To ensure a safe season, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers are sharing 10 best practices to help hunters avoid the most common violations and mistakes they see every year ­–

— Properly tag the deer: Before field-dressing or moving a deer, kill tags must be filled out to include the month and date the deer was harvested, animal gender and number of antler points, if any. Stick the tag to a piece of string, wire or a zip-tie that can be attached to the deer. Conservation officers often see the wrong kill tag on game, such as fish or turkey licenses on deer. Also remember that reporting your deer within 72 hours of harvest is just as important as tagging it.

— Know your firearm and how it functions: Properly handling your firearm is an important part of being a safe hunter. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your firearm and make sure it is properly sighted and functioning before going hunting. Consider visiting a local shooting range to practice. Many ranges have extended hours this time of year.

— Know what’s beyond your target: No one may hunt with a firearm within 450 feet of an occupied structure, including buildings, dwellings, homes, residences, cabins, barns or structures used for farm operations unless they have permission from the landowner. Rifle rounds travel long distances — hunters are responsible for where bullets end up.

–Respect landowner rights: Always abide by posted no trespassing signs and property boundaries. If a deer runs onto private property, the hunter cannot retrieve it without the landowner’s permission. Conservation officers usually are contacted when trespass disagreements escalate and a resolution cannot be reached. If hunting near someone else’s property, contact the landowner ahead of time; don’t wait until you’re tracking game. In most cases, a friendly call or visit will remedy the situation. And remember, all hunting regulations apply on private property.

— Share public land: Research and scout the land you plan to hunt before opening day. Conservation officers often respond to confrontations over hunting spots, blocking of roads and illegally posting “no trespassing” or “no hunting” signs on state-managed public land. Hunter confrontations over hunting spots are often due to last-minute hunters who randomly pick a spot.

Type 2 ground blinds on public land are just that — public. Regardless of who constructed or tends these blinds, when they’re on state-managed public land, they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Public land cannot be posted or reserved.

Tree stands used on public land must be portable and have one of the following affixed in legible English that can easily be read from the ground: the user’s name and address, complete driver’s license number or DNR Sportcard number. Hunting platforms cannot be affixed or attached to any tree by nails, screws or bolts.

— Practice the “leave no trace” ethic: Whatever is brought into the woods must be taken back out. It is the responsibility of all individuals to be good environmental stewards and clean up after themselves. Leaving propane bottles, hand-warmer wrappers, food wrappers, bottles and other trash is illegal and may result in a fine.

— Wear hunter orange: During firearm deer hunting season, deer hunters are required by law to wear a cap, hat, vest, jacket or raincoat of hunter orange. The orange must be worn on the outermost layer of clothing at all times and visible from all directions, regardless of hunting on private or shared public land, even if hunting from within a blind. Hunter orange garments may have a camouflage pattern as long as the pattern is at least 50% hunter orange. The DNR recommends wearing as much hunter orange as possible to increase visibility to other hunters. Hunter orange does not deter deer.

— Know and follow baiting regulations: Deer baiting and feeding are banned in the entire Lower Peninsula. In the Upper Peninsula, baiting may occur from Sept. 15 to Jan. 1. Bait volume at any hunting site cannot exceed 2 gallons. Bait must be spread on the ground and in an area that measures a minimum of 10-by-10 feet or its equivalent. Mechanical spin-cast feeders are legal to use provided the feeder does not distribute more than the maximum volume allowed. On commercial forest land, bait must be brought in each night, unless the landowner has given permission. Use bait sparingly to help curb the spread of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.

— Hunt in-season, during legal hours: During firearm season, a hunter may legally shoot game starting 30 minutes before local sunrise and until 30 minutes after local sunset. Anyone who witnesses or suspects hunting outside of legal hours should immediately call or text the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline at 800-292-7800. Fast reporting makes it more likely a conservation officer will identify the suspect.

— Be respectful to other hunters: Michigan law prohibits anyone from obstructing or interfering with the lawful taking of animals. Hunter harassment — when a person or organization intentionally sabotages another hunter’s quality opportunity to take game — is a misdemeanor offense. Examples include spraying repellent around a hunter’s blind, creating loud noises and/or barriers that prevent or deter a hunter or game from accessing an area, or destroying other hunter’s equipment such as trail cameras and blinds.

Anyone who feels targeted by hunter harassment or who witnesses a natural resource violation should immediately call or text the Report All Poaching Hotline at 800-292-7800. Information can be left anonymously. Monetary rewards may be offered for information that leads to the prosecution of violators.

For more information on hunting safety, lands open to hunting, regulations and more, go online to Michigan.gov/Hunting. The 2024 Michigan deer hunting preview is available as well. The site also can be used to download the DNR Hunt Fish app.