Hunting safety and techniques: firearms, bows, tree stands and shot placement

The foundation: ACTS and PROVE

Every hunter education program reinforces the national firearm safety rules:

• Assume every firearm is loaded; Control the muzzle; Trigger finger off and outside the guard; See that it is unloaded - PROVE it safe.
• PROVE: Point in the safest direction, Remove ammunition, Observe the chamber, Verify the feeding path, Examine the bore.

In BC, the CORE practical test requires safe handling of two of five action types with dummy ammunition (23/30 to pass) - unless you show a completed CFSC report form (a PAL card is not accepted).

Carrying positions in the field

Carry	Use
Two-hand (ready)	Best control - use when expecting a shot or in thick cover
Cradle	Comfortable; muzzle to one side - companions on the other side
Elbow / side	Open country, nobody ahead; not in brush
Shoulder	Muzzle up; only with nobody behind you
Sling	Open country, both hands free; not in dense bush
Trail	Alone; risk of plugging the muzzle with dirt or snow

Walking in a group: agree on zones of fire, stay in line abreast, and never swing across a partner's zone. In single file, the leader points forward/up, followers point to the side or up.