Shooting pheasant has been a favorite hobby for many people over the years.  It can be a relaxing and fun diversion from our busy, technology-ridden lives.  As with any type of hunting, it is important to remember safety in the field and conservation of the flock.  If done correctly, safety and fun can go hand in hand.  And, if the proper guidelines are followed, there can be pheasant for generations to come.

When shooting pheasant, as in any type of hunting, it is important to remember rules of gun safety.  Make sure you carry your weapon in a safe manner to avoid accidents.  Always point the barrel of the gun in a safe direction.  The safe direction will depend on your position, relative to the other hunters and dogs.  For the hunter in front, usually a forward hold will be better.  For the hunter in the back, the barrel should be up or back.  Make sure you decide ahead of time where the range will be for each hunter to aim and shoot.  One can take the left and one can take the right, but caution must be first and foremost in everyone's mind.  Don't forget about the dog.  Many dogs become victims of hunting accidents when hunters don't plan on the dog running up ahead and getting in the way of a shot. 

Make sure you take a gun safety course or hunter's education class to be fully aware of how to handle guns, where to aim, when to take the gun off of safety, when to load the bullets, etc.  You're never too old to learn more safety tips and taking the class again with a younger hunter may help them be less afraid, too.  Many times, this is required for a license to hunt.

Hunting licenses are very important and should be kept current and carried with you on every hunt.  Hunting without a license is a major "no no" and can bring stiff consequences.  There are guidelines for how many birds each hunter can get, so follow those guidelines and don't get crazy.  Those numbers are for preservation of the flock and need to be followed responsibly to avoid diminishing numbers of pheasant. 

When safety measures and precautions are taken, and people follow the guidelines of the fish and game department, they are more likely to have a great time without any accidents or trouble with the law when shooting pheasant.