Do you REALLY clear the chamber @ every fence crossing / gate opening??

[AKElroy]

Just curious. I will admit NOT clearing when crossing fences or opening gates. I place the rifle / shotgun against a steady rest, (and clear if their is none), safety on, and get to the other side & then retrieve. Am I in shooters prison?

I keep the 4 rules religiously. Am I all wet in believing that is enough?

 

[kd7nqb]

I will admit I am very new to hunting but not new to guns. I assume you are talking about when you climbing over a fence or something like that where you going to be putting the gun in an awkward position?

When I hunt I keep my gun ready to go at all times but I did take the round out of the chamber when were were crossing a river last year, I figured if I fell in there was no need to shoot by buddies at the same time.

 

[schlockinz]

I place my gun under the fence, facing away, safety on (always is till ready to fire) then I cross. I see no reason to unchamber then, especially since this is usually done while pond jumping with the pond near the fence (chambering would scare them off, or push them further out)

 

[Warhawk83]

The last post is the way to do it. IF you hold the gun while crossing the fence OR keep it in the sling,PLEASE clear the chamber. My father shot off one of his fingers when he was a kid..crossing a fence...

 

[rcmodel]

I hunt with a Browning A-5 or a 20 ga Ithaca double.

SO, yes, I always unload every time I cross a fence.

It's a simple matter with the Browning magazine cut-off, and a double-gun begs to be opened at a fence crossing.

Almost every year in Kansas, we have some hunter get shot from a bird dog jumping on a loaded gun while it is laying in the grass and knocking the safety off, or dragging one under a fence by the muzzle.

It is also a Rule we hammered on in Hunter Safety classes I have taught in the past.

If you hunt with a semi-auto without a mag cut-off, open the bolt far enough to stick an empty shell case or weed stem in the bolt and hold it partially open & out of battery at least.

rc

 

[AKElroy]

Almost every year in Kansas, we have some hunter get shot from a bird dog jumping on a loaded gun while it is laying in the grass and knocking the safety off, or dragging one under a fence by the muzzle.

This is a good point, exactly the type of info I am seeking with my post. I do not hunt dove with dogs, and I never cross a fence with gun in hand / sling. I usually lien it against a firm rest, usualy the gate post, then climb over. Yesterday, other hunters were there with dogs, and they were very unruly. Good point----

 

[bswiv]

Never thought about the DOG angle, but then have no experence with dogs to speak of.

My guns, per my long passed fathers instruction, either get laid on the ground away from the place I am crossing or if there is a reason that can not be done they are UNLOADED. Ain't nothing out there worth getting shot over or shooting someone else over.

Safety first even if it makes you look like a wuss...........but you'll be the UNHURT wuss!

 

[wyohome]

Depending on conditions, I lay it on the ground away from me, hand them to a partner on the other side, or unload and carry it through the fence. I have seen too many fences break down while crossing to lean a weapon on one while under stress.

 

[ArmedBear]

Don't prop the gun against a gate. That's a sure-fire way for it to fall.

For dove hunting, it's hard to beat a break-action gun (20 or 28 Gauge). I'll take 2 chokes over 3 shots. They're easier to unload and/or make safe, too.

 

[MCgunner]

I place my gun under the fence, facing away, safety on (always is till ready to fire) then I cross.

+1

My double guns, I break open, easy enough, then lay 'em on the other side of the fence.

 

[ArmedBear]

Oh wait...

You said DOVE hunting.

Hell, just throw the gun on the seat of your truck and drive through the fence. Sounds like a bad idea? It won't after another sixer.

Of course, your passenger will be using the gun through the window to blast at dragonflies, bats and sparrows while you're bashing the fence down, anyway, so it'll be unloaded eventually.

 

[chevyforlife21]

if i think i might fall or if i have to jump over a stream yes. if climbing over a rock wall ill just point it in the right direction with the safety on and be carefull.

 

[ArmedBear]

When hunting the steep, rocky high country, you could fall any time. But birds flush wild, too, so if you have an unloaded/unchambered gun, you can kiss off shooting any.

Not sure what to do, so I use my judgment and keep the gun positioned and pointed where dropping it won't be tragic.

 

[Nicodemus38]

serious question here, why cant a person simply OPEN the gate and not climb over or under it?

 

[MCgunner]

You assume there's a gate.....

Oh wait...

You said DOVE hunting.

Hell, just throw the gun on the seat of your truck and drive through the fence. Sounds like a bad idea? It won't after another sixer.

Of course, your passenger will be using the gun through the window to blast at dragonflies, bats and sparrows while you're bashing the fence down, anyway, so it'll be unloaded eventually.

WHAT? Hell, we usually limit out on the high lines on the way out to the field. We get to the field, we just clean 'em and hit the beer.

 

[oneounceload]

I'll walk through the gate.....if going through the fence, I'll either hand the gun to someone, or at least just open the action - shotgun, rifle- so it is safe......

 

[AKElroy]

Hell, just throw the gun on the seat of your truck and drive through the fence. Sounds like a bad idea? It won't after another sixer.

Yes, all we Texans get all liquered up to hunt dove, and we drive trucks 11 ft tall, so fences are really not much of an obstacle.

Actually, I do not drink at all, or hunt with folks that do, (while hunting, anyway). For truck carry, all muzzles are in the floorboard, all chambers empty, all actions open or they get no ride.

I do have a ridiculously tall truck, though.

 

[AKElroy]

The last post is the way to do it.

That is the way I do it.

 

[ArmedBear]

Yes, all we Texans get all liquered up to hunt dove, and we drive trucks 11 ft tall, so fences are really not much of an obstacle.

I was thinking about the irrigated desert farmland of southeastern California and southwestern Arizona, where I've done most of my dove hunting.

In Texas, I figured you got liquored up to drive there in the first place.

Before the sun went down today, I did a little dove hunting just outside the city limits. Had to climb up and down some steep hills and canyons, and needed my dog to find and retrieve them in the brush. I was sober.

The upside? There was nobody else there, even though it was on the edge of town and a nice day. Never had that experience before, hunting doves.

 

[scythefwd]

Yes, I do clear every fence crossing. I don't clear if I am opening up a gate, but the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction (down) and the gun is on safe. I don't hunt with dogs so I don't worry about them hitting the safety. I have never encountered a gate that required both hands while hunting.

 

[fattboyzz]

if I am alone I simply put the weapon on the ground parallel with the fence and pointed away .....cross and then pick it back up .........all done carefully with the safety on ..

if hunting with a buddy I cross an he hands me the weapons an then he crosses ......

 

[Leaky Waders]

Unload, cross fence creek, get in boat, blind, or whatever...reload when ready to hunt.

There's no reason to have the gun loaded unless you're actively hunting imho.

It's just habit.

 

[natman]

If the gun isn't in my hand, the chamber is empty.

 

[AKElroy]

If the gun isn't in my hand, the chamber is empty.

I am coming around to the belief this may be rule #5.

 

[jmorris]

If you assume that someday you will experience an AD it’s best to avoid one that’s going to hurt someone. I would sooner stick the muzzle in the dirt than lean a loaded rifle muzzle up on a fence I’m crossing. That’s just stupid from a time to rechamber vs. risk aspect.