Congrats on getting the game... But, that photo does not look like safe practice or maybe just the photo looking that way? But, it does appear like the shotgun is pointing towards your fellow hunter.. Maybe just my opinion or idea that no gun should ever be pointing at anyone empty or not.. I had a friend in high school who once shot the families tv out. His farther left on round in a rifle and asked him to clean it. Run Cougar run was on tv and he hauled up thinking it was empty and shot at the cougar.. Yup no tv left and his farther felt bad about it. But it was a lesson well learned for him..