Show SHOTS FROM THE MOUNTAIN By KENNETH KENNET TUTTLE Utah State Fish and Game Conservation Officer One of the biggest problems that I have to deal with concerns concerns concerns con con- cerns boys and guns I dont don't feel too bad when I have to take a gun away from some adult who has violated the game laws butto butto but butto to have to take a young boys boy's gun away from him because he hasn't had proper instruction or supervision just dont don't seem right I think that for a boy to know how to handle and use a gun properly should be considered avital avital a avital vital part of his education We Ve are very fortunate here in Utah to have a new gun and hunter safety law that requires all young hunters to receive this type tra training ning before legally hunting hunting hunting hunt hunt- ing game We Ve cant can't give thanks enough to those instructors that spend so much time and effort training themselves and the young hunters in this worthwhile cause In one year statistics prove that it saved lives property property property prop prop- erty and sorrow and to the young hunter who might have killed his buddy or father We Te as parents can help a lot by encouraging the instructors and young hunters inthis inthis in inthis this endeavor The law states A boy cant can't legally own or possess a gun until he has reached the age of fourteen He is then allowed to hunt game if he has passed the hunter safety course and is ac accompanied accompanied accompanied ac- ac companied by his parent or an adult over twenty If he is fourteen or older he can hunt non-game non species such as rabbits rabbits rabbits rab rab- bits squirrels chucks and crows alone He is still a juvenile andis and andis is under the jurisdiction of his parents Upon reaching sixteen he is allowed to hunt big game and is considered old enough to hunt alone This does not qualify qualify qualify him as an adult to accompany accompany accompany pany a younger hunter TIP TO HUNTERS One of the most dangerous and common hazards while hunting is to get an obstruction in the barrel of your rifle or shotgun It is very easy to get a little mud or snow in the end of the I gun This causes the barrel to toI I blow up and with modern high powered ammunition the explosion I sion is terrific When this happens happens hap hap- pens the gun is surely lost and I there is a chance of losing a aI hand eyesight or even a l life c. c I By removing the charge and bullet from a shell and discharging ing the primer there is enough pressure to completely clear the barrel A rifle slug can be removed re removed removed re- re moved in the field by putting the lead slug in the barrel and prying back and forth until loosened remove and pour out powder A shotgun bullet can be cut in iii two with a pocket knife To be safe these could be prepared prepared prepared pre pre- pared ahead of time and a load of this type carried in the bar bar- rel It only takes a se second ond to shoot it then you know the barrel barrel barrel bar bar- rel is clear and safe DID YOU KNOW By allowing your bird dog to roam the fields during the nesting nesting nest nest- ing ng period you are letting him himI I destroy more birds than you and your friends will kill in several years of hunting |