DES MOINES, Iowa — There have been eight hunting incidents in Iowa in 2023.
The most recent was when a 26-year-old man was killed on Nov. 11 while hunting in Guthrie County.
With it being the peak of hunting season and as we approach the first shotgun season, experts are stressing the importance of paying attention.
"We always say, you know don't shoot a running deer, make sure that you identify your game, not only what's in front of it, but what's behind it that way in case you should miss, that shot will fall harmlessly," said Mick Klemesrud, a spokesman with the Iowa Department of Natual Resources.
While it is important to have a plan in place about where everyone is shooting, the DNR says muzzle safety is ultimately number one.
"You always remember the end of the barrel. Where is the end of that barrel? If it is pointed up, it's not going to hurt anybody around you. Family, friends, partner that you go out hunting with, those who you want to come home," said Rick Cerwick, a volunteer hunting education instructor.
Over the past five years, there have been 56 hunting incidents in Iowa, leading to safety being a big concern.
"You hunt with the people you care most about cause it's always your family and your friends, and you want to share that experience with them, and a good day can turn tragic in just a blink of an eye," Klemesrud said.
For these volunteers, practicing safety has a much bigger meaning.
"All of the hunter safety instructors in the state of Iowa are all volunteers, and we do it for the love of game, the conservation, education for the next generation. This is my grandson Eliot and we've been out hunting today, and we've had an awesome time, and it was safety all the way wasn't it Eliot? 'Yep,'" Cerwick said.
The DNR stresses the reviewing of each hunter's safe zone of fire and observing the area in front of and behind the game.