Hunter Tip: How to Determine Your Safe Zone of Fire
When hunting with companions, you want to bring home game and keep everyone safe. That's why you must know your safe zone of fire.
However, this zone can change depending on what you're hunting, where you are, and if you're hunting with others (or near other hunters).
Today, we focus on how to determine your safe zone of fire to keep everyone safe during your hunting trip!
What Is the Zone of Fire?
Your zone of fire is an area where you can safely shoot at your target without the risk of hitting the wrong target or other hunters. However, it's not a static area. The safe zone changes as you move through a field or woods to track an animal.
Your safe firing zone spans about 45 degrees directly in front of you. So, if a flushed bird flies into your zone, it's time to shoot – but as soon as the bird crosses into another hunter's zone, hold your fire!
When hunting with others, it's crucial for everyone to understand their zones and how they cross firing zones for other hunters.
How to Determine a Hunter's Safe Zone of Fire
You can identify your safe zone of fire by staring straight at something in the distance, extending your arms straight out to either side of your body, making fists with your thumbs held up, and gradually bringing your arms inward until both of your thumbs are in focus without moving your eyes.
That span represents the outer edges of your safe zone of fire. While it's fairly easy to identify, keeping your shot within that zone can be challenging.
Check out this video to see our safety experts demonstrate how to find your zone!
Staying Safe When Hunting Requires the Right Knowledge
In addition to understanding your safe firing zone, hunters must also understand how to carry and use firearms safely in the field with other hunters, how to stay visible with blaze orange requirements, and other crucial safety tips to avoid accidents while hunting.
Being a responsible and ethical hunter is crucial. Even if you've hunted before, one mistake or not knowing about critical hunting techniques or regulations can lead to an injury or an unsuccessful hunt.
Responsible Hunters Take a Hunting Education Course
The best way to prepare for a safe hunting season is to take a hunting education course. Many states require hunters to pass a safety certification, but the benefits of having this education are invaluable in the field – especially when everyone in your group (including friends and family members) has passed the course, as well.
As you plan your hunting trips this season, make sure taking and passing a state-approved course through Boat-Ed is on your list of to-dos. If you plan to hunt with your kids or new hunters, encourage them to take a course and get their hunting certification!
Learn More About Your Safe Zone of Fire With Boat-Ed
While we hope you find this brief overview of the safe zone of fire helpful, you can learn more about this (and other critical safety topics) through Boat-Ed before the season opens! Our online courses make it easy to work through each unit, use the study guide, and take your exam using a mobile device or computer.
No matter what or where you hunt, take the safety knowledge you need for success into the field with you. Find the course for your state, then start learning for free with our study guide!
Originally published November 20, 2015. Content updated November 27, 2023.
