Outdoor Adventure USA

Firearm Safety:
o The Four Primary Rules of Firearm Safety

• Watch that Muzzle! Keep it pointed in a safe direction at all times.

• Treat every firearm with the respect due a loaded gun. It might be, even if you think it isn’t.

• Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it. Know the identifying features of the game you hunt. Make sure you have an adequate backstop—don’t shoot at a flat, hard surface or water.

• Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. This is the best way to prevent an accidental discharge.

o Additional Rules about Firearm Safety

• Check your barrel and ammunition. Make sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions, and carry only the proper ammunition for your firearm.

• Unload firearms when not in use. Leave actions open, and carry firearms in cases and unloaded to and from the shooting area.

• Point a firearm only at something you intend to shoot. Avoid all horseplay with a gun.

• Don’t run, jump, or climb with a loaded firearm. Unload a firearm before you climb a fence or tree, or jump a ditch. Pull a firearm toward you by the butt, not the muzzle.

• Store firearms and ammunition separately and safely. Store each in secured locations beyond the reach of children and careless adults.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages before and during shooting. Also avoid mind- or behavior-altering medicines or drugs.

Knife & Axe Safety: o Outdoor Code: As an American, I will do my best to -

• Be clean in my outdoor manners.

• Be careful with fire.

• Be considerate in the outdoors, and

• Be conservation minded.

o Axes List eight of the 12 areas of an ax. Handle, butt, shoulder, eye, head, face, toe, blade, bit, heel, belly, knob.

• How do you fix a loose ax head? Soak the ax head in water for a couple of hours. When you get home drive a wedge into the head of the ax.

• When honing an ax rub a dry whetstone against the ax blade in a circular motion.

• What does bucking a log mean? Cutting through it. (Usually into one foot pieces.)

• What is the procedure for filing an ax? Check your handbook.

• Safe cutting with an ax requires clearance of an area at least how far all around? Grab the ax by the head. Slowly swing the ax at arm’s length all around and above you.

• List two reasons for not driving an ax into the ground. Chip. Rust. Dull it.

• How many people are allowed in an ax yard at any time? One.

• When an ax is not in use, what should be done with the blade? Sheath it or put it in a chopping block.

• Describe the contact method for chopping a stick. Check your handbook.

• Describe the contact method for splitting a stick. Check your handbook.

o Saws

• Use a well maintained saw (sharp & set/kerf)

• A saw will cut wood twice as fast as an ax.

• Hold the wood firmly in place and use long, smooth saw strokes.

• When you have permission to clear a campsite of saplings, saw them off just above ground level.

• Name two kinds of camp saws. Folding saw, bow saws.

• What kind of file is used to sharpen a saw? Ignition file

o Knives

• Sharpen your knife on an oiled sharpening stone.

• Hold the blade at a 30 degree angle to the whetstone.

• How many hands are used to properly close a knife? Two.

• Don’t carry a knife with the blade open.

• Close the blade before handing the knife to a friend.

• Cut away from you to prevent injury.

• Keep your knife dry, sharp, and clean at all times.

Foot care

• Proper footwear for the task

• Prepare for the required task

• Keep feet, socks & gear as clean and dry as possible

• Use foot powder wisely

• Blisters and blister 1st aid

Camp hygiene and sanitation
Travel safety
Food safety

Fire safety:

• Get your free fire permit from here: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/permit ... re-permit/

• Download your guide to fire building here: https://www.fire.ca.gov/media/5250/campfiretips.pdf

• Keep a shovel and bucket of water nearby to extinguish the campfire.

• Clear all flammable vegetation at least 5 feet in all directions.

• Your campfire permit is valid from the date issued until the end of the calendar year.

• Select a level, shaded location away from heavy fuels such as logs, brush or decaying leaves and needles.

• Use a shovel to clear an area at least 5 feet in all directions (local regulations may vary). Scrape away grass, leaves or
  needles down to the mineral soil.

• Scoop a depression in the center of the cleared area in which to build the fire and put a ring of rocks around it.

• Cut wood in short lengths, pile within cleared area and light the fire. The fire should be built no larger than necessary.

• Fire must never be left unattended and the fire must be extinguished completely before everyone leaves camp.

Kitchen safety
Vehicle safety
Ham radio safety

• Have a plan that address release of the "blue smoke"

• When in doubt put a fuse inline

• Put a cover on your battery; do not allow your battery terminals/leads to be easily bridged

Medical safety
Campsite location safety
Redundancy
Clothing safety
Ice chest sanitation
meal prep safety
Generator safety

Just a nice blade that we can dream about. 2019 Limited - $400.

Four-Wheel Drive Off-Road Safety

Equipment Maintenance
1. Good maintenance plan – take care of little things
2. 360 inspections: Do a vehicle inspection before you use it off-road, at lunch time and before getting back on the highway.

Behavior
3. Wear your seat belt off-road
4. Do not drink and drive
5. Arms and legs inside
6. Don’t use roll bars (or gutter rails) as hand holds
7. Do not stand in the bed of a moving vehicle
8. Do not hang on / stand on vehicles as a means of recovery of a stuck vehicle
9. Beware of the effects of testosterone poisoning
10. Wait your turn
11. Do not show off
12. Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle you are spotting & one ahead of you

Judgment
13. Quit when fatigued
14. Don’t tackle difficult terrain beyond your skills
15. Understand vehicle limitations
16. Your judgement, decisions and actions have a greater impact off-road that than the actions others might take.
17. Travel speed - go slow and keep all 4 tires on the ground
18. Don’t take risks
19. When “stuff” starts going bad – slow it down, take time to think, lose frustration

Contingency Planning
20. Let someone know where you are going and when you will return
21. Use the buddy system Travel with two or more vehicles. Sometimes 3 or more is recommended.
22. Tie equipment and supplies down or stow securely
23. Watch Vehicle behind you so they do not get left or lost
24. Vehicle to vehicle radio communication
25. Have a means to call for help – cell phone, ham radio, Sat phone, Spot, In reach, PLB.

Driving Techniques
26. Lock the vehicle down when the driver leaves the vehicle. (Emergency brake on, in park and turned off – in that order).
27. Driver out last; in first
28. Don’t angle across a hill
29. Always have at least one hand on the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving.
30. Check for hidden rocks & holes under water, mud, and snow
31. Check the other side for safe exit (hills, berms, ditches, sand dunes, streams)
32. Keep speed down on soft tires
33. Use 4 low & compression braking to maintain control going downhill. Use the brakes to backup compression braking.
34. Stop if you can’t see ahead of your vehicle. (e.g. Sun in your eyes)
35. Spot the trail before you commit. Ease over until the hood drops out of your way or recon on foot.
36. Always anticipate a failed hill climb and have a plan to back down.
37. Never exceed 30° side hill. When driving off camber, go slow and use your left foot on the foot brake to reduce the bounce in the suspension.
38. Clear the vehicle before moving it. Look underneath, and on all four sides.
39. Use only the necessary momentum to be successful. As slow as possible but as fast as necessary. Stop if the momentum exceeds your ability to control the vehicle over rough terrain.
40. If you only have one set of snow chains, put them on the rear tires to avoid over steer.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE USA SHOOTIN' SHACK

Following up on last weeks discussion of Second Amendment happenings, here are relevant links and information:

The recent US Supreme Court decision, in the case of NY State Rifle and Pistol Association v. NY State Police, was a (too) long awaited renunciation of a growing and insidious body of laws that prevented law abiding citizens the right to keep and bear arms. At 135 pages, it represents a stellar historical analysis of the Second Amendment and the rights it confirmed. The court's decision thoroughly addressed the many myths, false doctrines, and arguments that for years have been used to infringe on the rights encompassed by the Second Amendment. For those who choose to "keep and bear arms", this decision should be read in its entirety, with, of course, the exception of the three dissenting opinions. The link below is the full official document, and can be down loaded to your computer or other device.



Pursuant to our discussion of the alleged "accidental" disclosure of CCW information, the following letter has been sent to those whose identities and personal information was exposed to public view:

July 14, 2022 Net, Continuation of July 7 2022 Net

Please check me in. WD6USA

Here is a recent article that fits well with the Outdoor Safety Topic.

Prepping for Medical Emergencies When No Help Is Coming

https://www.theepochtimes.com/prepping- ... ium=search

Since I subscribe to The Epoch Times, I can't tell if the link provided will lead to a paywall. That's easy to fix by subscribing to a great, weekly real news newspaper.

Check in please - Thanks - Bernie

Please check in David AK6DH.

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Joe