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STUDY GUIDE
STUDY GUIDE
Introduction to Hunter Education p.3
History of Hunters Helping Wildlife p.4
The Future of Hunting and Shooting p.5
Hunter Ethics p.6
Wildlife Conservation p.7
Firearm Safety Rules p.8
Parts and Features of Firearms p.9
Types of Firearm Actions p.13
Ammunition p.15
Laws and Regulations p.17
Safe Handling of Firearms p.18
Making a Quick Clean Kill p.20
Care of Game p.21
Outdoor Safety p.22
Hunter Ed Course p.23
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Study Guide Outline
Hunter Education Certificate A student who completes an approved hunter education course earns a Hunter Education Certificate that is recognized by the IHEA-USA (International Hunter Education Association). This certificate allows a person to purchase a hunting license in any state, province of Canada and many other countries. There may be other requirements depending on the hunting regulations of various states, provinces and countries.
HunterEdCourse.com This e-book is not intended to replace your state-approved hunter education course, but is a study reference manual for someone new to the sport so they can learn the basics of firearms safety as they prepare to become a safe, ethical hunter.
This introductory manual provides a snapshot of the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes a hunter needs for safe handling of firearms and other hunting equipment. The basic purpose of hunter education is to train people to be safe, legal and ethical hunters. Hunter safety training helps prevent hunting-related shooting incidents.
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Introduction toHUNTER EDUCATION
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Welcome to hunter education.
HunterEdCourse.com is one of the leading providers of online hunter education and is approved for use in many states.
To find specifics on your state access:
HunterEdCourse.com
Hunting is safe and getting safer.
During the last 30 years hunting-related shooting incidents have decreased dramatically. Today, hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities, thanks to hunter education.
Why is hunting getting safer?
• Hunting Regulations: for example, laws requiring hunters to wear fluorescent orange during some hunting seasons.
• Hunter Education: now required in 49 states and 10 provinces of Canada. (Alaska is currently considering mandatory Hunter Education).
In North America 1981-2000
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01981 1986
Injuries per 100,000 hunters
1991 1996 2000
Hunting-RelatedShooting Injury Rate
During the early 1900s, many North American species of wildlife were in serious trouble. Destruction of habitat and commercial exploitation through unregulated market hunting had reduced some populations to critical levels. Licensed, lawful hunters were not the cause of this decline.
In the early 1900s, farsighted people, including President Theodore Roosevelt, supported by hunters and sportsmen, identified the real causes of the problem with disappearing wildlife and worked together with the United States Congress to pass laws that would provide for long-term use of natural resources.The North America Model of Wildlife Conservation had begun.
HELPING WILDLIFE2 History of Hunters
North American Wildlife Conservation Model
This model has two basic principles:
Our fish and wildlife belong to all North American citizens
They are managed in such a way that their populationswill be sustained forever
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President Theodore Roosevelt
and
Every new hunter or target shooter becomes part of a proud conservation tradition in this country. The dollars contributed by sportsmen and women through hunting license fees and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment have helped bring back many wildlife species from the brink of extinction. These achievements are largely due to this successful funding model and the fact that wildlife management is based on scientific research.
Hunting and target shooting also provide a major boost to our nation’s economy. Hunters alone annually contribute nearly $25 billion in retail spending, support more than half million jobs and provide billions of dollars in local, state and federal taxes.
Many experts are worried about the future of hunting as the number of active hunters has declined since the early 1980s. This decrease in participation not only jeopardizes the most important source of funding for wildlife conservation and habitat enhancement, it also threatens a way of life that has shaped this country since the beginning.
Hunter numbers have dropped because of increased numbers of people living in urban and suburban communities. Cities and suburbs have expanded their areas farther and farther into the countryside. Wildlife habitat is lost to development. Also, laws and regulations for hunting and shooting are continuously changing, can be difficult to interpret, and it can be hard to locate a place to hunt and get permission to hunt there.
HUNTING AND SHOOTING3 The Future of
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HunterEdCourse recognizes the importance of upholding our hunting and target shooting traditions. Its website, HunterEdCourse.com helps visitors get started and stay active in conservation, hunting and target shooting.
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HunterETHICS
Hunter ethics is a code of conduct that every hunter lives by when hunting. They create this code of conduct when they are first introduced to hunting and develop it throughout their lives. Hunters abide by their code of conduct for right and wrong in all aspects of their lives.
A “poacher” is a person who kills or takes wild game illegally. All hunters should have zero-tolerance of bad hunter behavior. They should report any violations to conservation law enforcement officers.
Begin developing your ideas of right and wrong behavior for hunting by adopting a personal code of conduct.
“Respect” and “Responsibility” are the keys to ethical hunting.
Personal Code of Conduct
As an ethical hunter, I will:
Know and obey the laws and regulations for hunting
Show respect for myself and other people, including landowners
Show respect for all wildlife and the environment that sustains them.
Take responsibility for my actions.
Report vandalism, hunting violations or poaching to law
enforcement officials.
Actively support legal, safe and ethical hunting.
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WildlifeCONSERVATION
“Wildlife” refers to every kind of animal that is not normally domesticated or raised by humans. Wildlife includes all mammals, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish and all other creatures that live in fresh water and salt water all over the world.
Game animals, such as quail, rabbits and deer, may be hunted. Non-game animals, such as song birds, are protected by law.
Wildlife is “renewable;” it is a “living resource.” These animals begin their life in the wild, live there, and they will die and be replaced by others. A “non-renewable resource,” such as gas, coal and oil, is not a living resource; once used up it cannot be restored.
The definition of “wildlife conservation” is the wise use of wildlife resources. The various populations of game and non-game animals are kept healthy through scientific management, which allows for human use and includes activities such as hunting, trapping and fishing.
“Wildlife management” is the science of managing wildlife populations. A
“wildlife biologist” applies science to the study of game and non-game animals to help ensure that they can thrive in wild places practically forever.
Hunters help with wildlife conservation because they make use of individual animals for food and clothing while working to secure the wellbeing of all wildlife populations now and in the future.
BOBWHITE QUAIL May live less than a year but make up for this short lifespan by producing around 12 eggs each year.
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FirearmSAFETY RULES
When handling firearms always follow these basic rules, think of ACTT. ADDITIONAL SAFETY RULES
ASSUME every gun is loaded.
CONTROL the muzzle; keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
TRIGGER keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
TARGET be sure of your target and what lies beyond.
1. Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
2. Know how to use the gun safely.
3. Don’t trust safety devices.
4. Use only the ammunition that is correct for the gun.
5. Wear hunter or blaze orange clothing.
6. Use safety devices for ear and eye protection.
7. Never use alcohol or drugs while hunting or shooting.
8. Follow safety rules while handling guns in the field and at shooting ranges.
9. Store firearms and ammunition separately.
10. Different types of hunting and shooting activities may require additional safety procedures.
Never hunt with someone who does not respect these rules. The result could be serious injury or death to you, another hunter or a non-hunter.
Once the trigger is pulled, the shot can never be taken back.8
A firearm can be equipped with the following parts:
Stock Part of the firearm the other parts are attached to and held against the shoulder when firing the gun. A handgun is a firearm, but does not have a stock.
Barrel Metal tube the shot or bullet travels through when a cartridge is fired.
Receiver Back end of the barrel where the cartridge is loaded in preparation for firing.
Muzzle Front end of the barrel where shot or bullet exits when a cartridge is fired.
Action Set of moving parts to load, fire and unload the firearm.
Sight A device on the barrel that guides the shooter’s eye when aiming at a target.
Trigger Guard A loop around the trigger to help prevent unintended touching of the trigger.
Trigger Small lever that when pulled fires the gun.
Magazine Storage device for holding additional cartridges.
Safety Mechanical device that can help prevent unintended firing of the gun.
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Parts and FeaturesOF FIREARMS
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Barrel and Bore The “bore” is the hole that is cut through the center of the gun barrel, making it a long metal tube (18 – 28 inches).
Rifling Rifling is a term for the “grooves” cut into the inside surface of a rifle or handgun barrel that make the bullet spin when fired, and keep the bullet stable in flight to the target.
Caliber The caliber of a rifle or handgun barrel is the measurement of the bore diameter and also refers to the size of the bullet for the gun. For example, a .30 caliber barrel has a bore diameter slightly more than 1/4 inch. The cartridge for this gun is a .30 caliber.
Barrel Stamp The caliber or gauge of the barrel and gun manufacturer are stamped on the outside surface of the gun barrel.
Always match the correct ammunition to the firearm based on the barrel stamp.
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Parts and FeaturesOF FIREARMS
Land
Groove
Rifle and Handgun Sights
Three types of sights commonly used for rifles and handguns are:
• Telescopic sight or scope
• Iron sights, or open sights
• Peep sights
Land
Groove
Telescopic sight or scope
Open sights (front and rear)
Peep or Aperture sights (front and rear)
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Key Features of the Shotgun A shotgun is similar to a rifle. It is a gun that has a long barrel (18 – 32 inches) and a shoulder stock. The shotgun is different than a rifle because the bore is smooth on the inside. There is no rifling.
A shotgun fires a cartridge loaded with either shot or pellets, made of lead or steel, which are many round projectiles or a single projectile called a slug. A shotgun shell loaded with pellets is effec-tive for hunting game birds in flight, like pheasants and quail, and also rabbits and squirrels on the run, whereas a shotgun shell loaded with a slug might be used for deer.
The size of shot and the material it is made of determine its use.
Gauge The measure of a shotgun bore diameter is its “gauge.” Gauge is determined by the number of lead balls the same size as the inside diameter of the barrel that would weigh one pound. For example, 12 lead balls weighing one pound would be a 12 gauge.
There is also a 410 shotgun, which is not a gauge but a caliber measurement.
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Parts and FeaturesOF FIREARMS
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10 Gauge .775”
12 Gauge .725”
16 Gauge .665”
20 Gauge .615”
28 Gauge .545”
.410 Bore .410”
Standard gauges for shotguns: largest to smallest
10 gauge 12 gauge 16 gauge
20 gauge 28 gauge
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Parts and FeaturesOF FIREARMS
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The “safety” on a firearm is a mechanical device designed to help prevent the unintended discharge of a firearm. The basic purpose of the safety is to support safe firearms handling.
However, because the firearm safety is a mechanical device, it can fail.
Choke At the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel is a “choke.” The choke controls shot spread for targets that are near or more distant. Four common choke sizes are:
Firearm Safeties: Their Use and Location Manually Operated Safety
The design and location of manually operated safeties are different depending on the manufacturer and type of gun.
The manually operated safety may be a button or knob that the user must move from the “safe” position to the “fire” position to turn the safety off or on.
Cylinder bore (no choke)
Improved cylinder (slightly tighter pattern than no choke)
Modified cylinder (an even tighter pattern and increases range)
Full choke (very tight shot pattern and increases range out to greater distances.
Chokes may be fixed, variable or interchangeable. 10 yards 20 yards 30 yards 40 yards
Manually operated safety
Cylinder Bore
Improved Cylinder
Modified Cylinder
Full Choke
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Types ofFIREARM ACTIONS
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The “action” of a gun is what makes a firearm work. It is the set of moving parts that load, fire and unload the firearm. This course recognizes five types of firearm actions most commonly used by hunters:
• Hinged-Frame or Break-Open Action
• Bolt Action
• Lever Action
• Slide Action or Pump Action
• Semi-Automatic Action
To understand safe gun handling skills when loading, firing and unloading different firearm actions, the student should obtain hands-on instruction from a state or provincial certified hunter education instructor. It is best to attend a field day with demonstrations and practical activities, including live fire.
BOLT ACTION HINGED-FRAME OR BREAK-OPEN ACTION
This firearm has one or two barrels, side-by-side or over and under, that pivot on the frame, opening and closing the action for loading, firing and unloading cartridges. A lever on the frame is pushed to open the action.
This firearm has a handle or “bolt” that is pulled up and back to open the action and pushed forward and down to close the action, which loads, unloads and ejects cartridges.
This firearm has one barrel and the bolt action is designed for manual, repeat firing with single cartridges loaded one-by-one or from a tubular or box magazine containing additional cartridges.
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Types ofFIREARM ACTIONS
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SEMI-AUTOMATIC ACTION LEVER ACTION
This firearm operates when a lever under the receiver is pushed down to open the action and remove a cartridge.
Pushing up the lever loads a new cartridge from the tubular magazine. This firearm has one barrel with an action designed for manual, repeat loading, firing and reloading of cartridges from a tubular magazine containing additional cartridges.
This firearm operates automatically each time the trigger is pulled to fire, eject and load another cartridge for repeat firing.
This type of firearm has one barrel attached to the frame and uses the pressure from the gas of the fired cartridge to activate a spring-loaded mechanism to extract a fired cartridge and reload a new cartridge from the tubular or box magazine.
SLIDE ACTION OR PUMP ACTION This firearm has a movable forend connected to
the bolt in the receiver. Moving the forend to the rear opens the action and ejects a cartridge.
Moving the forend toward the muzzle loads a new cartridge and closes the action. This firearm has one barrel attached to the frame with an action designed for manual repeat loading, firing and reloading of cartridges from a tubular or box magazine containing additional cartridges.
Parts of Ammunition Rifle and handgun cartridges have four parts:
• Case: a small cylinder made of metal that holds all the other parts.
• Primer: a chemical compound that detonates when struck by the firing pin.
• Powder: a fast-burning chemical compound that ignites when sparked by the primer.
• Bullet: the projectile that a gun fires at a target.
The shotgun cartridge, called a “shotshell,” has one additional part, called the “wad.”
The shotshell usually has a case or hull made of plastic to contain the other four parts.
The wad in a shot shell is a plastic cup or a fiber disk. It keeps the powder and shot separate, and it contains the shot as it travels through the shotgun barrel.
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Types ofAMMUNITION
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Primer
Primer
Powder PowderCase/Hull
Case/HullBulletWad Shot
Primer
Primer
Powder PowderCase/Hull
Case/HullBulletWad Shot
Rifles, handguns and shotguns fire ammunition. A single piece of ammunition is called a cartridge.
Rimfire and Centerfire Cartridges Cartridges are classified into two main types:
• Rimfire cartridge • Centerfire cartridge
Rimfire Cartridge The rimfire cartridge has the priming compound located on the inside of the rim, which is a narrow edge on the outside of the cartridge head. This cartridge is fired when the firing pin strikes the rim, detonating
the priming compound, igniting the powder and sending the bullet to the target.
Rimfire cartridges are made for rifles and handguns with .17 and .22 caliber barrels. The .22s are made in short, long, long rifle and magnum loads.
Centerfire Cartridge The centerfire cartridge is made for rifles, handguns and shotguns. It has a primer in a small cap in the center of the cartridge head. When the firing pin strikes the primer, it detonates the primer, ignites the powder and sends the
bullet or shot to the target.
There are many varieties of centerfire cartridges for use in rifles, handguns and shotguns. Because some cartridges are similar in size, shape and color, it is very important to select the correct ammunition for the firearm.
Shot The “shot” is the projectile in a shotshell. It consists of a number of pellets from very small to as large as the diameter or gauge of the bore.
Shot is made from lead, steel, bismuth and tungsten. Federal and state hunting regulations give the size and material or type of shot that is legal for hunting various kinds of game animals. For instance, it is illegal to be in possession of lead shot when hunting waterfowl.
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Types ofAMMUNITION
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Note: It is always very important to be sure of using the correct cartridge for a firearm, in terms of its size, caliber and gauge. Using the wrong cartridge in the firearm can possibly cause serious injury to the shooter or others who are nearby.
Federal and state or provincial laws provide guidelines for hunting. These laws tell people what they can and cannot do when hunting.
The purpose of these hunting laws and regulations is to:
• Manage hunting of non-migratory game species, such as deer, wild turkey, pheasants, etc.
• Provide opportunities for hunters to harvest game, which helps manage wildlife populations.
• Keep hunting safe for hunters and non-hunters.
When planning a hunt, obtain a copy of the hunting regulations booklet for the state or province where the hunt will take place. These are available from the wildlife conservation agency, retail outlets for hunting equipment, and the website for the state or province.
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Laws and RegulationsFOR HUNTING
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Wearing hunter or blaze orange makes hunters highly visible to other hunters. In the U.S., 40 states require hunters to wear hunter orange while hunting, with exceptions for hunting game species that have better color vision than humans, such as wild turkey or waterfowl. Wearing hunter orange reduces the chance of a hunting-related shooting incident, which can occur when a hunter mistakes another person for game, does not check in front or beyond the target before shooting, or fires the gun in the direction of another person while swinging on game.
HUNTER ORANGE
Crossing Obstacles Hunting involves making the right choices for personal safety at all times and especially when crossing an obstacle, such as a fence, stream, downed tree, slippery ground or rock wall. When encountering an obstacle while hunting alone, follow these steps.
• Unload the firearm.
• Keep the action open.
• Keep the safety on.
• Lay the firearm on the ground on the opposite side of the obstacle.
• Cross the obstacle.
• Be careful not to pull the firearm toward you by the muzzle. While keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, retrieve the firearm and inspect it to be sure that the barrel and action are clear of debris and obstructions.
• Reload the firearm and close the action.
• Keep the safety on until ready to shoot.
When hunting with companions and there is an obstacle, follow the steps above, but instead of laying firearms on the ground, take turns holding them until everyone has crossed.
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Safe Handling ofFIREARMS
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Take turns holding firearms, crossing and passing firearms over the obstacle.
Keep the firearm action open when crossing an obstacle.
hunting area and within sight of one another. Each hunter holds both arms straight out from the chest with thumbs up. The hunters then widen their arms until each makes a 45 degree angle with their arms. Each hunter can then see where his or her zone of fire is located and where it intersects with the other hunters’.
Hunters must keep in a straight line and within sight of each other at all times.When a game animal comes into the field, hunters take turns shooting until all bag limits are reached or hunting ends.
Safe Zones of Fire The “zone of fire” is the area into which a hunter may shoot safely.
In a safe zone of fire there are:
• No people.
• No buildings that could be occupied by people or, domestic animals.
Also, the game animal is clearly identified, there are no obstructions, such as tree branches that could cause the bullet to ricochet, and the game animal is within the range of the firearm.
When hunting with companions, the zone of fire depends on the location of each person in the group. To determine zones of fire, all hunters form a line facing the
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Safe Handling ofFIREARMS
Safe Transport of Firearms When transporting firearms in a motor vehicle, consult the firearms laws for the states and provinces on the travel route to the hunt. When in doubt, follow these safety rules. The firearm should be:
• Unloaded
• Locked with a trigger or chamber lock
• Enclosed in a case.
• Stored in the trunk of the vehicle or not accessible by anyone in the passenger compartment.
• Store ammunition in a separate container.
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The hunter in the middle of the group has a narrower zone of fire because of the intersecting zones of fire.
When a hunter has the chance to take a shot at wild game, the hunter’s goal is to make a one-shot, clean kill. A responsible hunter does not want to miss or wound game.
A well placed shot puts the game down almost immediately, which is the ethical thing to do when harvesting game. In this way the animal does not escape wounded or suffer.
Also, when making a good shot, field dressing the animal is relatively easy. There is little or no damage to meat, which will be processed later for the table.
To Make the Quick Clean Kill
The Hunter must:
• Have a clear view and be able to positively identify the animal.
• Be within the gun’s shooting range and within the range that the hunter is capable of making a one-shot, clean kill.
• Avoid obstructions such as trees and branches that may cause the bullet or shot to ricochet.
• Know the exact location of the animal’s organs.
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Making A QuickCLEAN KILL
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The hunter should know
where to place a killing shot in
the animal’s vital organs.
WHAT CAUSES MEAT SPOILAGE?
PRESERVING AND STORING HIGH QUALITY GAME MEAT REQUIRES:
As soon as possible after the game animal has been put down with a quick clean kill, the hunter should field dress it.
Field dressing a game animal involves opening up the abdominal cavity with a knife and removing the entrails. Care must be taken when field dressing not to cut into intestines and get those juices on the meat. The hunter should also take care that those juices are kept
off the hands so that meat is not spoiled by touching it.
Wild game meat has the same risks with harmful bacteria as other perishable meats, such as beef, pork, lamb and chicken.
Not following proper field dressing procedures can spoil the meat and make anyone who eats it sick.
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THE THREE CAUSES OF MEAT SPOILAGE ARE:
Dirt: prevent feathers, fur, feces, dirt and grime from touching the meat.
Heat: cool down the carcass as soon as possible.
Moisture: keep the meat dry.
Field dressing the game animal properly and immediately after it expires
Keeping the carcass clean, cool and dry.
Preserving and Storing High Quality Game Meat Requires:
Prepare for the Hunt
Before the hunt begins, complete this pre-hunt checklist:
• Know the game and non-game animals in the area of the hunt.
• Know the hunting equipment.
• Check the hunting laws and regulations.
• Obtain proper license, tags, permits and stamps.
• Obtain landowner permission and follow the rules for hunting on that land.
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Make a Hunt Plan and Stick to the Plan
Before departing for a hunt, the hunter should make a hunt plan and leave a message or tell someone about the hunt.
A hunt plan includes this information:
• Game animal(s) to hunt.
• Hunting equipment (gun or bow).
• Proper clothing for weather and safety.
• Other hunters in the hunt party.
• Map of the property to be hunted.
• Area of the property map where the hunt will occur for each individual.
• Time for leaving home.
• Time the hunt begins each day.
• Time the hunt ends each day.
• Time expected back home.
Making and following a hunt plan helps keep the hunter safe while on the hunt. It also helps family and friends take appropriate and timely action in case the hunter does not return home when expected. Emergency rescue personnel will know exactly where to locate the hunter in case illness or injury prevents walking out without assistance.
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The course features photos and interactive animation to replicate what you see in the field as opposed to the watercolor illustrations you find in the other courses. A University of Virginia Study indicates a higher level of retention for learners when photos as opposed to illustrations are used to support the material.
Hunter Ed Course is so confident in our materials and course structure that we offer a money back guarantee if you do not pass.
Visit www.HunterEdCourse.com now for the latest “How-to” and “Gear” articles, and online state-approved hunter safety courses.
Hunter Ed Course is a leading provider of online hunter education and a web-ready resource for the new and existing hunter.
The online hunter education course is available at www.HunterEdCourse.com Hunter Ed Course hunter safety training is a state-approved course in many states. Check your state fish and game agency website to determine if Hunter Ed Course is approved for your state, or you can visit www.HunterEdCourse.com
Hunter Ed Course hunter education is the lowest priced online narrated course option at $13, nearly half the price of the other options.
$13
