CENTRE COUNTY — Final approval for the 2024-25 hunting and trapping season were given in April of this year by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners. At the time, the Game Commission announced that 1,186,000 antlerless deer licenses were to be allocated, up from 1,095,000 the year prior, for the hunting season.
Gun safety is essential year-round, especially during hunting season.
The official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has several resource videos surrounding firearm safety. The videos also show new users the basic foundations of using a firearm.
At first glance, it can be challenging to determine if a firearm is loaded or not. “Treat every firearm as if it were loaded,” the training video shared, also demonstrating how to load and unload a firearm.
“The second cardinal rule to firearm safety is keep the muzzle pointed in the safest direction,” the next video of the series said. In case of an accident, following this firearm safety tip helps to minimize the risk of hurting a bystander or yourself. The video suggested pointing the muzzle to the ground when not in use.
“Keep your finger off the trigger alongside the trigger guard until you’re on target ready to fire,” the video stated. Avoiding an accidental discharge is key in order to keep those around you and yourself safe.
“Knowing your target and what is beyond it is important for your safety,” the video explained. The video warned that there may be “splash back” when shooting at a target and that it is important to be able to exit the space you are shooting in safely.
According to the next video in the series, gunshots can reach up to 150 decibels, which is enough to damage your hearing. Wearing protective hearing and vision gear can help prevent damage and ensure you can enjoy hunting season for years to come.
“Securing and storing your firearm consists of putting your weapon in a gun safe gun box,” the video said. When purchasing a gun and obtaining a permit or license it is solely for you and should stay that way, proper storage keeps it out of reach of others hands.
The final video in the series touched on the importance of keeping track of your firearm’s information so that it can be tracked if it is lost or stolen.
“The three main items to document are make, model and serial number,” the video informed.
