HUNTER ETHICS & SAFETY

WHY HUNTERS EDUCATION? REDUCE HUNTING INCIDENTS PRODUCE KNOWLEDGEABLE, RESPONSIBLE, ETHICAL HUNTERS REFRESHER FOR VETERAN HUNTERS ENSURE THE CONTINUATION OF THE HUNTING TRADITION

Why Do We Have Hunting Laws? To conserve wildlife for future generations to enjoy. These laws allow game to flourish by: 1. Establishing hunting seasons that limit harvesting and avoid nesting and mating seasons. 2. Limiting hunting methods and equipment. 3. Setting “BAG” limits on the number of animals that can be taken. 4. Establishing check stations and game tag requirements.

Why Do We Have Hunting Laws? In addition to ensuring the availability of game for future generations, hunting laws: 1. Establish safety guidelines for hunting that protect both hunters and non-hunters. 2. Offer equal opportunity for all hunters, whether they use modern firearms, muzzleloaders, or bows. 3. Ensure adequate funding for wildlife programs by collecting license fees.

Texas Outdoor Annual  Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual publication will provide you with all of the hunting and fishing regulations in the state of Texas.  Every Hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after September 2, 1971, must successfully complete a Hunters Education Course.  Good for life in all 50 states.

The Hunter’s Image Matters CAREFUL: A hunter’s commitment and attitude to basic rules of safety. COURTEOUS: A hunter’s behavior. To be courteous is to be polite or gracious. CONSIDERATE: A hunter’s respect for others. CAPABLE: A hunter’s abilities; including marksmanship, outdoor skills, knowledge level and good judgment.

Hunter Ethics Ethics preserve the hunter’s opportunity to hunt. Ethical behavior ensures that hunters are welcome and hunting areas stay open. Ethical Behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching – even when doing the wrong thing is legal.

Hunter Ethics EXAMPLE: An animal appears beyond a hunter’s effective range for a clean kill. Should the hunter take the shot anyway and hope to get lucky? Ethical hunters would say NO.

The Hunters Ethical Code Respect Natural Resources. Leave the land better than you found it. Adhere to Fair Chase rules. Know your capabilities & limitations and stay within your effective range. Strive for a quick, clean kill. Ensure that meat and all usable parts are not wasted. Treat both game and non-game animals ethically. Abide by game laws and regulations. Cooperate with conservation officers. Report game violations.

The Hunters Ethical Code Respect Other Hunters. Follow safe firearm handling practices, and insist your hunting partners do the same. Refrain from interfering with another’s hunt. Avoid consuming alcohol before hunting. Share your knowledge and skills with others.

The Hunters Ethical Code RESPECT THE LANDOWNERS! Ask landowners for permission to hunt. Follow their restrictions on when and where you may hunt. Treat all livestock and crops as your own. Offer to share a part of your harvest. Leave ALL gates the way you found them. If you notice something wrong or out of place, notify the landowner immediately. NEVER enter private land that is cultivated or posted.

The Hunters Ethical Code RESPECT THE NON-HUNTER! Transport your game discreetly-Don’t display them. Keep firearms out of sight. Refrain from taking graphic photo’s. Refrain from describing the shot to or in ear shot of a non-hunter. Maintain a presentable appearance while in public.

Plan and Prepare Be Ready: Know Your Location: Prepare for Safety: Tell Others:

Daylight Fluorescent Orange ALWAYS WERE DAYLIGHT FLUORESCENT ORANGE JACKET HAT VEST, ETC…

FIREARMS 4 MAIN PARTS 1. STOCK 2. ACTION 3. BARREL 4. MUZZLE

FIREARM SAFETY A. WATCH YOUR MUZZLE! B. TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS A LOADED FIREARM C. BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS IN FRONT AND BEYOND IT D. KEEP YOUR FINGER OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD UNTIL READY TO SHOOT E. CHECK YOUR BARREL AND AMMUNITION

FIREARM SAFETY F. UNLOAD FIREARMS WHEN NOT IN USE G. POINT A FIREARM ONLY AT SOMETHING YOU INTEND TO SHOOT H. DON’T RUN, JUMP, OR CLIMB WITH A LOADED FIREARM I. STORE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION SEPARATELY AND SAFELY J. AVOID ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BEFORE OR DURING SHOOTING OR HUNTING

KNOWLEDGE: Is learning and understanding the basics of safe gun handling and hunting. Before being trained in the skill of firearm shooting, you should know how the firearm operates and how to handle it safely.

SKILLS: Hunting-Related safety skills are gained through hands-on training and practice. It is most valuable to learn these skills from an experienced hunter.

ATTITUDE: ATTITUDE is the most important ingredient in learning. Without the proper attitude, knowledge and skills may be useless.

REMEMBER:  LACK OF KNOWLEDGE CAUSES IGNORANCE  LACK OF SKILL CAUSES CARELESSNESS  LACK OF PROPER ATTITUDE CAUSES IRRESPONSIBILITY