* Know the area you will be hunting. Scout long before the hunt to get a lay of the land.

* Spend time at the range learning how to use your firearm.

* Make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition.

* Carry a shovel, ax, tire chains, jumper cables and a tow chain in your vehicle.

* Make sure you have the proper and enough ammunition.

* Always take a survival kit. Essential items include a first aid kit; three ways to make fire (matches, lighter, firestarters); energy snacks; a cord or rope; a compass; a flashlight; a knife; a small pad of paper and pencil to leave notes if you become lost.

* Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.

* Never carry a loaded firearm in your vehicle.

* Never hunt alone.

* Wear proper safety clothing, 400 square inches of hunter orange on your back, chest and head.

* Know your physical limitations and don't exceed them.

* Be prepared for weather changes by dressing in layers. Dressing in layers allows you to regulate your body temperature by adding or removing clothes as needed.

* Drink plenty of water, regardless of the temperature.

* Beware of hypothermia, the loss of body temperature. It can occur in temperatures as high as 50 degrees.

* Be aware of the development of frostbite. White spots on your skin are the first sign. Check your face, feet and hands regularly.

* Do not handle a firearm if you've been consuming alcohol.

* Do not give alcohol to someone who is cold. Rather than warming the person, alcohol will make him colder.

* Control the muzzle. Never let your firearm point at anything you do not intend to shoot.

* Make sure of your target and what is beyond it before shooting.

* If your vehicle breaks down, stay with it and wait for help.

* If you get lost while on foot, remain calm. Try to get your bearings and think of a way out. Using the pad of paper and pencil in your survival kit, leave a note with your name, the date and direction you plan to travel. If you come across others, do not be too embarrassed to ask them for help in finding your way back to camp. If you are truly lost, build a smoky fire or three fires, a distress signal.

* Use a sharp knife while field dressing your game.

* Cut away from your body; never bring a knife blade toward you while cutting.