Rich is partially right. I keep the hammers cocked and the gun open except when I'm expecting to make game. Then it is gun closed, hammers cocked, muzzles to the sky, two fingers of my right hand (I'm right handed) covering the trigger area so as not to allow a twig or branch to trip a trigger. I hunt ruffed grouse and woodcock and those birds don't give you but seconds to direct a shot at them. If I were hunting in the open - for pheasants, waterfowl, and any birds of the open prarie I would most likely adopt a different method.
Angel, hunting behind pointing dogs almost always allows one to carry his hammer gun open and even unloaded until walking in for the flush. That's when you can load and close your gun, cock the hammers with the muzzles pointed skyward and walk in.
I'm not advocating anyone use my method but it works well for me and my hunting partners seem to be quite comfortable with me. (They won't find a more safety conscious partner than this one.)
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