Hunters are reminded to be safe and wear their blaze orange while preparing for the upcoming bird and deer seasons. Wearing blaze orange gives other hunters in the area a physical sign that you and your hunting party are present so they do not accidentally shoot toward you. Iowa DNR Conservation Officer Joe Fourdyce reminds individuals how much blaze orange is required to be worn during deer and bird seasons in Iowa, “So when you’re out bird hunting, you need to have at least a hat on. That’s what the state requires for bird hunting. For any firearm season, you need to have a solid blaze orange vest on because it covers your center mass. Muzzleloader season, shotgun deer season, those times you always need to have orange on. Like I tell people, the more the merrier to wear orange. The better off you can be seen, the more safe you will be.”

Fourdyce also recommends hunters clean their guns prior to going out to the blinds and timbers. Doing so will prevent gun jams and any potential accidents or injuries.