It’s that time of year again. The leaves are beginning to change colors, the occasional northern is blowing in, and deer season is in full swing. Which means thousands of men and women across Texas will be climbing up in the stand to attempt to get the “big buck.”

Though deer season is filled with many good memories and quality family time, accidents are prone to happen. Every year some type of hunting related accident results in death. Even though accidents are unavoidable there are a few precautions that can be taken to attempt and eliminate the number of accidents and possibly deaths.

One way to learn how to become a safe hunter is to take a Hunter’s Education class through the Texas Parks and Wildlife. They offer courses online as well as hands on courses. These courses are required if you are under eighteen years of age and would like to hunt by yourself. Not only are they required, but also they really teach the basics of hunting safety and prepare you for real life situations.

Another way to avoid accidents is to just use common sense. Guns are tools not toys. You obviously do not aim it at one of your friends as a “joke”. As simple as that sounds many accidents have occurred with this “joke”. A person’s life is far more important than a chuckle or two. Keeping your gun unloaded until you are ready to shoot is also another way to attempt to prevent accidents. Their has been a countless numbers of accidents were someone trips and falls or has the their gun get snagged on something and shoot. If the gun were never loaded it would’ve been impossible for the gun to have ever shot.

Hunting is a great way to spend time with your friends and family, just some precautions need to be taken. You don’t want to make your next hunting trip your last. If you take precautions and use good hunting safety there is a better chance you can still have fun and not be rushed to your nearby hospital.