Harry Krause wrote:
Reggie Smithers wrote:
Yesterday it seemed some people thought the accident was the result of
the victim not following hunting protocol. The newspapers and hunting
experts seem to believe it was the shooter who was responsible, even
though the victim had not followed protocol when rejoining the hunting
line.

This really should not be a political discussion, but a safety
discussion that all hunters can learn from. Heck, I know I would
prefer to learn from someone else's mistake, instead of repeating the
same one.




I shoot firearms at an "informal" outdoor range at least once a month,
and there usually are three or four fellows with me. The range has
several different areas where we shoot, and we have some clay target
launchers we sometimes set up. No one takes a shot unless he knows
EXACTLY where the other guys are and that they are completely out of the
line of fire.

Though I don't hunt, I've been on pheasant and grouse hunts as a "tag
along" guy because friends of mine were going. The same rules apply: no
one shoots unless the location of everyone is known.

Hunting accidents happen every day. In almost every instance, the
accident is a result of carelessness on the part of the shooter.

Consider this analogy: if you are a boater, *you* are responsible for
any damage your wake causes. If you are a hunter, *you* are responsible
for any damage your gun causes.


And that should be the point of the post and the discussion among
hunters. Anytime anyone moves from their line, or anytime anyone sees
someone move from the line, they should announce it to all. When a
hunter is lining up his shot, it is too late for him to looking for the
other hunters. An analogy for you would be, how many skeet would you
"kill" if you were looking for other skeet shooters after the skeet was
released. By the time you had checked your left and right, the skeet
has hidden under the ground cover.

Many will make this a political issue, but you and I know it really
isn't. It is an issue that is important to anyone who hunts or goes to
a skeet range, regardless of their political leaning. Ignorance and
hunting accidents know no political boundaries.

On a serious note, many of the jokes have been funny. ; )



--
Reggie
************************************************** *************
That's my story and I am sticking to it.

************************************************** *************