Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019 - 59

"In doing this, you are taking control of
your eyes by not letting them be lazy and
look at what is closest to them. Instead,
you are hard focusing only on the front of
the bird and pointing, not aiming, to get
the barrel where it needs to be. Always
remember: eyes first to the front of the
bird and the gun will follow."

SAFETY & ETIQUETTE
FREDERICK W. WENTLING
Pennsylvania State Police
Sergeant w Retired Firearm
and Tool Mark Examiner w
State/U.S. Court Qualified
Ballistics Expert w Former
firearms instructor and lifelong hunter and shooter

"I spend a lot of time in the field,
hunting all over the country, and countless hours on ranges. One of the biggest
problems I've encountered is the improper
handling of firearms. It seems people who
should know better sometimes get sloppy
with their gun safety and make careless
mistakes. That should never happen.
"Always ensure your muzzle is pointed
in a safe direction and be aware of how
far your shot will go. In my career, I've
had cases where longtime hunters with
decades of experience wounded others
by not knowing how far shot travels. Size
7½ shot will fly approximately 200 yards,
and number four shot can hit nearly 300
yards. Always be aware of your backdrop.
"Never lay your loaded firearm on the
ground, especially when hunting with
dogs, as they can step on and discharge
a shotgun easier than you think. The
action should always be opened and
shells removed. Likewise, keep in mind
dogs can also jump up into the air during
a flush, so only shoot birds in flight at eye
level or higher with blue sky all around.
SEPTEMBER 2019	

"When hunting in a small group we
designate areas of responsibility and call
shots, always being wary of slant angles.
The hunter in the center confines his shot
to straight ahead, left takes left, and right
takes right. We also use pointing dogs and
break open shotguns, so we hunt with
guns open until the point and time of the
shot for added safety.
"A lot of it comes down to situational
awareness. When people go into shoot
mode, everything tends to narrow into a
small cone, time slows, and the mind is
focused on the shot, but thinking needs to
be done before the firing sequence starts.
"We must repeatedly remind ourselves
of our surroundings and shooting limits
to ensure the safety and wellbeing of
everyone in our hunting party - both twolegged and four-legged alike."

FLOCK SHOOTING
TYLER COLEMAN
Delta Waterfowl
Swatara Creek Chapter
chairman w Full-time
waterfowl taxidermist at
Kanati Taxidermy wDie-hard
waterfowl hunter, from
September through spring

"The first time I picked up a shotgun
at age 12, preparing to go on a dove hunt,
I wanted to use my grandpa's old pump
shotgun capable of shooting three shells.
He insisted on giving me his single shot.
There was a reason he chose to offer this
particular shotgun.
"'You will learn to shoot one
dove, before you try to shoot three,'
he said.
"This was my grandfather's way of
teaching me to pick out a lone bird from
the flock.
"Flock shooting is one of the most
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Pennsylvania Game News - September 2019

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