Study says that falls, not gunshots, hunters' biggest threat

[Hoi Polloi]

Falls, Not Gunshot, May Be Hunters’ Biggest Threat
Most accidents involve tumbles from tree stands, study finds

Among the other findings:

* Gunshot wounds accounted for 29 percent of injuries.
* Drugs and alcohol together accounted for less than 10 percent of injuries.
* Most of the hunters who fell were not wearing safety harnesses.
* Of those who fell, 59 percent had fractures.
* Surgery was performed for 81 percent of fall-related injuries.
* Permanent neurological damage was suffered by 8.2 percent of the hunters who fell.

[mgood]

SEE! The guns could not save them!
They were well-armed to defend themselves from wild predators, but that couldn't help them in a simple fall from a tree.
Therefore guns are useless and should be banned!
(We'll keep tree stands for wildlife observation, but we'll create a government agency to regulate and enforce safety requirements of such tree stands. This new agency will require a large number of personel to inspect all the tree stands, and therefore will create jobs.)


[/sarcasm, just in case someone didn't get it.]

[seamusTX]

In the past 100 years, the number of accidental shootings (including self-inflicted) during hunting has dropped by a huge factor, something like 50.

I can't find historical figures for the entire U.S., but here's a document for Texas: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... 4_2008.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hunting safety has been a focus of the NRA for many years, and by now most hunters have taken hunter safety education.

I have been convinced for a long time that it is more dangerous to drive to and from a hunting site or shooting range than to actually participate in the sport.

- Jim

[seamusTX]

I spoke too soon.

In Clark County, Ohio (middle of state), a hunter allegedly shot at something moving in the underbrush. It turned out to be another hunter.

The shooter was arrested for a weapons violation and assault. He allegedly blew 0.12.

The victim was hit with a 20-gauge birdshot load and released from the hospital after treatment.

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/05/ ... ar-281640/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[CaptWoodrow10]

I have been convinced for a long time that it is more dangerous to drive to and from a hunting site or shooting range than to actually participate in the sport.

- Jim

I concur. This is why I wear a safety harness in the tree stand when I can. This isn't possible in one of my stands because of the set up, but at least I'm only about 12 feet off the ground in that one. We've come along way from the days my father wedged a 2X4 in the crook of a tree to sit on.

[seamusTX]

Unfortunately the shooting deaths are always publicized. I've never seen a headline on the order of "Man Chokes on Chicken Bone While on Hunting Trip."

Here's another one:

In Mason County, Washington (northwest), today, a hunter was charged with manslaughter for allegedly shooting a man. The hunter said he thought the man was a bear.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/106780998.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Hoi Polloi]

And an anecdotal story to add to the discussion:

A nurse at a Tyler-area hospital said that they've had 11 accidental shootings this weekend from deer hunters and that the helicopter is being kept busy with them. If she's accurate, either Tyler hunters break the odds or there were a lot more falls that happened as well.

[The Annoyed Man]

And an anecdotal story to add to the discussion:

A nurse at a Tyler-area hospital said that they've had 11 accidental shootings this weekend from deer hunters and that the helicopter is being kept busy with them. If she's accurate, either Tyler hunters break the odds or there were a lot more falls that happened as well.

It could have been a nurse with an agenda too, hyperventilating a little bit for the media. Who knows?

[Hoi Polloi]

And an anecdotal story to add to the discussion:

A nurse at a Tyler-area hospital said that they've had 11 accidental shootings this weekend from deer hunters and that the helicopter is being kept busy with them. If she's accurate, either Tyler hunters break the odds or there were a lot more falls that happened as well.

It could have been a nurse with an agenda too, hyperventilating a little bit for the media. Who knows?

True about the agenda possibility. It wasn't said to the media, though. Just privately.

[seamusTX]

A nurse at a Tyler-area hospital said that they've had 11 accidental shootings this weekend from deer hunters ...

I don't buy it. That would be one-quarter of the total number of hunting accidents (not just shootings) in the state in 2008.

- Jim

[Hoi Polloi]

Good point, Jim! I don't know of a way to verify what she said. It's possible, but if those are the statistics then it seems very improbable that one hospital would see that many in one weekend.

[VViper]

Here's another interesting statistic from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education Home Study webpage:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hu ... ndex.phtml

It says that hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities that you can do.

Of course, as a Hunter Education instructor, we always stress that statistics don't mean anything if you are one of the ones who is injured...

[UpTheIrons]

Well, I just got back from a hunting trip today - 4 days of electronics-free bliss! Aaahhhh! Over those days I:
almost fell out of a bowhunting tripod,
almost tripped over my flipper feet (I'm a bit clumsy),
almost fell off a 4-wheeler when the driver turned too sharp,
almost skewered my hand with a hunting knife,
almost landed in a big prickly pear one morning in the dark, and
almost got hung up in a goat wire and barbed wire fence (don't ask...did I mention I'm clumsy?).

However, I also:
never swept my muzzle (or bow) across anything I wasn't willing to destroy,
never had my booger hook on the bang switch except when taking a shot, and I was
never swept by a muzzle either by the 3 other hunters out with me.

Sure, it's anecdotal, but it matters to me! I came home with precisely the same number of holes in me as I left with. And three tasty deer in my ice chests, too.