The hunting season started on Monday, with some 550,000 Pennsylvania hunters migrating into the forests with their rifles in hopes of bagging a whitetail deer.

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Opening day in Pennsylvania is like no other and considered a holiday to some. The season lasts until Dec. 9, a total time of two weeks where many Penn State students and avid hunters hope to spend much of their time in the forests. The vast amount of hunters may bring upon different issues regarding hunter and non-hunter safety. There have been many instances throughout the years of firearm-related accidents as well as countless other incidents regarding the sport.

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According to the International Hunter Education Association, nearly 1,000 people in the U.S. and Canada are accidentally shot by hunters each year, with a 10% fatality rate. While the victims are predominantly hunters, non-hunters may also fall victim.

2015 marked the third straight year in which 30 or fewer incidents were reported.

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"If you look back at the hundreds of incidents that occurred year after year in Pennsylvania decades ago, it really is remarkable how far hunter safety has come, and it's been accomplished largely through a team of hard-working volunteers dedicated to making hunting continually safer," said R. Matthew Hough, former executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

For the 2016 hunting season, a total of 38,671 students received their basic hunter-trapper education certification in Pennsylvania. For only the second time on record, no hunter or trapper in Pennsylvania died from a hunting-related shooting incident. Most recently, a woman in Sherman, N.Y., was fatally shot by a hunter who mistook her for a deer. The hunter fired his pistol after sunset, which is illegal.

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According to the Pennsylvania Hunter Ed Course, there are four main causes of hunting accidents. Hunter judgment mistakes, safety rule violations, lack of control and practice and mechanical failure are all ways that a hunting accident could occur. Basic hunting safety and caution should be kept in mind while hunting to avoid incidents from occurring.

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While traveling through forests in season, hunters and other travelers should wear orange, and have background knowledge of the area. Overall, be cautious of the surrounding environment and understand there may be hunters near. With the 2017 season, taking the proper safety precautions provide the chance for the season to end safely with no casualties.