Spring marks the beginning of the seasonal hunt for migratory birds. Therefore, it is worth reminding ourselves of hunting safety rules in general, and firearm handling rules in particular. We will also examine the main causes of hunting injuries and suggest how to avoid them.

Spring marks the beginning of the seasonal hunt for migratory birds. Therefore, it is worth reminding ourselves of hunting safety rules in general, and firearm handling rules in particular.
We will also examine the main causes of hunting injuries and suggest how to avoid them.

Hunting Injuries

Accidental shots occur quite frequently during hunts, resulting in injuries or even fatalities. However, injuries are sometimes caused not by firearms, but by the hunter's inattention and carelessness. These injuries are mainly dislocations and abrasions, but fractures are not uncommon either. This happens because a hunter, upon spotting game, especially wounded game, ceases to notice their surroundings, and what is bound to happen, according to all laws, occurs.

Therefore, to avoid hunting injuries, a cool head and sober calculation are essential, because as the folk wisdom goes, "a hot-headed hunter will mistake a birch stump for a hare." Unfortunately, not all hunters adhere to common sense. Many will say that experience comes with time, but since we are dealing with firearms, a person cannot afford to be ignorant of their operating rules.

Basic Firearm Handling Rules

Every hunter is obliged to know and strictly observe safety rules when handling firearms, and not to allow violations. Remember, not only your life and health, but also the lives of those around you depend on this. After all, as they say, "even a stick can fire once a year." And the most foolish and absurd incidents occur due to drunkenness, negligence, and sloppiness.

The most important condition is to learn these rules by heart, to internalise them to the point of automatism, so that they are applied instinctively, without conscious thought.

·                    Always and under all circumstances, handle firearms with care, as if they are loaded and ready for action. Never point them at people or domestic animals!

·                    Unload the firearm, directing the barrel away from people, animals, and buildings to prevent accidental discharge. It is best to load and unload firearms with the barrel

upwards or into the ground.

·                    It is forbidden to hand over a firearm to another hunter without checking the barrels for a cartridge in the chamber and unloading it before handing it over. The shotgun should also be unloaded when resting, approaching populated areas or a vehicle. At the campsite, it is best to hang your "musket" in a safe place, for example, on a sturdy branch.

·                    After a misfire, do not open the barrels immediately without taking the shotgun from your shoulder; wait 10-20 seconds – this will help avoid the consequences of a delayed shot. Always open the shotgun with the barrels pointing away from people and the chamber facing away from you.

·                    When transporting a shotgun by any means, it must also be unloaded and placed in a case. However, in hunting grounds, it can be taken out of the case and, without loading, carried with the barrel pointing upwards, for example, slung over the shoulder.

·                    When shooting, a hunter must always be aware that other people may be present in the forest. This is especially true for shooting with bullets. Moreover, during **group hunts**, especially in poor visibility. In this case, it is necessary to maintain constant communication with companions, using light or sound signals. By the way, knowing the types and methods of seasonal hunting is also important.

·                    During collective hunts at designated spots, bright vests are helpful, which is especially important in winter. And discipline is crucial here as never before: it is forbidden to leave your spot and go beyond the boundary flags, as you may enter another hunter's firing zone. It is also forbidden to shoot at game in adjacent sectors, even if the game is wounded and moving away.

·                    These are the most basic points that every person with a shotgun should know to avoid endangering others.

·                    **Equipment and Gear**

·                    Another important factor that significantly contributes to the safety of a hunter is their **gear**. Indeed, when time is short and seconds count to retrieve a cartridge or draw a knife from its sheath, in the heat of the moment, we make mistakes that violate safety regulations.

This occurs when the required item is too deep in the bag or pockets of poor equipment. Therefore, to avoid such oversights, one should not economise on equipment and should purchase high-quality and reliable items that will not let you down at the crucial moment.

·                    Let me give an example. A hunter went into the woods in autumn; the autumn weather is unpredictable – sometimes snow, sometimes rain, sometimes slush. And the hunter had an open-top cartridge belt, and the cartridges got damp, and his boots and clothes got soaked. In other words, the equipment in this case was not suitable for the season.

Unwritten Rules for Hunters

There are also unwritten rules for hunters' conduct when obtaining a trophy, which have been formed over hundreds of years of hunting. This is the so-called etiquette or hunter's code, which is passed down from generation to generation.

·                    All hunters are equal among themselves during the hunt and during rest.

·                    Respect older hunters and hunting traditions.

·                    Remember: mutual assistance and hunting friendship are the main values.

·                    Do not be cruel to animals.

·                    A large animal is considered the trophy of the hunter whose shot stopped it. Small game belongs to the one who finished it off. In collective hunting, everything is usually divided equally.

·                    If game is caught in another's sector, it is given to the one who was stationed there.

·                    Do not shoot a bird that has not taken flight, do not disturb a hare lying in its form.

·                    Do not shoot a large animal while it is fleeing and do not leave it to die wounded.

·                    If an animal is taken from under another's dog, return the game to the dog's owner and take compensation in the form of a cartridge.

·                    It is forbidden to shoot animals and birds for fun.

·                    Drunkenness during a hunt is unacceptable and can lead to disaster.

·                    Honesty

a hunter will not take prey from another's trap.

·                    And most importantly, nature is our home, and we must treat it accordingly: with care and rationality!

·                    Of course, these are not all the ethical rules, but the most fundamental ones, which every hunter who respects themselves and nature should adhere to.

·                    But there are still people who have a consumerist attitude towards nature and ignore all codes and laws. Sooner or later, this leads to troubles and misfortunes for completely unrelated people. It's good if only the negligent shooter themselves suffers.

·                    To reduce the number of such people, we must observe the rules and laws.

·                    Good luck to all hunters! May your hunt be successful!