You need to haul your firearm into a tree stand. What is the first step you should take?

• A. Put on your safety harness.
• B. Slip the end of the haul line through your belt.
• C. Unload the firearm and open the action.
• D. Attach the haul line to the firearm.

Answer: (C)

The first step is to make sure the firearm is completely safe to handle by unloading it and opening the action. This guarantees there’s no cartridge in the chamber and no round in the magazine, so you can move it in the tree stand without the risk of an accidental discharge. Once you’ve verified it’s unloaded, you can then attach the haul line and secure the firearm as you transport it, all while keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger. Other steps, like putting on the safety harness or threading the haul line through your belt before confirming the gun is unloaded, don’t address the immediate safety risk and could create danger if the gun were loaded or mishandled.