ALBANY, N.Y. — The state's Department of Environmental Conservation is urging deer hunters to use common-sense safety measures, after an apparent case of negligence led to an accidental death in the western part of New York.

Thomas Radlowski, 34, is accused of manslaughter after Chautauqua County Sheriff's deputies say he fired his gun more than 200 yards on the day before Thanksgiving, at what he thought was a deer. It turned out to be Rosemary Billquist, 43, who was walking her dogs on her own property. Billquist later died of her injuries at a nearby hospital.

DEC officials say Radlowski appears to have fired the shot at about 5:24 p.m., more than an hour after official sunset on November 22.

"Sunset is a number that you can look up and know what it is," said NYSDEC Law Enforcement Coordinator Joseph Schneider. "This type of reckless conduct gets you arrested for manslaughter ... serious, serious charges. And that's as it should be."

The state agency urges hunters to wear bright, fluorescent colors that are invisible to deer. Non-hunters should also endeavor to wear bright colors when walking in the woods during hunting season.