Keith Brown and Bill Jensen
Sept.-Oct. 1997
As much as we like to think a hunting accident could not happen to us, the fact is, a serious hunting accident could involve your or your hunting party. What can we do about it? First, always remember firearm and other safety rules. In the unlikely event an accident happens, be prepared to deal with it.
This article provides some first aid tips for common types of injuries. We hope you don't need to use this information, but it could save a life if the unthinkable happens.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has kept records on hunting accidents since 1970. In the past 26 years 343 people were injured by firearms while hunting in North Dakota; 24 of them died.
Since 1974 the number of reported accidents varies randomly, averaging 13 per year, but ranging from three to 22 victims per year. There appears to be no long term trend (Figure 1) relating to total accidents, but fatalities are decreasing. In the last debate North Dakota has recorded only two fatal hunting accidents, and none in the past four years.
Most hunting accidents occur in October and November. Light conditions apparently have only a minor influence. Of 157 cases for which the accident time was noted, 77 percent occurred between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. There appears to be a peak in the number of accidents during the late morning (29 percent between 10 and noon).
Shotguns were involved in 48 percent of all hunting accidents, followed by center-fire rifles (26 percent), .22 rimfire rifles (20 percent) and handguns (five percent). However, of 20 fatalities since 1976, centerfire rifles were involved in the most deaths (40 percent), followed by the .22 rimfire (35 percent), and shotgun (25 percent).
Based on a recent survey of emergency rooms in Montana, however, Dr. Craig Lambrecht, Medcenter One, Bismarck, noted the most frequent type of hunting injury did not involve a firearm. The most frequent type of injury was hunters severely cutting themselves while cleaning game.
Upland game hunting (pheasant, grouse, etc.) accounts for the most accidents in North Dakota - 29 percent. This is followed by big game hunters (23 percent); other small game hunters, e.g., gophers, prairie dogs, (19 percent); waterfowl hunters (16 percent); and furbearers, e.g., fox, coyotes, raccoon, (13 percent). Of 20 fatalities since 1976, eight were big-game hunters, seven were small-game hunters, four her hunting upland birds and waterfowl, and one was coyote hunting.
Based on accident reports since 1985, 42 percent of injuries were to feet and legs, 23 percent were to the torso (i.e., chest and abdomen), 18 percent to the head and neck, and 17 percent to the hands and arms. Three of four fatal wounds were to the torso and one was to the head and neck.
Since 1970, 40 percent of gunshot wounds have been self-inflicted. Fifty percent of all victims were within three feet of the muzzle and 65 percent were within 10 yards of the muzzle. Accident causes often vary, but errors in judgment and violations of safety rules are a common thread in accident reports. In 35 percent of accidents since 1970, the victim either moved into the line of fire, the shooter was swinging his/her gun on game, or the victim was out of sight. In another 19 percent of cases, the shooter was either removing a loaded gun from a vehicle or riding in a vehicle with a loaded gun. Age may also be a factor in accidents. Of 298 shooters for which age is known, 48 percent were between the ages of 11 and 20 (Figure 2).
Many accidents point out common mistakes made by hunters. Treat all guns with equal respect; a .22 can kill just as quickly as a .300 magnum. Do not be in a rush to start hunting or get to a new hunting spot. Overall, hunting is a safe activity. Almost all accidents could be avoided if hunters safely controlled the muzzle of their gun, and unloaded guns before entering a vehicle.
Keith Brown is a biology student at the University of Mary and serves as a medic in the National Guard. Bill Jensen is the wildlife management survey coordinator for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.