Gun Storage Check Week Reminds Hunters to Make Sure It’s Secure

  Hunters are some of the most passionate conservationists and stewards of the land, deeply connected to the natural world and committed to preserving it for future generations. The holiday season is the perfect time for hunters to extend their values of stewardship and responsibility beyond the woods and fields by giving back to their communities meaningfully. Whether through time, resources or a helping hand, hunters can showcase their positive impact, embodying the spirit of generosity and the values behind initiatives like NSSF’s #GunOwnersCare. Here are a few ways to give back this holiday season.

Donate Wild Game to Those in Need

One of the most direct ways hunters can make a difference is by donating harvested game to food banks and programs that provide meals for families in need. Organizations like Hunters for the Hungry and Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry make it easy to donate processed venison and other game, ensuring that your efforts in the field help feed those who might otherwise go without. If there’s no formal donation program in your area, consider reaching out to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, local food banks or community organizations to explore ways your harvest can help others.

Support Conservation Programs

Hunters are at the forefront of conservation, with their contributions funding wildlife management, habitat restoration and public land access. This holiday, consider supporting conservation organizations that align with your values. Groups focused on preserving wild spaces, protecting wildlife or mentoring new hunters can amplify the positive impact of your giving. Beyond the field, hunters can lend their time to causes that support their communities. From helping at a local food bank to assisting with youth outdoor programs, your time and skills can make a lasting impact.

Mentor a New Hunter

Sharing your knowledge and passion for hunting is one of the most rewarding ways to give back. Consider mentoring a new hunter—especially someone who might not otherwise have access to the outdoors. Learn more about getting started mentoring through NSSF's +ONE^® resources.

Support Firearm Safety

A cornerstone of responsible firearm ownership is ensuring safety at all times and one way to give back this holiday season is by supporting Project ChildSafe^®. This initiative provides free firearm safety kits, including gun locks, and promotes secure storage to help prevent accidents and unauthorized access. By donating to or raising awareness for Project ChildSafe, hunters can play a vital role in fostering safer homes and communities while demonstrating their commitment to responsible firearm ownership. Learn more and get involved at projectchildsafe.org.

Celebrate the Spirit of #GunOwnersCare

As hunters, you’re already contributing to conservation through license fees, equipment purchases and excise taxes that fund wildlife management. Take the extra step this holiday season to show how much hunters care. Share your stories of giving back using #GunOwnersCare to inspire others in the hunting community to follow your lead. NSSF celebrates the generosity and impact of hunters across the country. Together, let’s showcase how hunters care not just for wildlife and wild places but for our neighbors and communities, too.

With the fall hunting season upon us, it's an ideal time to reinforce the importance of responsible, ethical, and secure hunting practices.

NSSF^® and CarbonTV have announced a cooperative HuntSAFE partnership to promote hunting and firearm safety during the fall hunting season, starting with a new video, “Safety is Always in Season.” We are grateful to be joined by CarbonTV in spreading this critical message.

In the realm of firearm ownership and hunting safety, HuntSAFE stands as a beacon of guidance and responsibility. It's a vital component of the NSSF's Project ChildSafe^® initiative, dedicated to promoting safe firearm handling, secure storage, and preventing unauthorized access. The acronym S.A.F.E. succinctly sums up the principles: Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Always practice firearm safety; Focus on your responsibilities as a firearm owner; and Education is key to preventing accidents.

https://youtu.be/X8z9H_cKNJ0

This video, "Safety is Always in Season," features Julie McQueen, President of CarbonTV and host of "Outdoor Weekly." She shares seven "rules to live by" when using or handling firearms at home, on the range, and especially in the field.

7 Hunting Safety Rules

  By Julie McQueen, President of Carbon TV and host of "Outdoor Weekly." For everyone who enjoys our hunting heritage, wants to share it with friends and family and wants to see participation in hunting grow, I'll be blunt: we've got to model every aspect of hunting safety. The fact is, whether in the field, at the range or in your house, firearm accidents are preventable. I want you, your friends and your kids to always be safe and responsible Hunters so Carbon TV has partnered with the National Shooting Sports Foundation's project ChildSafe program to provide these hunting safety tips. I know you and your hunting partners will keep them top of mind before, during and after the hunt. The rules of hunting safety are pretty simple, but because of that, some people can get too casual and that's when accidents can happen my advice is don't just think of these as tips but as actual rules to live by.

1. Keep the Muzzle Pointed in a Safe Direction

   Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction is the foundation for preventing gun accidents. This means always being aware of where the muzzle is pointed and never grabbing, moving or passing a gun by the barrel.

2. Always Assume a Gun is Loaded

   Always assume a gun is loaded even if it looks like the magazine is out there may still be around in the chamber, so don't take any chances. Always check before handling a gun and keep your fingers off of the trigger.

3. "Safety On" is Not Enough

   Having the Safety on is not enough. Of course, you should always keep the safety on until you're ready to shoot, but don't rely on it as the only way to prevent a gun from going off. The safety is a mechanical device and it can fail, so remember rule number one and two and watch the muzzle and keep your finger off the trigger until it's time to take the shot.

4. Be Certain of Your Target

   Be certain of your target two things here: Firstly you want to be absolutely certain that what's in your sights is legal game, it is no fun telling a game warden that you accidentally shot a doe if you're only allowed to shoot a buck you also don't want to accidentally shoot another hunter; Secondly, you want to be certain of your target and what's behind it, centerfire bullets can travel well over a mile so make sure the area behind the target is clear of other animals other hunters, structures and vehicles.

5. Identify Yourself

   You don't want to be mistaken for game by other hunters, so wear blaze orange in the field, avoid colors or patterns that can be confused for game, use a flashlight if you need to and make sure you're easily identifiable. This is especially important if you're packing out a deer or other animal where the antlers on your pack could become a target.

6. Unload Your Firearm at Obstacles

   A trigger can get caught on just about anything, so clear the chamber or unload the gun completely before you have to climb across a stream or over a log over a fence legally, of course, or when you're passing a gun back and forth to a companion and again never pull a gun towards yourself by the muzzle.

7. Tell Someone Where You Will be

   Make sure someone knows where you're going to be and when you're supposed to be back, especially if you'll be hunting alone. Emergencies do happen and time is of the essence if you need to be rescued, make sure searchers know where to start and it can absolutely save your life.

One last thing to remember when the hunt is over: store all your guns securely, storing your guns in a locked container is the number one way to prevent them from being picked up by a child in your home or stolen from your house or car. Using a cable lock also adds another level of security to a gun safe or a lock box. Learn more about storing firearms securely in your home here. A successful hunt isn't just about harvesting game a successful hunt means that you and everyone in your party gets home safely. You can't pass on the hunting heritage if you're not here it's just that simple. Make these safe hunting rules a priority and pass them on no matter where or when you hunt. Safety is always in season. Learn more at CarbonTV.com/firearm-safety   This message was developed in partnership with CarbonTV and the National Shooting Sports Foundation^® in support of NSSF’s Project ChildSafe^® firearm safety program and HuntSAFE initiative.   You may also be interested in: https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/hunter-education/back-country-hunt-survival/ https://www.letsgohunting.org/resources/articles/hunter-education/staying-alive-out-there/

  By Vin T. Sparano, as excerpted from Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia: Camping, Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Wilderness Survival, First Aid Turkeys make a tough target. They are difficult to see and even harder to harvest. The head and neck are the only vital areas that ensure a fast, clean hunt, but this will only happen if your shotgun throws a tight, dense shot pattern. The best shotgun choice for turkeys is a 12-gauge magnum, though the 10 gauge is gaining some ground among turkey hunters. The best shot sizes are No. 2, 4, 5, or 6. The best shotgun chokes are Full, Extra Full, and Super Full. Learn more about the Different Shotgun Gauges here.

Pattern Your Shotgun for Turkeys

Patterning your shotgun for turkey hunting is simply a matter of shooting your shotgun with various shot sizes at different ranges to determine the most effective combination. To pattern your shotgun, you will need two loads of each shot size and six targets that show the full-size head and neck of a gobbler. Start by taking one shot at each target at 15, 25, and 40 yards.' With each load and choke combination, count the number of pellets in the vital area of the gobbler’s head. Opinions vary on the number of pellets you will need in a vital area to put a turkey down, but you will need at least six to harvest a turkey. Some experienced hunters, however, claim that a turkey hunter will need up to 30 pellets in a vital area to harvest a gobbler quickly and cleanly. After you have tried all the different loads at 15, 25, and 40 yards, analyze your targets and count the pellets in the vital area. Determine which load gives you the densest pattern in the gobbler’s head and neck. That’s the load to use.