Young hunters took to the woods Saturday and Sunday during Ohio's youth deer-gun season.

The two-day season was designed to get kids 17 and younger involved in hunting. The weekend was a safe and successful one. The harvest for Washington County was 362 deer, which is 66 more than last year's youth deer-gun season harvest.

"There were no hunter incidents reported as far as I know," said Susie Vance, a wildlife communications representative from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The regular statewide deer-gun season runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 6 and the season will reopen for an extra weekend of hunting Dec. 19-20. To ensure that hunters stay safe throughout the season, Vance there are some safety precautions that should be taken.

"One of the main ideas that we teach in hunter education courses and remind all hunters of is to be sure of your target and beyond and always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction," she said.

Vance added that every gun should be treated as if it were loaded.

Pam Meyer, a recreation technician at the Marietta extension of the Wayne National Forest, said the hunter should always be aware of his or her surroundings.

"The first thing off the bat is to know where you're hunting. You need to know the topography, in particular, and where other people could be located," she said.

Meyer said that no one should go hunting without letting someone know that they're going.

"When you're hunting, you should make sure people know you're going and when you're supposed to return, so they know to come look for you if you don't return."

She added that it's also important to be aware of hunting laws and regulations, as well as property lines.

"Be aware of where property lines are, do your homework, and buy maps so you're not on private property"