The first shotgun deer season is happening soon as an expert provides recommendations ahead of it.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer for Dallas County Dustin Eighmy tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the first shotgun deer hunting season will begin on Saturday and runs through this coming Wednesday. He stresses the biggest safety concern is for hunters to wear blaze orange, with the required minimum of a solid blaze orange vest. He notes other clothing options he encourages hunters to wear with blaze orange include a jacket, sweatshirt, sweater, shirt, or coveralls. He offers suggestions of shooting at live deer.

“Make sure that we aren’t shooting at running deer. We preach that we don’t want to shoot at a moving target. Make sure that target is stationary, and that you have a good back stop, hill, or a tree or something that is going to stop that bullet from moving any further after it passes through that deer.”

Eighmy points out that when people become fixated on shooting a running deer, then they can lose sight of objects in the background resulting in accidents. After the first shotgun deer season closes on Wednesday, Eighmy notes that the second one will be from December 14th through the 22nd.