I'm mostly a quail hunter puffing behind AmarilloMike's supurb turd hounds. When a dog goes on point I bring them both back to full cock before walking in for the flush. I know the gun is ready to go and act accordingly, as we should all do anytime! Remember, all guns have hammers, it's just that with them exposed it is a eye catching reminder just how dangerous any gun is. Remember--the only "safe" direction for any gun to be pointed is up at the sky!!!!
I am amazed and frightened how many times I've seen hunters walking around with their safeties off, thinking them perfectly safe and slinging the barrels in any direction. Most often they are using guns without automatic safeties.
Reading a lot of old literature I believe that many of the old timers also pulled them back when anticipating action, not during.
