A California man on his first deer hunt was killed Saturday in Frederick County, Md., when his rifle discharged in an apparent accident, authorities said.

Vincent Cavallo, 32, of Altadena, was hunting with an uncle on private land in the Thurmont area when the incident occurred, said Candy Thomson, spokeswoman for the Maryland Natural Resources Police.

After Cavallo and his uncle split up to hunt, the uncle heard a shot and went to check. He found his nephew on the ground with a gunshot wound in the face, Thomson said.

After studying the scene with its rough, rocky terrain, investigators’ preliminary conclusion was that the shooting was accidental, Thomson said. Either Cavallo slipped or he dropped the gun, causing it to fire, she said.

An autopsy will be performed and an investigation is continuing, Thomson said.

Saturday was the opening day of this year’s season for hunting deer with firearms, Thomson said. She said incidents such as Saturday’s were very rare.

Cavallo had taken a firearms safety course, she said.

The two-week season always starts the Saturday after Thanksgiving, she said, and involves hunters in the many thousands.