Thousands of hunters heading out into the hills are being urged to stick to the basics and be safe.

The reminder comes with the approaching 'roar' for deer hunters, and the opening of the game bird season.

New Zealand Deerstalkers Association president Bill O'Leary says most incidents are the result of failure to observe basic rules, rather than failing to identify targets.

"We're more likely to have incidents involving misuse of a firearm in the sense that the firearm is simply put down, knocked over or someone trips over with a firearm."

He says even experienced shooters aren't exempt from mistakes.

"Older hunters, experienced hunters, inevitably sooner or later one of those decisions or failure to observe a rule because of just the way they've been doing things for many years comes unstuck."

O'Leary said that spotlighting is also featured too frequently in shooting incidents.

He added that in the past decade, the number of applications for gun licences has more than doubled.