Observing the Four Rules of Firearm Safety With Your Muzzleloader
- Always control the muzzle of your firearm.
- Always point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe direction.
- Never point at a person, or where a person might be found, such as a building, vehicle, or even the next room.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
- Assume the gun is loaded.
- Make it a habit to immediately check any gun you hold and make certain it isn’t loaded—even if you’ve been told it isn’t.
- Checking a muzzleloader requires a different procedure, described in Chapter Two.
- Don’t prime or cap a muzzleloader until you’re ready to fire.
- Know your target and what is beyond it.
- Be absolutely sure of your target before shooting.
- Never shoot at a “skylined” animal.
- Bullets from a muzzleloading rifle can travel long distances and fall with enough force to kill a person.
Other Shooting Precautions
- Only one hunter should aim at a target.
- Don't shoot unless you know what's beyond the target. Never shoot at a "skylined" animal.
- Don't shoot if someone is in your zone-of-fire.