


May 06, 2013
Hunting Accident Rates Plummet in Texas
By CJ Lotz

Hunting keeps getting safer in Texas.
Since mandatory hunter education began in 1988, hunting accident numbers have steadily dropped. The worst year on record for the state was back in 1968, when 105 accidents were reported. Now, there are fewer than three accidents per 100,000 hunters--and Texas has more than a million hunters.
“The statistics show hunting is safe and getting safer in Texas,” said Robert Ramirez, hunter education program manager for Texas Parks & Wildlife. “And we do believe that is directly related to hunter education.”
Among 28 recreational activities, hunting ranks third in safety behind camping and billiards, The National Shooting Sports Foundation found.
Photo by rcbodden on Flickr
Comments (4)
"3rd behind camping and billiards", I camp a lot so I know the "risks" there but billiards? what is 4th, sleeping in a hammock?
I took the Hunters Ed course in my home state of Texas and its a pretty good course.
I suppose I'll take your word for it that hunting accidents have plummeted, but the cited statistics don't prove anything. Let's see 105 total accidents in 1968, the worst year on record and now its 3 per 100,000 with over a million hunters. So, there are now at least 30 accidents per year and because we don't know exactly how many hunters "over a million" there are, all we can say is that the number of accidents is no less than 30. We are also constantly hearing about the fall in the number of hunters, so we have to assume that the number of hunters in 1968 was higher than it was today. I would really like to see the number of accidents per 100,000 hunters in 1968 before I conclude that the accident rate has plummeted.
Brian01 - sometimes it helps to read the full article (linked at the end of the post), and you'll see that your questions are answered. 1968 had an accident rate in the neighborhood of 12 per 100K licenses sold.
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Brian01 - sometimes it helps to read the full article (linked at the end of the post), and you'll see that your questions are answered. 1968 had an accident rate in the neighborhood of 12 per 100K licenses sold.
"3rd behind camping and billiards", I camp a lot so I know the "risks" there but billiards? what is 4th, sleeping in a hammock?
I took the Hunters Ed course in my home state of Texas and its a pretty good course.
I suppose I'll take your word for it that hunting accidents have plummeted, but the cited statistics don't prove anything. Let's see 105 total accidents in 1968, the worst year on record and now its 3 per 100,000 with over a million hunters. So, there are now at least 30 accidents per year and because we don't know exactly how many hunters "over a million" there are, all we can say is that the number of accidents is no less than 30. We are also constantly hearing about the fall in the number of hunters, so we have to assume that the number of hunters in 1968 was higher than it was today. I would really like to see the number of accidents per 100,000 hunters in 1968 before I conclude that the accident rate has plummeted.
Post a Comment