Not true.
But until you are set-up, you shouldn't load.
And until you're ready to fire, the safety should be on.
When you're ready to leave... unload.
Ever scare up a bunny and try to load, aim, and fire before it's gone? Same thing with pushing deer late in the season.
Gun Rule #1B, Treat every gun as if it were a loaded gun
Gun rule #1A, Never, ever, at anytime allow yourself to be in front of the muzzle of any gun.
This appears to be a terrible and tragic accident.
>Not true.
Okay...
You are obviously not a very experienced hunter. ;-)
Most of the deer hunting I did growing up was still hunting, but there are many types...and many of those require movement with chambered rounds.
I know exactly were this happened, and it's about 200 yds from the road. In other words, illegal to be firing off rounds.
The article says he carried the boy "at least 200 yards" to where the truck was parked, and it doesn't say that the truck was parked on a public road. Besides, 200 yards is four times the legal distance from the road for firearm discharge. From the Abstracts of the 2005 Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife Laws:
Discharge of any Firearm or release of any arrow upon or across any state or hard-surfaced highway, or within 150 feet of any such highway, or possession of a loaded firearm, discharge of a firearm or hunting on the land of another within 500 feet of any dwelling or building in use, except as authorized by the owner or occupant thereof.It might or might not be appropriate to do so, but your criticism of this man is unfounded.
Setup? You mean standing still in your spot?
I guess you never stalked game?
Maybe if you are deer hunting, so shut up. How many guys in a duck blind only load their guns when the duck presents itself going by at 90 mph? How many jump shooters in the field only load when the quail flushes or the pheasant springs? You might be a hunter, but I bet you don't kill too many birds.
That may be what you do, but it has nothing to do with avoiding unintended spurious and stray discharges.