Video: Approached by a Conservation Officer

Did you get it?

I don’t know. I don’t think so.

All right. Let’s go check it out.

OK.

Dispatch wildlife 221. We’re out on the North State Wildlife Area. We got a couple hunters out here we’re going to go check.

I don’t know. Looks like a clean miss, buddy.

Darn.

Uh-oh. Did we do something wrong?

This is a situation a lot of hunters find themselves in. There are proper actions to take when approached by a conservation officer. But you’d be surprised at what careless and dangerous things people do in situations like this.

Can I see your license?

Unintentionally pointing your muzzle at an officer or another hunter is dangerous. Carrying a gun in a menacing manner is not a good idea.

It can convey the wrong message and can make for a negative interaction.

Not checking the safety and keeping the finger inside the trigger guard is another dangerous idea. It’s unsafe any time you’re interacting with a person.

Fleeing from an officer is the worst idea. If you have a reason to run from the conservation officer, you shouldn’t be hunting in the first place. As reckless and careless as some of these may seem, a lot of people can get nervous when approached by a conservation officer. And they forget the rules of safe gun handling. So let’s show you the right way.

Guys, we’re checking some licenses today. If you could just make your firearms safe, I’d appreciate it.

First, acknowledge the officer. Sure thing. Give us just a second.

Point your muzzle in a safe direction.

Recheck to make sure the safety is on, and keep your finger out of the trigger guard.

Unload your gun, and check the action to be sure it’s unloaded.

And finally, follow the conservation officer’s instructions and respect their requests.

Can I hold that for you while you get your license out of your pocket?

They’re just doing their job to make hunting safer for everyone.

Guys, thanks again for being so safe in handling your firearms today. You wouldn’t believe some of the things we see out here in the field. So we appreciate it. Have a good afternoon.

Thanks. So what will you do when you’re approached by a conservation officer? Well, use what you’ve learned here today. And respect the important role that they play in protecting wildlife and keeping hunting safe for all of us. All right. Let’s get back to it.