The NYSDEC free Hunter Education Manual is a quick, worthwhile study guide and refresher — download a free copy.

Fishing might be on pause thanks to Western New York’s unpredictable early season weather, but that doesn’t mean that we sportsmen have to sit idle. In fact, this is the perfect time to brush up on something every hunter — new or experienced — can always benefit from: safety.

The 2025 hunting season in New York delivered some remarkable news. According to the NYSDEC, it was officially the safest hunting season ever recorded. Out of nearly 600,000 hunters who took to the woods, there were just seven hunting-related shooting incidents. Even more encouraging, none of those incidents were fatal.

Of those seven incidents, five were self-inflicted and two involved more than one person. One case involved an unlicensed hunter operating illegally, a reminder that safety and responsibility go hand in hand. While any incident is one too many, the continued decline reflects a culture of awareness and education that’s clearly working. Our kids of all ages are learning.

DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton credited this success to the agency’s Hunter Education Program, volunteer instructors, and hunters themselves. That combination — education plus accountability — is what keeps the New York hunting woods among the safest in the country.

Still, safety doesn’t happen by accident. It comes down to consistently following a few simple but critical rules: 1) Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded; 2) Always control the muzzle and keep it pointed in a safe direction; 3) Identify your target — and what’s beyond it; 4) Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot; 5) Wear hunter orange or pink so you’re always visible. These aren’t just guidelines, they are habits that save lives.

Beyond firearms, tree stand safety remains another area where personal attention to details matters. In 2025, DEC recorded nine falls from elevated hunting positions, including one fatality. Not a shooting fatality, a fall fatality. Nearly all of these incidents could have been prevented. That’s where a fall-arrest system comes in. It’s not just a simple waist rope, it’s a full safety body harness designed to keep you connected to the tree from the moment your boots leave the ground until you’re safely back down. A proper system includes a full-body harness, tree strap, tether, lifeline and suspension relief strap. It’s not complicated, it saves lives. Here’s the key takeaway: a safety harness only works if you’re attached 100% of the time.

With archery season still months away, now is the ideal time to inspect your gear, replace worn equipment, buy new — it’s on sale right now — and revisit the basics. Many hunters are surprised at how much they’ve forgotten until they flip through the DEC’s free Hunter Education Manual. It’s a quick, worthwhile refresher that can make all the difference when the season opens. Download a free copy. Many of us forget the details. Visit https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/hunter-education/courses-certifications.

Hunting in New York isn’t just a tradition, it’s a vital part of wildlife management, conservation, and a sustainable way to put food on the table. The record-setting safety numbers from 2025 show that hunters across the state are doing things the right way. Let’s keep it that way. Because the best hunting season is a safe one and it starts long before we each ever step into the woods.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

April 1: NYS Inland Trout Season opening day.

April 2: WNY Re-Leaf Tree Safety Workshop, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Buffalo Zoo; tree care safety basics, chipper safety, chain saw safety, more; small fee.

April 7: Niagara Musky Association, monthly meeting, 7 p.m., Eldridge Club, 17 Board St., Tonawanda.

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Submit calendar items to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com at least 10 days in advance.