Fluorescent orange is the colour of the season with hunting ramping up now that rifle season is open for white-tailed deer in most areas of the province. As hunters head out to fill their licenses, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) reminds them to be careful of farmland.

Because it's been a warm fall, many cattle are still on pasture. MBP asks hunters to close all gates after passing through, and not to shoot in the direction of cattle.

MBP general manager Melinda German says the main concern is getting hunters to talk with producers about concerns on the land, such as where cattle are located and if there are any sensitive areas.

"We've had a really wet year in pockets of Manitoba, and sometimes going in to some sensitive areas can create a bit of damage to the pasture land," she says.

There are also biosecurity risks when hunters move from pasture to pasture, which again, German encourages hunters to discuss with landowners.

"Sometimes [hunters] may be in an area that might have a noxious disease that's going to be harmful and spread in new pastures, or disease in animals, perhaps," she says. "If they go from one pasture to another without the proper protocol in terms of cleaning their vehicles, etc., we can see spread of diseases, and that's something we definitely want to restrict."

German says they respect the rights of hunters and Manitoba's hunting regulations, but encourages conversation between hunters and producers to minimize concern.