Elk hunting accident -- Colorado
- Thread starter DouglasW
- Start date
- Status
Lennyjoe
Member
Totally avoidable.
I never release the safety until I'm locked on to the target and ready to fire. Also never chamber a round until I get out of the vehicle, unload and load after climbing an obstruction and always empty prior to getting into a vehicle.
I never release the safety until I'm locked on to the target and ready to fire. Also never chamber a round until I get out of the vehicle, unload and load after climbing an obstruction and always empty prior to getting into a vehicle.
WayneConrad
Member
And, don't attempt to catch falling firearms.
What a terrible happening.
What a terrible happening.
Jet22
Member
I have never allowed my kids to chamber a round untill they were actually in the blind and hunting. They aways unloaded the gun before walking back to the house. They were never allowed to shoot running game anyway, which is what they would most likely see walking to or from the blind. Still, this is as sad as it gets for all involved.
A safety, even when engaged can fail. The 4 rules of gun handling still apply, whether hunting or target shooting.
The amazing thing is... this stuff really doesn't happen that often, and Hunter's Safety Courses are a good part of why it doesn't happen often.
While it's too late for those involved in this tragedy, it's not for us. CHECK the safety, use your head, don't point a gun at anyone.
The amazing thing is... this stuff really doesn't happen that often, and Hunter's Safety Courses are a good part of why it doesn't happen often.
While it's too late for those involved in this tragedy, it's not for us. CHECK the safety, use your head, don't point a gun at anyone.
Lennyjoe
Member
True fact!
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
An effort to catch a falling rifle is a reflex thing and is generally unstoppable.
I generally leave the bolt handle up, and don't use the safety. If "just travelling" with others, separate from actually hunting, I generally don't have a round in the chamber. The bolt is fully open "in case of in case I see something".
Art
I generally leave the bolt handle up, and don't use the safety. If "just travelling" with others, separate from actually hunting, I generally don't have a round in the chamber. The bolt is fully open "in case of in case I see something".
Art
Cosmoline
Member
I disagree. I've had to carry long guns of all types in the woods up here, and I make a point of taking ones that I don't worry too much about. If they fall (and they sometimes do), I let them fall. That goes for Mosins to Mossbergs. In fact I'm not averse to throwing them on the ground--unloaded of course--to emphasize their role and purpose. I think a lot of folks are taught from a young age that firearms are fragile and delicate things. So they grab for them. But any firearm that will break if dropped does not belong in the wilderness.
hoghunting
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2006
- Messages
- 1,604
Emergency rooms have quite a few people each year being treated for cuts from catching falling knives. I'll agree with Art that it is hard not to grab for something that is falling.
wanderinwalker
Member
That is a tragedy for all involved. So sad.
As for catching falling objects, I agree with the reflex camp. I've learned to stop going for falling knives, only AFTER seeing somebody get stitches from trying to stop one with his foot (true story). Now I kind of jump back and make small. A firearm? Can't say for sure.
As for catching falling objects, I agree with the reflex camp. I've learned to stop going for falling knives, only AFTER seeing somebody get stitches from trying to stop one with his foot (true story). Now I kind of jump back and make small. A firearm? Can't say for sure.
Jet22
Member
I used to do the same thing...that is to say when we ran into each in the woods, came up to the house, or were leaving to hunt from the house I would flip the bolt handle up with a live round in the chamber. At a later time, I could put he bolt handle back down and engage the saftey. That was when I hunted mostly with Rugers.
About 15 years ago I got my first Sako. It is a super rifle, a Lightweight Hunter in 308, 7 pounds 12 ounces fully loaded with a Leupold 2.5-8. Anyway, I found out (quite by accident) the bolt trick dosen't work quite as well with this rifle.
My brother and I were up at the house for lunch and getting ready to go back out. We were standing in the yard talking, my bolt handle was up as was his. I had the rifle by the sling on my shoulder with the muzzel pointed towards the sky. Everything fine. While I was gripping the rifle I bumped the trigger and noticed an audible click. That should have been my first clue, but it wasen't. We seperated, he went around one side of the house and I the other both heading toward the back. While the gun was on my shoulder. I reached around and slapped the bolt closed as I had done a hundred times before. BOOM! That was the last time I ever did that! Fortunately the only thing I shot was the sky. Sometimes we just dodge the bullet (dumb luck?). I hunt with a Ruger No. 1 now and flipping the lever open is much safter on this gun. My son uses the Sako (he shot his first deer with it and wouldn't give it back) and I made him aware of the problem.
Gun accidents can happen to anyone at any time. If you think you are above it, I don't want to hunt with you! The more you handle a gun, the more the odds increase that you will have an accidental discharge. The only people that don't have ever have an accidental discharge are the people that never handle a gun(even they can be a victim). Keep the muzzel pointed in a safe direction at all times and never point a gun at anything you would not want to shoot!!
Cosmoline
Member
Just teach yourself to let the rifle hit the rocks. Unload it and drop it on purpose. Concentrate on just stepping back. Ram the buttstock into trees. People are too gentle with their firearms.
~z
Member
I assume you are using an unscoped rifle?
~z
~z
sixgunner455
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2006
- Messages
- 3,052
Jet22 -- elk are not hunted from a blind. You must walk if you want an elk.
I will never own (famous last words) a Win Mod 70 because of hunting with some family members who had them: their safeties were always being bumped off just from walking through the trees and brush. And there were rounds chambered. My brother traded his for a Savage after that hunt.
A sad, sad story.
I will never own (famous last words) a Win Mod 70 because of hunting with some family members who had them: their safeties were always being bumped off just from walking through the trees and brush. And there were rounds chambered. My brother traded his for a Savage after that hunt.
A sad, sad story.
Old Time Hunter
Member
Very sad. Why is there a need to have a live round in the chamber while hiking?
Harve Curry
Member
I'm with Art. There is alot of merit to carrying with the bolt slightly open. I've been doing it for decades with lever actions, bolts, falling blocks and break opens. It safer then a safety and the gun can still be made ready quickly if needed. But generally it's not taught as an option in Hunters Safety.
'Card
Member
Year before last on a hunting trip, my Dad (who is honestly the safest guy I know when it comes to guns) had an AD that was a real wake-up for all of us.
We'd been hacking and beating our way through some really heavy brush, and our assumption is that a branch or something must have pushed his safety off - he hunts with a Remington 7400 in .30-06, and it has one of those push-button safeties behind the trigger. The gun was hanging from his right shoulder, and he reached around with his left hand and grabbed it near the trigger to take it down. It was around 5 or 6 degrees that day, and he had a heavy pair of gloves on, and apparently grabbed the trigger in the process.
Thank God the gun was pointing straight up in the air when it went off, but it was pretty scary. Dad's hat landed a good 10 feet away from him, and he couldn't hear much out of his right ear for a few days.
We'd been hacking and beating our way through some really heavy brush, and our assumption is that a branch or something must have pushed his safety off - he hunts with a Remington 7400 in .30-06, and it has one of those push-button safeties behind the trigger. The gun was hanging from his right shoulder, and he reached around with his left hand and grabbed it near the trigger to take it down. It was around 5 or 6 degrees that day, and he had a heavy pair of gloves on, and apparently grabbed the trigger in the process.
Thank God the gun was pointing straight up in the air when it went off, but it was pretty scary. Dad's hat landed a good 10 feet away from him, and he couldn't hear much out of his right ear for a few days.
WayneConrad
Member
I've got a .22 that I tried carrying with the bolt partly open, but the bolt on that gun closes pretty easily. Unslung my rifle one day to discover that the bolt was fully closed, just from being bumped at some point.
MD_Willington
Member
My father worked for Wilkinson Sword in the UK, a lab technician dropped a double edged razor blade and instinctively attempted to catch the blade.
The tech caught the blade between his right forefinger and thumb, realizing he had now almost severed the tip of his finger and thumb he instantly dropped the blade.
Now this is the worse part, he again attempted to catch the same blade with his left forefinger and thumb, it was a total mess in the lab afterwards.
Guns_and_Labs
Member
Yes, very sad. From my perspective, the problem isn't having a live round in the chamber while hiking... I do that frequently. I don't want to spook the deer by working the bolt, I want a quicker response, etc. But if there's a round in the chamber, the rifle is in my hands and I handle it as live.
Never while slung. No matter whether the safety is on or the bolt is partially open.
On using the bolt as the safety, I don't think I'd be comfortable with that. It seems that the bolt is too easily closed. But to each his own. So long as you don't rely on the mechanical safety at the expense of the four rules.
carterbeauford
member
I agree, though note that this is a learned behavior, I am surprised no one referred to this as an instinctive behavior. Simply, you see your expensive rifle fall, and your learned reaction is to grab it. This of course occurs without thought, but is not a biological drive.
A bad situation all around, prayers for the family, I would not wish that on anyone. If anything, maybe some will learn from this and be a little more careful in the field.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Sad. I can only imagine what the son must be feeling like.
Very sad, I feel for the family
Posting at the end normally means nobody reads it but you do have the insights of the previous posts. This is a good incident to remember and use for safety talks, with hunting pals as you leave the camp or vehicle. My dream as a Dad was for my son to enjoy the outdoors and he prefers organized sports. This father and son were enjoying the outdoors and then this occurred and will haunt the family forever. I have a good friend whose Dad had a heart attack in the woods and he felt very bad he was not able to carry him out and had to leave him alone (alive or deceased).
Without more data I feel we cannot determine cause and preventive actions. I do feel virtually every accident is preventable and firearms and hunting has some risks. I carry my rifle with a round in the chamber? I could not help but grab my falling rifle off my shoulder or even leaning against a tree as I am overly aware of protecting my scope from impact.
Cork
Posting at the end normally means nobody reads it but you do have the insights of the previous posts. This is a good incident to remember and use for safety talks, with hunting pals as you leave the camp or vehicle. My dream as a Dad was for my son to enjoy the outdoors and he prefers organized sports. This father and son were enjoying the outdoors and then this occurred and will haunt the family forever. I have a good friend whose Dad had a heart attack in the woods and he felt very bad he was not able to carry him out and had to leave him alone (alive or deceased).
Without more data I feel we cannot determine cause and preventive actions. I do feel virtually every accident is preventable and firearms and hunting has some risks. I carry my rifle with a round in the chamber? I could not help but grab my falling rifle off my shoulder or even leaning against a tree as I am overly aware of protecting my scope from impact.
Cork
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Carter, a few of us know that instinct is built in. Reflex is learned. They ain't synonymous.
Bolt-handle-up isn't the way for ALL rifles. It works well on most.
Safeties vary as to problems with brush or movement from one's clothing. I guess that about the closest to fool-proof is a tang safety or the Garand type. Fore-and-ft movement safeties aren't bad, though. For iron sights, the Mauser or Springfield "foldover" is fine.
Sure, the four conditions apply, but the mechanical aspects are situational. If you need to quickly "up and take a snap shot", you flat-out don't have time for a bunch of manipulation.
If you're just easing along in the brush, having the bolt handle up takes little time to close and "up and shoot". If you think Bambi is right behind a clump of brush, it's appropriate to have everything ready to go and appropriate to have the rifle raised or nearly so. If a guy steps out, he doesn't have antlers, so you don't shoot. Real simple.
You train reflexes into yourself. If you're ready to shoot, but then don't, you first raise the muzzle (or lower it, depending on what's safest at that location) while either putting on the safety or opening the bolt handle. That's just real simple and easy. Make it a habit.
Overall, though, you have to work out some system that suits YOU and protects others. Once you've done that forethought, stay with it. Don't get sloppy.
If the dadgum thing can't go Bang!, grabbing at it if it starts to fall CAN'T hurt anything. Forethought. About as difficult as taking the keys from the ignition when you exit your car...
Art
They ain't synonymous.Bolt-handle-up isn't the way for ALL rifles. It works well on most.
Safeties vary as to problems with brush or movement from one's clothing. I guess that about the closest to fool-proof is a tang safety or the Garand type. Fore-and-ft movement safeties aren't bad, though. For iron sights, the Mauser or Springfield "foldover" is fine.
Sure, the four conditions apply, but the mechanical aspects are situational. If you need to quickly "up and take a snap shot", you flat-out don't have time for a bunch of manipulation.
If you're just easing along in the brush, having the bolt handle up takes little time to close and "up and shoot". If you think Bambi is right behind a clump of brush, it's appropriate to have everything ready to go and appropriate to have the rifle raised or nearly so. If a guy steps out, he doesn't have antlers, so you don't shoot. Real simple.
You train reflexes into yourself. If you're ready to shoot, but then don't, you first raise the muzzle (or lower it, depending on what's safest at that location) while either putting on the safety or opening the bolt handle. That's just real simple and easy. Make it a habit.
Overall, though, you have to work out some system that suits YOU and protects others. Once you've done that forethought, stay with it. Don't get sloppy.
If the dadgum thing can't go Bang!, grabbing at it if it starts to fall CAN'T hurt anything. Forethought. About as difficult as taking the keys from the ignition when you exit your car...
Art
- Status
