Most of us who heard the news reports at the time were saddened to hear the reports, and it was especially so for parents confronted with the unimaginable pain of losing a child. We have come to place too much trust in the mechanical safeties on our guns, but that trust is misplaced.įourteen years ago, here in Montana, on October 23rd, nine year Gus Barber lost his life when a hunting rifle that was being unloaded fired unexpectedly. We need to reinforce the safe handling of guns, remembering to treat each and every weapon as if it were loaded. Those of us who do own and use firearms, whether for hunting or sport shooting, need to make sure that we emphasize safe gun handling practices, for ourselves and those we are shooting with. It’s good to remind ourselves, and our hunting companions, to be extra careful with guns. This time of year I also think about the reality that a Montana family may lose a loved one to a preventable hunting accident. In my experience, the stories from hunting trips are not primarily about the kill, but rather about the experience of being with family and friends in Montana's wild country.

Hunting is a family tradition in Montana, a higher percentage of our population hunts than in any other state, and it is common to see hunting parties of two or three generations in the woods and on the prairies throughout Montana. It happens every year for me, those crisp early mornings, the angle of the light, even the smell, tell me, in a way that no calendar can, that hunting season is upon us.

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