If there's a hunter in your family, you'll want to make sure they follow this one safety rule before heading out for the season.

Hunting season is only a few weeks away in the Hudson Valley, and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding outdoor sports enthusiasts to follow some simple safety rules.

There's one rule, however, that has proven to be most effective. In fact, not one person has been mistakenly shot and killed while hunting in the past 10 years while following this simple safety rule.

The DEC is strongly encouraging every hunter to wear blaze orange or pink. Statistics show that Hunters who wear "hunter orange" clothing are seven times less likely to be shot. Here in New York, the law requires that young hunters and their guardians all wear safety orange:

hunters age 14 and 15 and their mentors who are hunting deer or bear with a gun to wear fluorescent hunter orange or pink visible from all directions: a shirt, jacket, or vest with at least 250 square inches of solid or patterned fluorescent orange or pink (the pattern must be at least 50 percent orange or pink) OR a hat with at least 50 percent fluorescent orange or pink.

Most hunters who have been involved in firearm-related injuries over the past decade were not wearing hunter orange.

Of course, there are also other important safety rules to follow while hunting. Practicing firearm safety, making sure your tree stands are installed properly and only hunting between sunrise and sunset are important rules for every hunter to follow.

Finally, the DEC suggests hunters condition their fitness before heading out to into the woods. Each year, many hunters who aren't used to physical activity suffer heart attacks while hiking or carrying their prey in the cold. It's important to know your limitations and let family members know where you will be hunting.

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