Hunters making plans for the Roar are being urged to carry Rule 4 of the Safety Code with them - Identify your target beyond all doubt.

The Roar is a fantastic time of year for the hunting community, but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, is the most important goal.

Research has shown that in 80% of hunting incidents the shooter and victim are members of the same hunting group. So our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.

Good hunters slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:

• Can I see the whole animal or could this be another hunter simply carrying a carcass?
• Where are my hunting companions – could they (or anyone else) be out there?
• Has my brain responded to only movement, or only sound, rather than being sure I’ve sighted the deer?