Perhaps more than any other tools in hunting, firearms should be treated with great caution and respect. The argument could be made that guns, and to a lesser extent the bow and arrow, provide the hunter his greatest advantage over game, though man’s intelligence could also lay that claim. But no other item in the hunter’s toolbox has the potential to accidentally injure or kill him, his friends or family, or an innocent bystander.

Choose your guns carefully, and become as familiar with their workings and quirks as possible. Practice firing in a safe environment. And do not carry more firepower than is necessary for your hunt. Study and understand your guns. We will be covering much of the lingo associated with firearms and ammunition in the following pages. The sheer volume of knowledge can be intimidating, but is only an overview. Remember, you don’t have to know everything there is to know about every gun on the market unless you’re opening a gun shop.

New hunters should prepare plenty of questions and visit several gun shops when choosing a firearm. It would be a greater investment of your time to learn about the game you are hoping to kill. With this knowledge in hand, you can seek advice on what is the best weapon for your circumstances. Once you have made your choice and purchased weapon and ammunition.

Learn everything you can about that weapon. Practice with the weapon repeatedly under safe conditions until you are comfortable enough to use it in the wild. Firearms should be disassembled and regularly cleaned in order to work properly. Lastly store and carry your guns with care. Children should not have access to guns unless they are adequately supervised and trained.