When we were young adults out hunting we kept an eye on each other and pointed out dangerous situations to each other all the time. Just handing a gun back and forth called for a final check of the safety before the weapon changed hands.
"When we were young adults out hunting we kept an eye on each other and pointed out dangerous situations to each other all the time. Just handing a gun back and forth called for a final check of the safety before the weapon changed hands."
When I was a kid, hunting with my dad for quail, we always carried side-by-side shotguns. When we weren't actively hunting or were just walking, the guns were carried open at the breech.
Now, I use a pump gun. When I'm walking and not hunting actively, I open the action and remove the shell from the chamber. I can still operate the pump and fire very quickly, just in case something rises.
Hunting safety should be the first concern, especially when children are involved, but always, too.