Minnesota Firearms Safety Hunter Education Practice Exam

What is the primary rule of gun safety when hunting?

1. Keep your finger on the trigger when hunting

2. Only point the gun at targets you intend to shoot

3. Treat every gun as if it is loaded

4. Unload the firearm when not in use

The correct answer is: Treat every gun as if it is loaded

The primary rule of gun safety when hunting is to treat every gun as if it is loaded. This means that even if you think the gun is unloaded, you should still handle and use it as if it were loaded. This rule helps prevent accidents from careless handling of guns. Option A, keeping your finger on the trigger when hunting, is incorrect because you should only have your finger on the trigger when you are ready to shoot. Option B, only pointing the gun at targets you intend to shoot, is also incorrect because you should always be aware of your surroundings and avoid pointing the gun at anything other than your intended target. Option D, unloading the firearm when not in use, is also important but it is not the primary rule of gun safety when hunting.