Hey! I am a Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor for my states' Department of Natural Resources and I just held my first Hunter Education course for the year this evening.

So, I thought I would post a general Hunter Safety PSA here, too.

Deer season is just around the corner- now is the time for everyone to pick up a copy of the state Hunting Regs from Wal-Mart or the local hunting supply store, sight in your weapons, buy and field test your elevated stand safety harnesses, and make your written hunting plans.

The #1 cause of hunting-related injuries in the southeast is tree-stand injuries. If you hunt from an elevated stand, you need to wear a safety harness 100% of the time you are in the stand. Also, not only do you need to wear it during hunting season, but you need to practice wearing it and falling out out of your stand prior to hunting season.

You also need to make a haul line to get your weapon, rifle, shotgun, or bow, into the stand. You need to use a safety harness and haul line 100% of the time! If you do not, you are guaranteed to, at a minimum, break your back (vertebrae), ribs, puncture a lung, and have a concussion.

Last, but not least, always treat every gun as if it were loaded and ready to fire. 100% of the time.

Be safe out there and have an awesome hunting season!