With the opening of firearm deer season Tuesday, something of a cultural rite will play out across the state of Michigan for the next two weeks.

Hundreds of thousands of Michigan hunters and thousands more from surrounding states will take to the woods in search of a trophy buck. For others, a decent shot at a legal spike horn would be fine, too.

Many of the hunters who will be in the woods are experienced, accustomed to taking and processing game in the field. But many others will be inexperienced, and for those folks we offer the following list of safety suggestions.

Most might be considered common sense. That said, it’s never a bad idea to keep these kinds of things in mind when entering the woods with a loaded firearm.

1. Dress appropriately including appropriate footwear. Smart hunters wear blaze orange.

2. Know the area you are hunting. Not all lands are open for hunting and the owners of private tracts must be contacted before the hunt.

3. Be 100 percent certain of your target. Never shoot at noise or movement down range. And be certain of what’s on the other side of your target.

4. Field dress the whitetail immediately and get help to drag it out of the woods. Prompt processing is key.

5. Always assume a gun is loaded. Treat all firearms with respect and caution, especially when walking from a vehicle to hunting site and back.

6. Make sure people know where you plan to hunt and when you plan to return. We wish the throng of hunters hitting the woods this season the best of luck. Good hunting.