The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said a 45-year-old Ohio man died after falling from his tree stand this morning in Huron County.

Thursday was the opening day of archery deer hunting season.

At about 10 a.m. a DNR conservation officer arrived at the Verona State Game Area, responding to a call made by the victim's hunting partner.

The officer and personnel responding from Central Huron Ambulance in Bad Axe performed CPR. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Preliminary investigation revealed the victim had shot a deer and had unfastened his safety harness to climb down from his tree stand. He was found lying next to a tree.

The complete circumstances surrounding the fall are still being determined. The cause of death is pending conclusive determination by the Huron County medical examiner.

The roughly 7,700-acre Verona State Game Area is located about 6 miles east of Bad Axe.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.