As fall hunting, fishing, and off-highway vehicle riding pick up across Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources is reminding everyone to keep safety top of mind.

That means wearing a life jacket in a duck boat, taking care with every step in and out of a tree stand, practicing safe firearms handling, and wearing helmets and seatbelts when riding ATVs or other off-highway vehicles.

“These next couple months are the highlight of the year for many people,” said Col. Rodmen Smith of the DNR Enforcement Division. “But no trip is a success if it doesn’t end safely.”

So far this year, Minnesota has recorded zero hunting-related firearms fatalities, five boating deaths, on pace for a historic low, and 16 OHV-related fatalities, a drop from last year’s record 30 but still higher than some years past.

The DNR offers these reminders: Hunters should always handle firearms safely, wear blaze orange or pink, and use safety harnesses in tree stands. Anglers and waterfowl hunters should wear foam-filled life jackets, follow boat weight limits, and watch the weather. Off-highway vehicle riders should wear DOT-approved helmets, use seatbelts if equipped, stick to designated trails, and ride at safe speeds.

Even those not hunting should wear blaze clothing when using public lands, and dog owners should keep a close eye out during trapping season.

More safety tips can be found at mndnr.gov/safety.