If hunters remember anything this roar, it should be the seven basic rules of firearm safety and the old forestry safety message ''no meat is better than no mate'', New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association vice-president Bill O'Leary says.
The annual ''roar'' or ''rut'' coincides with Easter and the school holidays this year, so more hunters than normal were expected to be out.
Hunters needed to adhere strictly to the firearms safety code, the Department of Conservation (Doc) national hunting adviser Ian Cooksley said.
''Hunters must follow the firearms safety code at all times if they want to avoid causing serious harm to others using the area.''
A critical factor in several fatal incidents in recent years was hunters failing to identify their target. The risk was further heightened if hunters in a party separated and continued to hunt in the same area.
Hunting permit holders were reminded to adhere to the permit conditions and refrain from hunting in the hours of darkness or ''spotlighting'', a practice not permitted on conservation land.
''Spotlighting on conservation land poses a serious risk to other people who are using these areas such as campers and walkers and this practice must stop,'' Mr Cooksley said.
Firearms safety awareness must be at the forefront of all hunters' thinking when in pursuit of that trophy or meat for the table.
Mr O'Leary, national co-ordinator of the association's hunter training scheme, Hunts, said deerstalkers felt ''gutted'' whenever there was a fatality so they needed to be proactive to make sure such incidents did not occur.
''We don't want any hunting deaths this roar.''
The recent release of the coroner's report on the accidental shooting of a Rotorua hunter last year was an unwelcome but timely reminder to hunters that a wrong decision could have deadly consequences.
''Read and understand the seven basic rules of firearm safety and commit to observing them faithfully. They are simple but comprehensive and have stood the test of time.''
Follow the association's hunting guideline to wear clothing that contrasted with the environment and the animals.
''If you hunt with a mate and lose sight of each other please, please, please stop hunting until sight contact is re-established.''
Do not use a telescopic sight as it narrowed the field of sight, and consider the firing zone, he said.
''A bullet goes a long way, and in the bush can go well beyond one's field of view. Know your hunting territory and know the direction of tracks and camping sites, huts and houses.''
