Accidents will happen, even to responsible hunters with over 10 years’ experience.
Mike had been thinking about this day for weeks…the first Saturday of hunting season. Mike wants to make sure everything is perfect since he will be taking his twelve year old son hunting for the first time, the same age he was when his father first took him and he shot his first quail. He has been hooked ever since.
Earlier in the week he took his son to an outfitter store and got him everything he needed. Mike spent the previous evening laying everything out. He verified that he had packed his shotgun sling, leg gaiters, shells, hunting vest, and favorite shotgun. Thank goodness he remembered to pack the First Aid Kit. Twenty pounds of gear was packed and loaded in the vehicle. The coffee pot was scheduled to brew at 4:30 a.m.
Mike met up with his hunting partner John and his son at their usual meeting place and time. The group of four had been hunting for hours, but with no success. Finally, they flushed a large covey out of some plum thickets. John went off to search for a downed bird. The three other hunters walked over to another covey about 200 feet away. A quail flew up behind Mike and he turned around and unknowingly shot in John’s direction. John screamed out in pain.
The rest of the afternoon was spent dressing John’s wounds in the field, running to the Emergency Room, and answering questions from the conservation officer’s interview. Obviously, the day did not end as expected.

No one expects to go out hunting and get injured, but like most any outdoor activity, there is the risk of injury. With firearms involved the injury may be more serious. Every year the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) compiles a hunting accident incident report. The most prevalent “major factors” cited for these accidents include the following: “Failure to identify target, Victim out of site of the shooter, Firearm fell from insecure rest, Failure to use safety belt, Victim moved into line of fire, Shooter swinging on game, Failure to check beyond target, Careless handling of firearm.”
IHEA recommends hunters and shooters follow four basic rules of firearms safety, known as the TABK acronym.
T – Treat every firearm as it if were loaded
A – Always point the firearm in a safe direction.
B – Be sure of your target and what is beyond your target.
K – Keep your finger out of the trigger guard and off the trigger until ready to shoot.

How Can Hunters Reduce Risks?
Hunting accidents of all types happen every year. Most hunting accident victims are responsible hunters who have over 10 years’ experience. Although hunting accidents have trended downward as a result of increased hunter education requirements, there are still approximately 1,000 hunting accidents annually. Ten percent are fatal. What can you do to increase safety while hunting?
1. Get proper education. Read, take a hunter safety education course, watch hunter education videos, take an on-line course. A variety of resources exist. Taking a class can be interesting and rewarding, regardless of how long you have been hunting.
2. Practice the skills needed. It’s one thing to be book smart and another to put it into play. Some students take a course, but then don’t touch a firearm until opening day. Shooting arrows and firearms can be done in a number of safe, supportive places.
3. Follow state guidelines for wearing hunter orange. This universal hunter safety color will dramatically reduce your chance of being mistaken for game. Each state has its own guidelines, which can be viewed on www. IHEA.com under “Hunter Education”.
4. Don’t take deer stand safety requirements for granted. Follow the instructions on deer stand equipment and check for faulty equipment. In the state of Alabama alone, 2010 had a record number of deer stand accidents. Fourteen accidents were reported and four of these were fatal.
5. Establish a method for locating and communicating with other members of your hunting party. Have a map that outlines where each member will be hunting. Have an emergency plan in place.
6. Avoid consumption of drugs and alcohol.

How Can Landowners Reduce Risks?
Landowners can assist hunters by making sure property lines are well marked and posting “No Trespassing” signs. Hazards such as wells, cliffs, and cable gates should be well identified to help prevent accidents and injury. A safe area for campfires should be designated. Lastly, establishing open lines of communication with the hunt club can go a long way towards maintaining an accident free environment.

Keep in mind that accidents most often happen at the end of a long day when people are tired and anxious. Don’t forget the rules of safety in your ambition to get an animal. Don’t cut corners at the end of the day in order to get a trophy so that you can call it a successful day.