you are mounting the gun. The other benefit to this drill is it will make you a better shooter.
Good luck, and stay safe.
BTW, pointing dogs are the only way to go Setters in particular :thumbsup:
I think you made a good point that many of the folks here may take for granted. Some people coming into upland bird hunting don't have experience people showing them the ropes when they get started.
My Dad did not hunt, but I was lucky enough to have a guy across the street that loved to bird hunt, and he took me. He spent time showing me how things were done.
On the Internet it is sometimes hard understand where someone is coming from and what their level of understanding is.
But I would agree with others on the drill to train yourself to take the safety off as you are mounting the gun. The other benefit to this drill is it will make you a better shooter.
Good luck, and stay safe.
BTW, pointing dogs are the only way to go
Setters in particular :thumbsup:
OKIEGunner
New member
BTW, pointing dogs are the only way to go
I agree, But it's got a long tail
quail hound
Moderator
Lol, I heard last year was the year of the setter.:cheers:
SetterNut
New member
Every year is the year of the SETTER
Here is the way I walk into a point. Gun at port arms, finger / thumb on the safety, no finger on the trigger, but on the side of the trigger guard. when the Bird flushes, gun comes to the shoulder as the safety comes off and then finger moves to the trigger. All in one smooth motion. This is no slower than if you had the safety off. The safety is coming off as the gun is coming into the shooting position.
Flushing dogs are great too, but I have fallen in love with the pointing dogs, with long tails :cheers:
Here is the way I walk into a point. Gun at port arms, finger / thumb on the safety, no finger on the trigger, but on the side of the trigger guard. when the Bird flushes, gun comes to the shoulder as the safety comes off and then finger moves to the trigger. All in one smooth motion. This is no slower than if you had the safety off. The safety is coming off as the gun is coming into the shooting position.
Flushing dogs are great too, but I have fallen in love with the pointing dogs, with long tails :cheers:
OKIEGunner
New member
But, I can leave an open beer on the coffee table and not have to worry about the dog clearing the coffee table off with one swipe of the tail. :cheers:
SetterNut
New member
I don't have a problem with them knocking it of the coffee table, as they are sitting on the couch with me
:cheers:
FCSpringer
Moderator
I did not realize they made guns without a saftey. I guess I would never buy one. There is a million pawn shops you can get a good working gun for a hundred bucks or less.
I also have had a guy or even a couple, give me the line that the "saftey is on" while pointing it at me or others. One such ideot, was slug hunting with us, and walking out to the car, he has his gun on his shoulder,facing straight back at my head.
I saw it and ducked and called him on it while on a knee. He looked, laughed, and swung it the same way back and 4th a couple times, while saying exactly. "What, the saftey is on" Later at the car, he unloaded it.
Now, we were almost back to the car, and there was no reason to even have a loaded gun. There was not a deer any where cause we just stomped through this whole WMA. We were all in single file leaving.
That guy was new to our bunch, and has been new some where else after that very moment.
All the spots were mine except that public. So I said have a nice life, but your done hunting in this group. He tried to get back in a couple years later, and I stood my ground. NO! That bullet would not give someone a second chance, so why should you get one I told him.
All he had to do was say, "OH, man sorry", "I did not even realize I did that". Unload the gun, carry it proper, and just don't be that stupid again.
We most likely would have let him stay and looked for the habbit after that. Then yelled at him till he got it through his thick skull. But to laugh, then imediatly do it again. And walk the rest of the way to the car like that. Which was about another 50 yards at that point. NO, sorry, your done.
I also have had a guy or even a couple, give me the line that the "saftey is on" while pointing it at me or others. One such ideot, was slug hunting with us, and walking out to the car, he has his gun on his shoulder,facing straight back at my head.
I saw it and ducked and called him on it while on a knee. He looked, laughed, and swung it the same way back and 4th a couple times, while saying exactly. "What, the saftey is on" Later at the car, he unloaded it.
Now, we were almost back to the car, and there was no reason to even have a loaded gun. There was not a deer any where cause we just stomped through this whole WMA. We were all in single file leaving.
That guy was new to our bunch, and has been new some where else after that very moment.
All the spots were mine except that public. So I said have a nice life, but your done hunting in this group. He tried to get back in a couple years later, and I stood my ground. NO! That bullet would not give someone a second chance, so why should you get one I told him.
All he had to do was say, "OH, man sorry", "I did not even realize I did that". Unload the gun, carry it proper, and just don't be that stupid again.
We most likely would have let him stay and looked for the habbit after that. Then yelled at him till he got it through his thick skull. But to laugh, then imediatly do it again. And walk the rest of the way to the car like that. Which was about another 50 yards at that point. NO, sorry, your done.
Bob M
New member
I must agree with Quail Hound that safetys are often overrated and used by some as an excuse for poor gun handling/muzzle control. They are mechanical and CAN fail. A hunter with proper handling/control of his firearm SHOULD be able to hunt loaded/closed without a safety and do well........However a projectile once launched from a gun barrel cannot be whistled or called Whoa, or Hup! Unforseen things DO happen.
I think if our weapon of choice has a safety it should most definitely be used up until the gun mount for the shot. Much like using double triggers on a good sxs, it becomes automatic to disengage the safety as the gun rises to the shoulder without any mental thought to the process.
When we use any tool that has a built in capability of lethality, and finality, we owe our companions, our dogs, and the world in general our very best handling of that tool. (cars, airplanes, guns, chainsaws, etc. etc.)
No flames, no pokes, just how I see it.
Best,
BobM
I think if our weapon of choice has a safety it should most definitely be used up until the gun mount for the shot. Much like using double triggers on a good sxs, it becomes automatic to disengage the safety as the gun rises to the shoulder without any mental thought to the process.
When we use any tool that has a built in capability of lethality, and finality, we owe our companions, our dogs, and the world in general our very best handling of that tool. (cars, airplanes, guns, chainsaws, etc. etc.)
No flames, no pokes, just how I see it.
Best,
BobM
quail hound
Moderator
Honestly my initial response on this was made tongue in cheek as I new it was something I should work on and have been especially late season when good shots were becoming all but non existent, quite unsuccessfully I might add. After some of the initial comments I wanted to see where the tone would go and I can't say I'm surprised. It's something I should work on, good thing I have lots of bob whites to shoot for my 2 young pups this off season.:cheers:
quail hound
Moderator
@Quail Hound
I would hands down rather hunt with a person that knows his barrel is pointed in a safe direction 100% of the time rather then someone that uses a safety as a poor excuse for what there doing.
So some cold MN winter you should take me hunting in Wine country
Deal, but you have to get me on some of those grouse someday. Here is a pic of a frosty January day out here, 28 deg when we started and probably around 62 or so by the time the hunters and dogs were tired.:cheers:
Thrasher
Member
The poll shows two people as carrying their guns "other". What does that mean?
After 18 miles of walking, sometimes I find myself holding the barrel while the butt-stock drags in the grass behind me!!
But, before I get to that point, I carry loaded, safety on. I shoot left handed with a right handed 11-87. The safety is awkward, but I don't HAVE to shoot every bird that gets up in front of my flusher.
Since I shoot left-handed, when hunting in a group, I always take the right flank. My natural carry keeps the barrel pointed up and to the right. in 25 years of military service I have seen a lot of poor weapon handling/muzzle awareness. I keep track of mine, and the barrel of everyone else.
After 18 miles of walking, sometimes I find myself holding the barrel while the butt-stock drags in the grass behind me!!
But, before I get to that point, I carry loaded, safety on. I shoot left handed with a right handed 11-87. The safety is awkward, but I don't HAVE to shoot every bird that gets up in front of my flusher.
Since I shoot left-handed, when hunting in a group, I always take the right flank. My natural carry keeps the barrel pointed up and to the right. in 25 years of military service I have seen a lot of poor weapon handling/muzzle awareness. I keep track of mine, and the barrel of everyone else.