Last hunting season in NY's Catskill Mountains, a rifle-equipped hunter, while hunting from a tree stand, mistook a member of his own party for a deer with tragic and fatal results. Considering the enhanced viewing one enjoys from a tree stand, mistaking someone for game is especially inexcusable.

Well, it's that time of year again when legions of hunters take to the woods in search of big game. Briefly, there are three things that can get you: mistaken for game, being in the line of fire and careless gun handling/horseplay. Virtually all so-called hunting accidents fall into these three categories. Yes, there have been instances of a deliberate, felonious act but these are indeed rare.

So, just a reminder: It's nice to be the first guy in the group to fill his tag but we can't allow competitiveness to cause us to mistake humans for beasts. Your next meal or mortgage payment doesn't depend on whether or not you fill your tag.

I always post so that an errant bullet can't reach me from the rear or sides and I can see who is in front of me. In 50 years or so of hunting, I've heard two rifle bullets and one slug whistle by too close for comfort.

It's everyone's responsibility to insure that guns are handled in a safe manner. Guns must be unloaded when using a motor vehicle to move from one spot to another. Some have ignored this with fatal results, usually to another member of the party. Guns should be raised and lowered unloaded from tree stands. I also tethered my rifle to insure against dropping it to the ground.

Regarding new or first-time hunters, you must drill into them that they must never shoot at noise or motion.

Just a short heads-up. I've gotten to like most of you, here in the forum and I sincerely don't want anyone to suffer or cause an injury, or worse. Good luck!

Always a good reminder for hunting safety. Lost a dear friend years ago when accidently shot by his own son.

I know a young man who when hunting on some private land with a party of men ,of which he only knew one, was shot with a slug fired from a 12 ga. shotgun. from a tree stand; by a man of the party. But wait there's more... he tells the story of how it felt to get hit and as he was screaming from the pain and terror of the slug........he watched as the "hunter" worked the action of his gun and....AND SHOT HIM AGAIN!!!!!!. he says he knew the guy saw he wasn't a deer but shot him anyway.

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UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE

In my state, you need to wear orange. Some folks wear only a tiny little scrap of orange but I always thought it was best to wear an orange vest and cap.

I would amplify what has been said:
Be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Pass up a shot if you are not sure.

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You're shy a few manners.