September 15, 2006

Cheyenne, Wyoming – Hunting ethics begin long before going afield. Sighting in rifles is a good example.

The responsibility and benefits of sighting in run deeper than just having the personal confidence of knowing where your bullet will hit.

“By taking the time to become a marksman, you show great respect for the quarry by having the ability to make the quickest, cleanest kills possible,” said Walt Gasson, special assistant to the director for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department planning coordinator. “That ethical respect will help perpetuate this autumn pastime.”

Gasson, who has researched strategies to promote hunting for the Game and Fish, encourages hunters to practice shots at a variety of distances to help prepare for every situation that might be encountered afield.

“If you’re unsure how your gun and bullet will perform in a certain situation, you have no business taking the shot,” Gasson said. “A wounded animal lost is the hunter’s greatest lament, and every step should be taken to prevent that.”

Ethics also pertain to shooting practice. The Game and Fish receives numerous complaints of persons sighting in rifles by shooting off public roads into private land. This illegal practice serves to strain hunter/landowner relations.

“Keep in mind that not every public lands user is a hunter,” advises Gasson. “If you target practice on public lands make sure you’re well away from other people and that you are shooting into a hill to stop all bullets. As with any activity, clean up all trash. Even before the actual hunt, we can influence non-hunters’ perception of hunting by our actions.”

Hunters are encouraged to sight in on public shooting ranges or to join a shooting club. Some private ranges conduct sight-in days where non-members can practice with their hunting rifles for a nominal fee.

The Game and Fish urges hunters to conduct themselves afield with the perspective of continuing the hunting legacy for future generations.

-WGFD-