The Department of Natural Resources says when the gun deer season opens 630,000 hunters will be roaming the fields and woods in Wisconsin.

The DNR says it's hoping this year will be fatality free, but that means all hunters have to remember safety. And that doesn't just mean the basics like identifying your target before shooting.

Many hunters all across Wisconsin wait for this weekend all year long. A local Eau Claire man says, “I really look forward to it and getting out into the woods spending time with my family and friends and just enjoying the whole hunting atmosphere.”

But Dr. Fearghas O'Cochlain, a cardiologist at Luther Midelfort in Eau Claire says the risk of heart attack is 3 times greater than getting shot, so he says some basic precautions should be made before hunters head out the door.

He says, “Make sure one has a cell phone and the ability to call for help, any chronic conditions-make sure to take medication with you, try to avoid stress its meant to be a fun time, make sure you have help with you.”

O'Cochlain says adrenaline stress associated with hunting, lugging heavy equipment around or dragging a big buck out of the woods can all put stress on your heart. He says if your feel tired or pressure in your chest; stop what your doing and relax.

Ed Culhane with the DNR says, “Nothing is more important than everybody coming home safe.”
He also says hunters need to remember to treat every gun as if it were loaded, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, be sure of what lies beyond your target, and keep your finger off the trigger guard before your ready to fire. He says, “That’s where we see a lot of our accidents, especially our self inflicted injuries.”

The DNR also reminds hunters to make sure their tree stands are safe and properly braced. They also say the best way to prevent a dangerous and potentially deadly fall is to use a safety harness.