Hunting Safely with Young Kids this Fall

By: Pete Muller
Public Relations Director for the National Wild Turkey Federation

As a single father of three younger kids, a passionate outdoorsman and a staffer at the National Wild Turkey Federation, one of the most cherished times of the year for me is spring turkey season and spending time in South Carolina’s hardwood bottoms, planted pines or field edges with my kids hunting wild turkey and hoping to hear a gobble. But, as my home state doesn’t have a fall turkey season, many of our weekend mornings and evenings right now are spent chasing deer and countless other game instead of turkeys, as I try to pass along my hunting heritage to the next generation.  

Now teaching safe practices to kids is huge part of being a parent, and as a responsible firearm owner, firearm safety is something I have hammered home since they were extremely young. Even though my firearms are all locked away in storage, they know the base rules for encountering a firearm —STOP, don’t touch, leave the area and tell an adult. With me and the kids spending more time afield hunting, and them now even carrying or holding firearms while we hunt together, the rules have been broadened as we work to hunt safely together as a family. 

Here are just a few of the things you too can do to ensure safety for you and your kids while in the woods this fall: 

• Plan ahead for the hunt to make sure you are properly equipped: Whether tree stand harness, headlamp, Thermacell, knife, first aid kit, water and snacks, make sure you are prepared for your hunt and the conditions and terrain you may encounter.   

• Let someone know where you will be going: Kids can use a phone easy enough, but letting a family member or friend know where you will be helps ensure safety should issues arise. 

• Travel to and from our home to the field with the firearms unloaded and in a proper case: While just a good safety practice, in South Carolina I have learned this is also especially important as it is unlawful to have an uncased firearm when traveling on game lands.  

• Always keep a firearm pointed in a safe direction when transporting or in the blind: As my kids are allowed to hunt big game in this state, they now are holding and transporting firearms and understand this is a core rule of firearm safety. 

• Keep the safety on and don’t put your finger on the trigger or in the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot, and return the safety to on once you take the shot: The chance of a firearm discharging without pulling the trigger and with having the safety on is pretty much zero, so this safety measure can nearly eliminate accidental discharges. 

• Wear a harness and use lifelines when in elevated stands: Falling, even from shorter heights off the ground can result in injury. Staying “tied” to your tree or ladder stand can reduce the risk of injuries from falling. 

• Properly identify your target and what is behind it: Once you pull the trigger, you cannot take back that shot. So, make sure you know your target and ensure you have a proper backstop behind the target.  

• Unload, clean and properly store your firearms upon returning home: After a hunt, it is easy to get caught up in all the things that need to be done, but unloading, cleaning and returning your firearm to a lockable storage or safe means that your gear is safely and securely stored until the next time you need it.  

Hunting together as a family is the greatest way to pass on our hunting heritage, so make sure your pursuits are not just successful, but also safe. 

Pete Muller is the Public Relations director at the National Wild Turkey Federation.  Follow NWTF on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and at nwtf.org.