December 1st marks the beginning of the first deer shotgun hunting season.

The season runs from December 1st through the 5th, with the second shotgun season taking place from December 8th until the 16th. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources expects around 60,000 hunters in each shotgun season. The season brings with it dangers, DNR Law Enforcement Officer Wes Gould says to always wear a blaze orange coat, sweatshirt, or coveralls; a hat is not enough. Another important safety measure, according to Gould, is to not be so focused on your target that you aren’t aware of what’s behind it. So far this year there have been five incidents in Iowa involving hunting injuries, according to the Iowa DNR.