The 2009 deer hunting season began with the Oct. 3 opening of the archery season. Thousands of hunters have been hitting archery ranges, scouting the woodlands and preparing tree stands for the premium event of the autumn hunting season.

The news is good for bow hunters, as the deer projection is favorable in the Butler County area and many large bucks have been sighted.

A friend was visiting the other night and, as he was showing me the nice black bear mount that he harvested near his home in northern Butler County, he reported that his son was scouting a trophy double-drop tined buck that was sure to be the envy of any hunter.

Good luck to him, but like my daddy used to say, seeing and getting are two different things.

Archery hunting is a up-close-and-personal sport in which shots often come from 20 yards or closer.

Ethical hunters have no business launching an arrow at any longer distances unless they are absolutely proficient at the range. Wounded animals aren't acceptable, and hunters who exhibit disregard for wildlife aren't true sports.

Up a treeHunting from tree stands has evolved greatly over the years. Climbers, set stands, blinds and ladder stands have given all hunters an advantage at a reasonable cost of less than $200.I've used a double-seat ladder stand and it is and excellent place to hunt deer from. The steel is sturdy and it can be relocated as needed from season to season or week to week.There are add-ons, such as canopy roofs or side blinds, to give you all the comforts of home. For the wanderers, there are climbers that can get you into the quickest spots for hunting on a daily basis.Make sure that you don't injure yourself or the trees while climbing. A hunting buddy had the misfortune of having a climber slip on the tree and he had to hug the tree all the way down to the ground. The end result was a skinned belly and chest.The Pennsylvania Game Commission issued a list of safety tips for the use of tree stands and hunting in general:• Make sure someone knows where you are hunting. Leave a map or note indicating where you'll be and take a cell phone with you.• Always use a fall-restraint device. Full-body harnesses are the best.• Don't climb dead, wet or icy trees, and be extra careful on windy days.• Carry a whistle, flashlight and something that can start a fire, if needed.• A compass or GPS unit will help while deep in the woods.• Use a hoist rope to pull up your gear.• Don't sleep in your tree stand — using the ground as a wake-up call hurts.• Inspect your stand before the season. Replace all hardware and check the stand for structural integrity. Non-slip material is good for the deck and steps of the stand. Wooden stands can be extremely dangerous if allowed to age.

Have the proper paperworkWhen you are in the field, make sure that you have your license displayed and, if you are fortunate enough to harvest a deer, remember that the PGC has a new online harvest report system in place.To report a deer harvest, visit www.pgc.state.pa.us, click on the blue box in the upper right corner and select Harvest Reporting.The second choice is to fill out a postcard form and drop it in the mail.Either way, all hunters are required to complete the survey if they are successful in harvesting a deer.

Jay E Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.