LINCOLN, Neb. – The nine-day November firearm deer season opens November 10th. Nebraska Hunter Education Coordinator Mike Streeter has six tips to keep deer hunters safe and responsible during the season.

Muzzle Control – Know where the muzzle of your firearm is pointed and never allow it to be pointed at anything you do not intend to shoot. Keep the firearm unloaded until you are ready to shoot, and always treat it as if it is loaded.

Know Your Target and What Is Behind It – Never shoot at sound or movement. Identify your intended target and then check again before you shoot, making sure you have a safe shooting background.

Wear Blaze Orange – It is required by law for all deer hunters to wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange on their head, chest and back while hunting during the November firearm deer season. Carry a flashlight or light stick for identification in the darkness or at dawn and dusk. Red or green works best and will not spook game.

Get Permission – A hunter should never go onto private property without the owner’s permission.

Know Your Effective Range – Only take shots when you are sure that your bullet will find the aiming point on the target. Exact shot placement into a vital organ is required of all hunters. The best shot is made on a broadside or quarter-away deer and hits the heart and lungs.

Use Only Approved Safety Equipment When Hunting from an Elevated Stand – A certified full-body harness is required. Attach yourself to the tree when you are on the ground and remain attached to the tree until you are back on the ground. Have at least three points of contact (two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot) with the tree at all times. Use a line to haul your equipment up to you after you are securely in the stand.