Iowa’s first shotgun hunting season begins this Saturday, and while hunters hope to bring home some deer, Department of Natural Resources staff stresses that a successful hunt is a safe one.

Conservation Officer for Greene and Guthrie counties Jeremy King believes coming home at the end of the day marks a successful hunt, so he encourages hunters to brush up on safe practices. King says to treat every firearm as though it were loaded, always point the muzzle in a safe direction, be sure of your target and what’s beyond it, and to keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot. Besides wearing the required blaze orange vest, King offers this recommendation, “I strongly, not required, but I strongly encourage people then to throw on a hat whether if you wear it walking to a tree stand or a ground blind or whatever it is or walking back because the first thing coming over the hill or first thing somebody can see through the weeds is typically your head, and maybe the hill’s obstructed the view or the grasses to your vest. A hat is strongly urged and I know I throw one in and I wear one no matter what.”

King also advises hunters to discuss a plan with everyone in their group, and stick to it. According to the DNR, in 2018 there were 12 hunting related incidents in the state: three were personal injuries, eight were property damage, and one fatality. The first shotgun season lasts through December 11th.