Category Archives: Blog

When there more than two thousand dealers and members of the media standing in line to put live rounds downrange, gun safety becomes the paramount issue for everyone involved. It means there is absolutely no room for human error when it comes to gun safety.

SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range (“Industry Day”) is pleased to announce that Browning is the 2016 winner of the Action Target Safety Award. Browning held the highest standard of safety during the shooting event held on January 18 at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club in Boulder City, Nevada.

According to a prepared media release from Action Target, more than 90 Industry Day exhibitors were judged on their firearms safety practices by a panel of safety auditors. The scores for each exhibitor were based on specific safety criteria such as firearm handling, ammunition placement and maintaining a safe environment at their shooting stations.

“Browning is honored to receive the 2016 Industry Day At The Range safety award from Action Target. We realize the significance of this achievement which reinforces what we and everyone in our industry live and preach on a daily basis, SAFTEY, we do not take it lightly,” said Scott Grange, Browning’s Shooting Promotions Manger

The eleventh annual SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range took place on Monday, January 18, 2016. With more than 1,700 members of the media and over 600 buyers and dealers registered, Industry Day continues to be the largest hands-on media event in the hunting and shooting industry.

For more information about Browning, please visit Browning.com.

Every September, in every corner of whitetail country, it happens. While the majority of us are poring over the November calendar trying to figure out which days of the rut to hunt, word leaks out about someone who’s already put a monster buck in the books.

If you think that it is all just anecdotal hearsay, consider this: Over the past 10 years, 19 percent of all whitetail bucks entered into the Pope and Young Club record book were taken on or before October 15. In Outdoor Life’s own Deer of the Year contest, nearly a quarter of all whitetails entered were shot before October 15. Why the early-season big-buck success? The answer involves a bit of whitetail biology, combined with equal parts hardcore scouting and tactical savvy.

Step 1: Find Where He Eats
The beginning of hunting season finds whitetails in the feeding mode of their feed-breed-feed life cycle. Here’s how it works: In late summer, whitetails chow down on the most nutritious foods they can find. According to wildlife biologist and Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) education and outreach director Kip Adams, deer are genetically programmed to set up defined home ranges near highly nutritious food sources and heavy bedding cover. They move as little as possible in order to pile on the poundage in preparation for the rut—and winter—that follows.

“Whitetails are all about putting on weight in the early season,” says renowned whitetail authority Charles Alsheimer. “In fact, they’ll gain a full 20 percent of their weight from August 15 to October 15. The -early-season hunt, therefore, should be all about hunting food sources. The deer feed and bed, then bed and feed until the rut ramps up and the need to breed dominates their lives. But early on, they are eminently patternable.”

At some point in late summer (usually September), soft and hard mast becomes available, resulting in a shift in feeding patterns. First are soft-mast crops like apples, pears, persimmons, and a host of sugar-rich berries. Hard-mast crops like acorns and beechnuts, rich in carbohydrates and fats, are next, providing the stuff that builds reserves for the rut and winter ahead.

But killing a good whitetail buck in this pre-rut period involves more than understanding simple biology. It’s also about finding a place that is likely to hide a mature animal.

Step 2: Learn What He Does
Early-season devotees know which preferred foods are available and when deer seek them out. They also know precisely how to scout food sources to locate the buck they want. However, not all of them go about their business the same way.

Kansas outfitter Larry Konrade is one of the most successful whitetail outfitters in the country. Konrade, a big-buck specialist, says his favorite season to target trophy whitetails is during his state’s September and early–October bow and muzzleloader season. Konrade’s singular focus is getting his hunters in front of trophy bucks, and he delivers the goods year after year. Most of his hunters have opportunities at 170-inch bucks inside of 100 yards. One of the biggest they’ve killed grossed 190?2/8.

“Our deer go from bedding areas to feeding locations and back again,” says Konrade. “They are very patternable. All you need to do is watch them, figure them out—and get on them.”

Private-land hunters, like Konrade, are often able to identify specific bucks to hunt by staking out -planted-food sources.

“I can pretty much say that every deer we hunt has been patterned,” explains Konrade. “We use a lot of cameras and spend a lot of time in the field to find out what the big bucks are feeding on and how to hunt them. But more often than not, we’ll be watching a deer through a spotting scope from a distance of almost a mile or more. We have a lot of open country here in the Midwest, so we do a lot of spotting scope work.”

For public-land hunters, the chore is considerably more difficult. Not only is it a lot tougher to locate a specific buck to hunt on public land, but it’s also tougher to pattern him.

Michigan’s Chris Eberhart (pictured left) has formulated his own plan. Eberhart, who has lost count of the number of mature bucks he has killed on public land, prefers not to identify a specific buck to hunt. It can be done, but he sees it as a low-percentage game. Instead, he scrutinizes topo maps and aerial photos in search of remote pockets of habitat on public land where he knows big bucks will be—places where other hunters are unlikely to tread. If he finds a food source nearby, he knows that his chance at an early-season buck will come. Acorn-dropping white oaks, abandoned apple orchards, or even a single producing apple tree amid thick cover are his favorite stand locations.

“I really like areas that are isolated by water or swamps,” Eberhart says. “Deep gulches and super-steep slopes are also good places to hunt mature bucks. I mark areas like this the season before or in early spring.

“Scouting too close to the season is a great way to ruin the hunting,” he adds. “For public-land bucks, the need to feed is secondary to the imperative to stay alive. I scout the year or at least six months before I plan on hunting an area. All the mature bucks will be nocturnal in one to two days if they feel pressure. The way you pattern big bucks is to find an area where no one goes, and that’s where they will be. The sign will be there from the year before.”

Although he owns some land in New York State, bowhunter Jason Ashe (pictured left) also targets food sources on nearby public-hunting areas early in the season.

“I look for early-season food on public land just like I do on private property,” says Ashe. “The only difference is, I didn’t plant it. The state forests I hunt have been logged over the years, and these areas are covered with the berry bushes and young growth that deer love. I’ve found old farm sites with honeysuckle vines and all kinds of grown-up stuff that deer love to feed on. There are always some old apple trees around somewhere—you just have to put in the time scouting. These places are right there on the map.

“Another thing to keep in mind is that public-land deer definitely use private croplands. A deer will travel a mile or more to get to a field of beans or a patch of alfalfa. They may feed all night out in the open, but by daybreak they will be well back in the woods, where no one can reach them. Most guys hunt too close to the road. That’s why I study aerial photos to find human travel routes, then map them. This tells me where I don’t want to be. I like to set up on natural terrain funnels and crossings, and catch deer when they are coming back to their bedding sites.”

Step 3: Know When to Take Him
When the green flag comes down on opening day, there are two schools of thought on big bucks: Hunt them easy or hunt them tight and hard. The choice typically depends on the “where” of your specific hunting equation.
Savvy private-land hunters are all about keeping their targeted bucks calm and relaxed. They do not intrude, but rather nibble away at the edges of a buck’s territory in hopes of catching him with his guard down. They make their move when the time is right but avoid unnecessary pressure at all costs.

“During the early season, big bucks are still using open fields and can be easy to pattern, but that doesn’t mean they are easy to hunt,” says Bass Pro Shops’ Jerry Martin, who is a big fan of the pre-rut. “You can hunt a mature buck from the same stand for maybe one or two days, but then he’ll be onto you. You can’t be traipsing all over the woods and expect to kill him. I’m real careful to play the wind right and keep noise to a minimum—it’s critically important. Anything new or strange will alert a big buck in a hurry. Clinks and clanks are a dead giveaway. A buck that has been around for a while knows all about strange noises and smells. He may start the season relaxed, but it doesn’t take much to put him on alert.”

“We are super cautious to not pressure them,” says Konrade. “A big old buck won’t put up with it for long. We set and check cameras only when the deer are bedded. ”

On my 500-acre property in Upstate New York, my son Neil (pictured left) and I also go to great lengths to avoid polluting the woods with human scent. We try to provide the deer with all the comforts of home—and surprising them in their bedrooms is not one of them. Our neighbors hunt hard and lay down plenty of tracks and scent cones that alert the nearby deer to their presence, and we try to use that to our advantage. We give the deer plenty of room and try to provide them with sanctuary areas where they can bed and feed without harassment. They pile into our safe haven as the surrounding pressure builds. We may move in on them during the rut, but we try to avoid too much pressure during the early season.

Many public-land hunters, like Jason Ashe, prefer to hit them with everything they’ve got.

“I hunt deep and I hunt tight,” says Ashe. “I can’t and don’t worry about pressuring them by hunting bedding areas—they are already buggered up. I try to catch them heading back to their bedding areas or leaving just before dark. You have to get way in early and stay late.”

Chris Eberhart hunts aggressively as well. He wants to be set up long before shooting light and will stay as late as legal light allows to arrow a late mover.

“You have to find these areas, set up on them, and put in your time if you want to kill a mature deer on public land,” says Eberhart. “I hunt a cattail swamp on opening day. Bucks love the place. I carry in my waders and make my way onto a small, dry spot a couple of hours before daylight. It’s a great -early-morning spot to catch a buck heading back to safety in the gray light of dawn.

“I also keep a book full of remote places like this to set up in. They all have one thing in common—and that is no hunting pressure. Big bucks know these places and are using them well before the season opens. I move right in on them, give ’em my best shot, and head out to another setup.”

Whether you are on private or public land, the early season is all about how you hunt deer that are concentrating on food sources. Food can lead you to the biggest buck of your life—if you do it right.

For more information on early season buck, please visit OutdoorLife.com.

Most deer hunting articles have titles like “Advanced Techniques” and “Beyond The Basics”. These articles are targeting folks who have hunted for many years and probably read hundreds of articles and tips. But what about someone who is hunting for the first time this season? Well, I’m here for you. I hope these seven tips help you tag your first deer this season.

1. Be In The Field

Nobody ever shoots a deer in the diner, watching the football game, or in bed. If you are serious about harvesting a deer, you need to maximize your time in the field. Pack enough food and water for the day. If the camp card game looks to be going late, excuse yourself to the bunks. Decide what your priority is before you get to camp. If you are there to socialize, go ahead and stay up late. But if bagging a deer is what is important, rest is vital.

2. Dress Appropriately

If it’s warm, wear layers. You are likely to be cold in the morning and evening and hot during the day. If you are bow hunting, be sure the layers are all camouflaged. If gun hunting, be sure you have enough orange. Vests work great because they can be worn over parkas or t-shirts. For cold weather situations, coveralls and heavy coats are the norm. Keep your head and neck warm with a neck warmer and cap. Boots are the most important piece of clothing for cold weather hunting. There are several things you can buy on the cheap and get away with. Hunting boots are not one of them. Buy quality waterproof boots. For cold weather hunting, they should have at least 800 grams of Thinsulate. Cold feet ruin weddings and hunts. Keep your feet warm and you can keep hunting.

3. Tools Of The Trade

When I shot my first deer, my friend came over to help me gut it out. I dutifully handed him my knife, which I had sharpened the week before. He did a great job and then looked at me and said, “you got a rope?” Hanging this deer in a tree while we continued to hunt didn’t seem like something I would be doing as I prepped for that deer season. Bringing a rope never occurred to me. Another simple piece of equipment to bring along is a tarp. You can buy a small 5′ by 8′ tarp at your local hardware store for about $5. The tarp will make dragging your deer back to the truck or cabin far easier and keep the body cavity free of debris. If someone in your hunting party has one of those nice game carts, the tarp is still handy to keep the body cavity clean.

4. Know Your Weapon

Of course, you won’t need a knife, rope, or tarp if you’re not comfortable with your gun or bow. Shoot as much as possible in the preseason. You will improve your skills and learn the limits of your abilities and the gun’s. Know what distances you are shooting from. This will help you judge distances in the field. If you plan to hunt in wide open areas, start shooting at 50 and 100 yards, then move up to 200 yards. If hunting in heavily forested areas, 50 yards may be the longest shot required.

5. Scout

Scouting for deer is different from scouting for other game animals. I prefer to scout from a distance. Glass deer with binoculars from a roadway or tractor path. You are looking for deer movement. Early morning and late evenings are the time to scout as deer are more active. If you live close to the area that you plan to hunt, before and after work is a great time to scout. If you are hunting public land, be sure to find a handful of prospective places to hunt. What may look like a remote hunting area can resemble a Wal-Mart parking lot on opening day. So have a handful of go-to properties.

Technology has given us hunters an opportunity to scout without leaving the house. Google maps, Yahoo maps, and many other sites offer satellite maps free of charge. Some even offer topographic maps. These maps give hunters a birds eye view of any property in the country. New technology allows those who use game cameras to spy on deer to access their photos without walking into the woods.

6. The Big Day

Opening day arrives and you have done everything to be prepared. Whether you hunt from a tree or the ground, know where you are going to sit depending on the wind. You want to hunt with the wind in your face. This will blow your scent away from where deer will most likely approach. Of course, deer don’t always do what you think they will. But you need to play the odds. Once you’re settled in, practice swinging your gun or bow to evaluate shooting lanes. Doing this will take the guess work out of the actual shot and mentally prepare you for the moment a deer is in range.

7. The Moment of Truth

So, you’ve done everything right and a deer is approaching. Would it be great to shoot a trophy buck? Yes. But as a first time hunter, your goal is to fill the tag and learn from the experience. Any legal deer is a good deer. The first thing you need to do is determine if the animal is legal. Some states have buck only regulations, antler restrictions, or requirements to shoot an antlerless deer first. Check regulations in your area first. If you’re still not sure, give your local game and fish department a call. Most are more than happy to help and may even give you some tips.

Once you have decided to shoot, focus on the vitals of the animal. Don’t look at antlers. Don’t look at the surroundings. Wait for the vitals to clear any vegetation and pull the trigger or release the arrow. Target the area just behind and above the front shoulder. Whistle or grunt at a walking deer to stop them for a shot. If you are confident in your shot but the deer doesn’t immediately fall, give the deer an hour or two to lay down. If the deer isn’t pressured, it will typically go down within 150 yards of the shot. If you hit the deer in a non-lethal area, try a second shot. If the miss is clean, I recommend letting the deer run. If you missed it clean at a dead stop, your chances of hitting it running are slim. Wait for another deer. If you prepared, practiced, and were relaxed when the shot was taken, missing isn’t a concern.

For first time hunters, having a mentor is the best opportunity for success. A mentor can help evaluate all the aspects of a hunt. They can correct mistakes before you make them. Most beginning hunters have a mentor. If you don’t have one, ask. I have met an incredible amount of friends through hunting. Most are people that invited me to hunt with them or I invited them to hunt with me. The vast majority are people that I didn’t know well until we hunted together. The hunting fraternity is always welcoming new members.

A good friend of mine tagged his first deer last season. In fact, he was the only person in his eight hunter group to get a deer. The great thing about hunting is, the entire group was happy for him. If they could have picked one person to get a deer it would have been him. Congratulations, Jon. Here’s hoping you tag another one this year.

For more hunting tips for beginners, please visit BigGameLogic.com.

The warm summer months are a lazy time for deer. Food is usually plentiful, and the rut is far from any buck’s mind. Summer is a time to gain weight for the fall and avoid mosquitoes. Many deer hunters also enjoy an extended summer vacation, forgetting about chasing bucks until the weather begins to cool.

If you’re serious about tagging a big deer, though, the summer is a busy time. There’s much to do and you don’t want to be caught unaware when the season rolls around. Here’s a list of 10 important summer tasks that you need to complete well before opening day of hunting season.

If you wait until the last minute you’ll likely find that your procrastination has cost you a chance at a good buck.

So spend a little extra time in the field this summer. When deer season rolls around you’ll be well ahead of the crowd.

1. Sight in Your Bow or Rifle

If you wait until the week before the season to sight in your gun or bow, you’ll likely have to wait in line at the shooting range. But if you’re serious about making a good, clean shot (and we should all be serious about that) then you need to spend plenty of time tuning your bow or rifle before then.

The long summer days are perfect for getting your weapon in working order, and you want to have plenty of practice time in when you hit the woods. Starting early gives you a chance to find the right load or broadhead/arrow combination, and the range will probably be less crowded.

2. Talk to Farmers

Very few people have a better understanding of what’s going on in your hunting area than local farmers. Since they spend much of the summer planting, spraying, and baling hay, farmers usually have a pretty good idea of what the deer are doing.

They may also know where the big bucks are feeding, which is invaluable intel. In addition, most farmers are bombarded by requests to hunt their land in the late summer and early fall. Getting out early and speaking with the local landowners may help you get a foot in the door.

3. Set up Trail Cameras

Successful hunters know that keeping track of deer movement is important, and summer is a great time for setting up cameras to collect as many photos as possible. Doing so will give you a better idea of deer movement patterns in the area.

More importantly, you’ll have an idea of which deer are utilizing your hunting area as part of their home range. You might be able to intercept a buck early in the season but, just as importantly, if you do your homework you’ll figure out the deer’s home range and will be close by when the rut is in full swing in late autumn.

4. Check Your Gear

Many hunters completely forget about checking their gear until the hunting season rolls around, and that can spell trouble. You’re going to spend precious time and money at the sporting goods store replenishing supplies during the season if you neglect your field equipment in the summer. The summer months are the perfect time to address any issues, and chances are you’ll find there’s plenty of work to be done.

There’s nothing worse than heading to the woods in the fall only to find out your stand is falling apart and a mouse has a made a nest of your safety harness. That’s why it’s never a bad idea to actually gear up and head out to your favorite hunting spot in August to check all of your equipment. You can even shoot a few targets from your stand to help improve field accuracy. Also, be sure that your rangefinder has new batteries, and that your hunting knife and broadheads are sharpened.

5. Clear Travel Paths

Overgrown plants create a major obstacle when you’re trying to get to your stand quickly and quietly in the fall. Take some time during the summer to clear an access path to your hunting area, and be sure that you have multiple routes available depending upon the wind conditions.

Nothing ruins an early season hunt like tripping and stumbling to your stand as you cross fallen logs and navigate through forests of honeysuckle and multiflora rose. A clear path allows for a quiet approach.

6. Pattern the Does

There’s an old adage that if you want to find the bucks, follow the does. So don’t ignore the lady deer as you scout during the summer months.

7. Visit Landowners

Growing up on a farm, I can attest to the fact that most hunters show up only when they want permission to hunt or when the season has actually started. There’s nothing wrong with that, per se. But if a landowner has given you permission to hunt, it’s a good idea to stop by for a visit in the summer.

Perhaps you can offer to lend them a hand around their property. There’s always work that needs to be done on large acreage, and showing up early to help out makes the landowner understand that you do appreciate the fact that they allow you to hunt on their property.

8. Get in Shape

Most deer hunting isn’t particularly demanding, but it’s important to be sure that you are in shape for the upcoming season. Spend some time walking and working out so that you don’t crumple under the strain of dragging a big buck out of a deep drainage later in the year.

If you are bowhunting, be sure that you are physically capable of drawing and holding your bow. A week before the season starts is too late to make up for a lazy summer.

9. Plant and Maintain Food Plots

One of the primary duties of land managers in the late spring and summer is establishing food plots. There’s much work to be done; soil testing, plowing, planting, fertilizing, mowing and spraying should all be completed in advance of the fall hunting season.

Additionally, it’s always a good idea to monitor your food plots for any signs of deer activity. Maintaining your food plot during the summer ensures that your deer will have the nutrients they need to grow big antlers.

10. Collect and Organize Data

The long summer days are perfect for scouting your hunting area, so spend plenty of time in the woods looking for deer signs. In addition, keep your intel organized so you’re in the right spot come fall. I place all my photos from the summer in separate folders on my laptop so I can quickly see which deer are frequenting which cameras.

Keep detailed notes about feeding and movement patterns, and write down any info you glean from landowners. Having all this info in one spot makes it easier to develop a game plan and will up your odds of success in the fall.

For more information on deer season, please visit NorthAmericanWhitetail.com.

HANDGUN SAFETY, OPERATION & MAINTENANCE

• Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction.
• Treat ALL firearms as if they were loaded.
• Keep your trigger finger outside the trigger guard and off of the trigger until you are ready to fire.
• Be certain of your target, your line of fire, and what lies beyond your target.
• Always wear appropriate eye and ear protection when shooting and maintaining your firearm.
• Safe and secure storage of your firearm is one of your most important responsibilities. It is a full-time responsibility. You must always secure your firearm and ammunition separately so that they are not accessible to children or other unauthorized persons.
• Whenever your firearm is not in use, keep it unloaded and locked. Your safety and the safety of others requires that you always secure and store your firearm in a manner that will prevent unauthorized access. Never leave a firearm unattended unless it is unloaded, locked and secured.

SAFETY IS YOUR NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY!

At home, in the field, at the range, or anywhere, the first concern of every firearm owner should be safety. Before handling any firearm, understand its operation and familiarize yourself with its mechanical features. If you feel uncertain about any operational aspects of your Smith & Wesson firearm, please contact Smith & Wesson at 1-800-331-0852, ext. 2905, before proceeding with its operation. Never allow a firearm to be used by individuals who do not understand its safe operation or who have not read these firearm safety rules.

As a firearm owner, you accept a demanding responsibility. How serious you take this responsibility can be the difference between life and death. There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of your firearm. At all times handle your firearm with intense respect for its power and potential danger.

Firearms are dangerous and can cause serious injury or death if they are misused or used inappropriately. Appropriate use of your firearm means using your firearm for legal purposes. For example: target shooting, hunting, and lawful resistance of deadly criminal force. Safety must be the prime consideration of anyone who owns, handles or uses firearms. Accidents are the result of violating the rules of safe firearm handling and common sense. Firearm safety training is available. Contact your firearms dealer, law enforcement agency, local sportsman’s club, etc. for availability.

Apply the following safety rules in every situation, with any kind of firearm:

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FIREARM POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
Never point a firearm at anyone or anything you do not intend to shoot whether or not it is loaded. This is particularly important when loading, unloading, or field stripping the firearm. ALWAYS control the direction of the firearm.

ALWAYS TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS IF IT IS LOADED AND WILL FIRE.
Do not take anyone’s word that the firearm is unloaded – always check for yourself. Never pass your firearm to another person until the cylinder or action is open and you visually check that it is unloaded. Keep your firearm unloaded and safely stored when not in use.

NEVER PLACE YOUR FINGER INSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD OR ON THE TRIGGER UNLESS YOU INTEND TO FIRE.
You should also take care to ensure that other objects do not touch the trigger.

ALWAYS BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT.
Always be sure of where the bullet will strike and shoot only where there is a safe back stop free of obstructions, water or other surfaces which can cause ricochets. Be sure your bullet will stop behind your target. Bullets can glance off many surfaces like rocks or the surface of water and travel in unpredictable directions with considerable velocity. Do not fire randomly into the sky.

ALWAYS WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTORS SPECIFIED FOR USE WITH FIREARMS.
Wear eye protection that is specified for use with firearms every time you handle your firearm for cleaning and maintenance. Wear eye and ear protection specified for use with firearms every time you discharge your firearm. Make sure others in the vicinity of where you will be shooting do so as well.

NEVER RELY ON MECHANICAL FEATURES OF THE FIREARM ALONE.
Only your safe firearm-handling habits will ensure the safe use of your firearm. This is your responsibility.

NEVER CROSS OBSTACLES SUCH AS FENCES OR STREAMS WITH A LOADED FIREARM.
Always make certain your firearm is unloaded before crossing a fence, climbing a tree, jumping a ditch or negotiating other obstacles.

NEVER USE ALCOHOL OR DRUGS BEFORE OR WHILE SHOOTING.
Further, do not use your firearm if you are on any medication which impairs, even slightly, your mental or physical ability.

ALWAYS HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION.
Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or handling ammunition may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to cause birth defects, reproductive harm, and other serious physical injury. Review the warnings and labels for all ammunition and cleaning products carefully. Wash hands thoroughly after exposure.

ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT AMMUNITION FOR YOUR PARTICULAR FIREARM.
Never use non-standard, reloaded, or “handloaded” ammunition which has not been subjected to internal ballistic pressure testing.

BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS.
Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before shooting. Mud, water, snow or other objects may inadvertently lodge in the barrel bore. A small obstruction can cause a dangerous increase in pressure and may damage your firearm and cause injury to yourself and others.

BE SURE ALL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS HOLSTERS. GRIPS, SLINGS, SCOPES AND OTHER ACCESSORIES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR PARTICULAR FIREARM AND THAT THE ACCESSORIES DO NOT INTERFERE WITH ITS SAFE OPERATION.
It is your responsibility to understand and follow all of the instructions in the safety manual that accompanied your firearm, as well as those which may be supplied with your ammunition and any accessory.

NEVER DISASSEMBLE YOUR FIREARM BEYOND THE FIELD STRIPPING PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE MANUAL THAT ACCOMPANIED YOUR FIREARM.
Improper disassembly or reassembly of your firearm may be dangerous and can lead to serious injury or death.

NEVER MANIPULATE, ADJUST OR CHANGE ANY OF THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF YOUR FIREARM UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED TO DO SO IN THE MANUAL THAT ACCOMPANIED YOUR FIREARM.
Improper manipulation of any other internal component may affect the safety and reliability of your firearm and may cause serious injury or death.

NEVER ALLOW ANY ALTERATION OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS IN YOUR FIREARM UNLESS PERFORMED BY A QUALIFIED GUNSMITH USING AUTHORIZED PARTS.
If you do otherwise, improper functioning of your firearm may occur and serious injury or death and damage to property may result.

MAINTENANCE BEFORE USE
Before using your firearm for the first time, it should be cleaned. See the cleaning instructions that accompanied your particular firearm. Your firearm was treated at the factory with either a preservative or oil to protect it against corrosion during shipping and storage. Preservative and oil should be wiped from the bore, chamber and exposed areas using a clean swab or patch before using the firearm.

Purchase cleaning supplies from your firearms dealer that are specifically designated for your type and caliber of firearm. Many suppliers offer these in kit form for your convenience. Follow the instructions provided with your cleaning supplies. Whenever your firearm has been exposed to sand, dust, extreme humidity, water or other adverse conditions, it must be cleaned and lubricated.

MAINTENANCE BEFORE STORAGE
When storing your firearm, do not encase it in anything that will attract or hold moisture, for example, leather or heavy cloth. Also, do not store firearms with a plug inserted in the barrel because this can be a contributing factor to moisture accumulation. If your firearm is to be stored for an extended period, the bore, chamber and internal surfaces should be oiled with a high-quality lubricating oil or preservative intended for firearms. The external parts; receiver, bolt and barrel should be coated with an anti-rust oil. Before using your firearm again, be sure to clean it. Every time you clean your firearm, check it for signs of wear. If wear is noted, do not use the firearm. Return it to the manufacturer for service, or have it checked by a qualified gunsmith.

SAFE STORAGE & TRANSPORTATION

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR FIREARM AT ALL TIMES.
In owning a firearm, you must undertake full-time responsibility for your firearm’s safety and security. You must protect yourself and all others against injury or death from misuse of your firearm 24 hours a day. You must secure firearms safely from children and unauthorized users. Your firearm should always be kept unloaded and locked when not in use.

Smith & Wesson provides locks for this purpose with each of its firearms. Please read and follow the instructions packaged with this lock. A lock, when properly used, can be an effective tool in preventing unauthorized access to your firearm. Nevertheless, never assume that the use of the lock provided by Smith & Wesson alone is sufficient to safely secure your firearm. There are other alternative locks and safe storage containers available in the marketplace which may also be appropriate for your particular needs. Consult your local gun shop, hardware store, or local law enforcement agency for guidance on the variety of other safe storage devices or practices which may be appropriate for your particular needs. You must always evaluate your personal situation and employ the security systems that meet your needs to prevent children and unauthorized users from gaining access to your firearm.

NEVER LOCK A LOADED FIREARM AND NEVER LOAD A LOCKED FIREARM!

NEVER LEAVE THE KEY TO THE LOCK FOR YOUR FIREARM WITH THE STORED FIREARM!

ALWAYS STORE YOUR FIREARM AND AMMUNITION SEPARATELY.
Firearms and ammunition should be stored separately so that they are not accessible to children or other unauthorized persons. Safe and secure storage of your firearm and ammunition are your responsibility. It is a full-time responsibility.

NEVER ASSUME THAT A “HIDING” PLACE IS A SECURE STORAGE METHOD.
Others may be aware of your storage location or come upon it by chance. It is your personal responsibility to use common sense when storing your firearm and ammunition and to always make sure they are not accessible to children or other unauthorized persons.

NEVER TRANSPORT A LOADED FIREARM.
When transporting your firearm, be sure it is unloaded and locked.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LAW!
Many jurisdictions have laws that make it a crime to keep a firearm unlocked and in an area accessible to children or others. You must be familiar and comply with all local, state, and federal laws regarding the safe storage and transportation of your firearm. Failure to know and follow the law could lead to criminal charges against you! Obey all laws relating to the storage and transportation of firearms. Consult your local law enforcement agency or firearms dealer for information on storing and/or transporting a firearm safely and legally in your jurisdiction.

YOUR FIREARM IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
You are responsible for securing your firearm from theft or misuse by untrained or unqualified individuals.

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