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How to Teach Kids About Hunting Safety

Hunting is an activity parents and children can enjoy together. Parents who teach hunting rules to their kids make hunting a safe, educational activity that promotes responsibility. These rules are vitally important to the well-being of all hunters and the land on which they hunt. Carefully explain the rules and always practice them when hunting. Kids learn by example and when parents provide good examples, children are likely to imitate them.

Things You'll Need

Hunting DVD
Firearm
Ammunition

Instructions

- 1
  Teach hunting safety rules before your child's first hunt. Review them verbally and in writing. Watch a hunting safety DVD together. Kids learn differently so if you teach them in a variety of ways, they will be more likely to retain the information.
- 2
  Treat all firearms as if they are loaded. Make sure your child always assumes a gun is loaded when holding and cleaning it.
- 3
  Load, unload and clean your firearm while your child watches. Explain what you are doing. When your child is ready, allow him to load, unload and clean it under your supervision.
- 4
  Wear hunter's orange when hunting. Other hunters will be able to identify you immediately.
- 5
  Abstain from alcohol or other mind-altering substances when handling firearms. Using alcohol and drugs puts you and your child at risk.
- 6
  Show your child how to point the gun at the target he wants to shoot. Enforce pointing the gun at the ground when he is not aiming at a target.
- 7
  Instruct the child to unload the firearm when she finishes hunting or target practice. Explain the potential consequences of loaded firearms.
- 8
  Store your gun and its ammunition separately. Stress the importance of this to the child.

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