Christian Apicella and his twin brother, Alexander, have always admired the art and skill that goes into hunting.

“What I love about hunting is truly the opportunity to provide. So why do we hunt? We hunt for food," said Christain.

It’s hunting season in New York and if you’re thinking about learning how to hunt small or big game animals, there’s a lot to consider.

“Practice makes perfect, you know. The first time you get a gun or the first time you get a bow the next day, you don't want to immediately go out into the woods. You know, you want to practice with that. You want to go to a range. You want to set up targets and you want to aim at those, shoot and try to get as good as you possibly can,” Apicella said.

Katrina Talbot works for the state Department of Environmental Conservation's hunter education program. She says the last two years have been the safest recorded for hunting in New York state since the DEC started teaching hunter education and tracking incidents.

Talbot thinks if people follow the four basic rules of firearm safety, the vast majority of injuries can be prevented.

“Which are to always treat every firearm as though it's loaded. To always have your muzzle pointed in a safe direction, always keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until you're ready to shoot. And last but not least, always be sure of your target. And what is beyond your target," said Talbot.

In New York state, it's also mandatory to wear florescent blaze orange or pink while hunting if a firearm’s involved.

“But we also recommend that anyone going afield this time of year, whether you're hunting, trapping or just hiking, that they wear these bright fluorescent colors. Not only do they make you easier to spot by other people, but they also make you a lot easier to find if something happens and you need someone to come help you,” Talbot said.

When Christian is out in the woods, he always carries his first-aid kit, even as someone who’s been hunting for over two decades. He said there's a the secret to being a great hunter.

“Staying patient, keeping calm, controlling your breathing. This is all in the act of preparing to shoot an animal. Before that, I would say the key to being a great hunter is knowing the environment that you're in.” Apicella said.

There are a lot of rules and regulations on where and what you can hunt, during different times of the year. Check the DEC website for rules and regulations or pick up a hard copy, anywhere you would buy a hunting license.