As we move further into the thick of whitetail hunting seasons around the United States, it’s a good time to take a step back and talk about hunter safety. While hunter safety classes do a great job of explaining the basics of firearm handling and hunting procedures/ethics, some things can’t be learned in a classroom. For many older hunters, years of successful hunts can leave them relaxed and sometimes complacent when it comes to general safety procedures.

In a recent episode of the National Land Podcast with NE Land Professional Jim Fleissner and NE TV host/author Greg Wagner, the two shared some hunting lessons on safety and some of the important things hunters both young and old should keep in mind as they prepare for their hunts this fall.

Here’s what to know!

Be Mindful of Exhaustion and Preparation

Oftentimes accidents happen when people lose focus and aren’t on their A-game, which is why managing exhaustion levels is important for both older and younger hunters. Errant fires are much more likely to occur when hunters are running low on energy. When starting out with young hunters, Wagner recommends keeping hunts shorter and more frequent rather than trying to take them on longer, more taxing hunts. 

The other time that Wagner cites as a time when accidents are most likely to occur is standing around the truck preparing to set out. During this time, everyone on the hunt is so preoccupied with making sure they’ve got all their gear ready to go that younger hunters aren’t being watched as carefully. Be sure to keep an eye on younger hunters when getting ready to leave to make sure safety practices like keeping muzzles pointed away from other hunters aren’t being overlooked.

Parental Pressure on Young Hunters

One of the biggest stressors for young hunters just starting out is often the pressure from their parent or guardian to perform well. It’s easy for seasoned hunters with plenty of successful hunts under their belts to forget how frustrating the feeling of coming back empty-handed can be for young hunters. An off-handed comment from a parent following a missed shot or opportunity can heighten feelings of stress or frustration, which leaves young hunters in a headspace where mistakes become more common.

Emphasizing this, Wagner stated, “When you have that pressure to bag an animal, especially if you’ve missed four or five times, that pressure clouds judgment big time. And that gets worse when you’re getting razzed or someone says ‘Oh come on Billy, what are you doing, etc…’ I tell adults not to do that. This isn’t a competitive thing. Go do that in a competitive club or sport shooting, not out here in the field. I always try to tell young hunters, if this was easy we wouldn’t be doing it.”

Know Your Limits

For older hunters, one of the biggest hunting lessons they can learn keep themselves safe while out hunting is to know their limits. As hunters age, they aren’t capable of the same feats they may once have accomplished 10 or 20 years ago. Knowing limits may mean allowing another hunter to help pack a deer out of the woods, or even just recognizing when it’s time to sit down and take a break to catch your breath. It’s better to take it slow and steady rather than to push too far and wind up with a broken bone or a heart attack.

Another important part of knowing one’s limits involves keeping overconfidence in check. When people get overconfident in their abilities and fail to evaluate a situation with a level head, accidents are bound to occur. Exercising better judgment to avoid taking unnecessary risks keeps everyone in the group safe. It prevents others from needing to stop and care for a hunter who has overextended themselves and become injured. 

“No matter what routine you have or go through, as you get a little long in the tooth, you skip past some things. You start forgetting the hunting lessons you’ve learned like following in a line or sticking to zones of fire because you settle into these routines. Keeping that overconfidence in check is really important, especially for older hunters,” stated host of National Land Podcast Mac Christian.

Keeping these things in mind will hopefully keep you and your fellow hunters safe as you head out into the field this fall. If you’ve got questions about hunter safety or want to find the perfect piece of hunting land for sale, get in touch with your local Land Professional today!

Happy hunting!