How safe is hunting as a deer reduction method? What is the safety record for Connecticut?
The following answer is provided by the State’s Hunter Safety Program Administrator and Wildlife Biologist, Mark Clavette A: Hunting is among the safest of all outdoor activites and has one of the lowest accident rates for all forms of outdoor recreation. Hunting accidents are rare and most injuries while hunting are self-inflicted or involve members of the same hunting party. The safety record of hunters has improved substantially over the years due in large part to mandatory hunter education which has produced an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters. The latest data from the International Hunter Education Association indicate a national rate of 6 hunting related firearms accidents per 100,000 hunters. Connecticut enjoys one of the best safety records among the states. In a 24 year period, Connecticut has had an average of 4 accidents (all reported injuries while hunting) per year. The last several years there were one or two accidents reported. This is among some 60,000 f
