20092009 WISCONSIN WISCONSIN

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESDEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HUNTING INCIDENT REPORT HUNTING INCIDENT REPORT

PO BOX 7921PO BOX 7921MADISON WI 53707-7921MADISON WI 53707-7921

PUB-LE-006 (Rev. 2/10)

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 3History of Hunting Incidents & Fatalities

4Incident Rate per 100,000 Hunters 5Month of Incident 5Day & Time of Incidents

6Where Incidents Occurred

7Animals Hunted by Shooter 7Firearms Involved in Incidents 8Contributing Factors to Incident 8Incident Conditions: Weather; Light Conditions; Topography; Ground Cover

9Injury Information 10Shooter/Victim Hunting Party, Victim Visibility 10Shooter Statistics; Hunter Education; Experience; Age & Gender

11Shooter Activity at Time of Incident 12Distance from Muzzle to Wound 12Victim Statistics: Hunter Education; Experience; Age; Gender

13Victim Statistics: Surroundings; Color of Cap 14Victim Statistics: Color of Coat and Trousers 15Hunting Incidents by County & Deer Management Unit 16Incidents by County & Deer Management Unit 17History of Deer Gun Incidents & Fatalities 19State Map with Gun Deer Season Incidents 20Deer Gun Incidents: Day of Week; Victim Clothing Color 21Deer Season Safety Violation: Archery & Firearms

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240.

This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc) upon request. Please call (608) 266-2141 for more information

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2009 Hunting Incident Report Executive Report

Hunting Incident -- is when a person is injured by the discharge of a hunting firearm or bow and arrow arising from the activity of hunting, including travel to and from the hunting field.

There were 18 total hunting incidents during the 2009 hunting season. One of the 18 incidents was fatal. Thanks to the efforts of our hunter education program hunting is a safe activity in Wisconsin. Hunting incidents are continuing a downward trend and for 2009 we were below the 10 year average of about 55 incidents per year.

Gun deer hunting and squirrel hunting were the two hunting activities with the highest number of incidents with gun deer hunting having the most. Dove hunting involved 1 incident. Other game hunting remained basically the same compared to 2008.

Rifles and shotguns remain the hunting implement involved most often in hunting incidents. Shotguns continue the trend of being involved more often (44%) than rifles (39%).

THE Major cause for incidents for 2009: Shooters failure to positively identify the target. It’s not good enough reason to take a shot when a hunter only thinks they are seeing a legal target; they must know and be certain the target is legal.

Self inflicted injuries accounted for 44% of the total number of incidents. This is a reduction of 10% from 2008. However, it is still higher than an average over time of about 33% of all incidents being self inflicted injuries.

Juveniles (under age 18) caused 28% of the total number of hunting incidents. That means that 72% of all hunting incidents were caused by adult hunters. Historically juveniles have contributed to nearly 33% of the total numbers of incidents. It is important to note that the numbers of incidents caused by juvenile shooters is a single digit (5). As with all statistics, when a change in a single number can result in dramatic percentage changes the significance of the data is really more accurately reflected in terms of relevance. Of course if it’s you or someone you know then it is always relevant or significant.

To summarize this report, 2009 was the safest year on record for hunting in Wisconsin. We were well below the 10 year average for hunting incidents and expect to continue that trend into the future. Self-inflicted injuries and incidents during deer drives were significant issues in 2009. We cannot rest on past success and must stress the importance of knowing and practicing the 4 basic rules of firearms safety every time we handle a firearm. Remember the slogan “Safe Hunting is No Accident.” Let’s make 2010 the safest season ever.

Timothy J. LawhernHunter Education Administrator

Copyright 2008 by Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesBureau of Law Enforcement

PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707Telephone (608) 266-2141

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Fatal Total Accidents

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History of Fatalities

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2009

Fatalities

History of Hunting Incidents

Safest Season on Record

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Month of IncidentAll Incidents 2009

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Feb

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Wisconsin Hunting Incident RatePer 100,000 Hunters

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

19

49

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51

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53

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55

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01

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05

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Acc

iden

t R

ate

1967 Hunter Education Begins

1980 – Mandatory Blaze Orange for Gun Deer Season

1985 – Mandatory Hunter Education Begins

4.19

6

Saturday

22%

Sunday

44%

Tuesday

11%

Wednesday

0%

Monday

6%

Thursday

6%

Friday

11%

Incidents by Day of WeekAll Incidents 2009

Time of DayAll Incidents 2009

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

10:00 - 12:00

8:01 - 10:00

6:01 - 8:00

4:01 - 6:00

2:01 - 4:00

12:01 - 2:00

10:01 - 12:00 PM

8:01 - 10:00

6:01 - 8:00

4:01 - 6:00

2:01 - 4:00

12:00 AM - 2:00

Unknown

Grouse6%Coyotes

6%

Deer49%

Squirrel21%

Turkey6%Woodchuck

6%

Dove6%

7

Where Incidents OccurredAll Incidents 2009

Type of Land

Other28%

Wooded Area38%

Field/Cropland

28%

Public Hunting Grounds

6%

Animals Hunted by ShooterAll Incidents 2009

Other Includes:Creek 1

Game Farm 0

Garden/Yard 1

Open Area 0

Marsh 0

Roadway - 0

Right of Way

On Road in 0

Vehicle

Other Includes:Creek 1

Game Farm 0

Garden/Yard 1

Open Area 0

Marsh 0

Roadway - 0

Right of Way

On Road in 0

Vehicle

8

Firearms Involved in IncidentsAll Incidents 2009

Type

Rifle39%

Shotgun44%

Handgun17%

Contributing Factors to IncidentsAll Incidents 2009

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Victim out of sight of shooter

Victim covered by shooter swinging on game

Shooter Failure to ID Target

Ricochet

Victim moved in line of fire

Trigger caught on object

Loading/Unloading firearm

Careless Gun Handling

Defective Firearm

Firearm Fell

Shooter Stumbled

Loaded Firearm in Vehicle

Improper Crossing of Obstacle

Casing or Uncasing Firearm

Unknown

Action

Semi Auto27%

Lever11%

Unknown6%

Bolt6%

Break /Hinge

6%

Slide38%

Muzzleloader

0%

Revolver6%

9

Incident ConditionsAll Incidents 2009

Weather

Cloudy22%

Clear33%

Partly Cloudy39%

Unknow n6%

Precipitation

None77%

Raining0%

Snow0%

Unknow n17%

Foggy-Mist6%

Light Conditions

Daylight88%

Daw n6%

Dusk6%

Dark0%

Unknow n0%

Incident ConditionsAll Incidents 2009

Swamp/Marsh6%

Steep Hill6%

Level32%

Other6% Rolling

50%

Grass33%

Leaves44%

Corn Field6%

Snow Cover6%

Other11%

Topography Ground Cover

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Incident StatisticsAll Incidents 2009

Shooter/Victim InformationTwo-Party Incidents 2009

Could Shooter See Victim?

Self Inflicted

44%

No28%

Yes28%

Self Inflicted

Yes44%

No56%

Members of the Same Hunting Party(includes self-inflicted injuries)

No17%

Yes83%

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Incident Shooter StatisticsAll Incidents 2009

Hunter Education Graduate?

Unknown6%

No28%

Yes66%

Incident Shooter StatisticsAll Incidents 2009

Gender

Unknow n

6%

Male94%

Female0%

Years of Hunting Experience

11-15 Years

0%6-10 Years

22%

0-5 Years28%

Unknown11%

20+ years39%

16-20 Years

0%

Age Under 12

6% Age

12-17

22%

Age

50-59

17%

Unknown0%

Age

24-29

0%

Over Age

60

11%

Age

18-23

0%

Age

30-39

22%

Age

40-49

22%

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Distance From Muzzle to WoundAll Incidents 2009

Includes Self Inflicted

Activity Shooter Was Involved InAll Incidents 2009

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Driver

Stander

Still Hunting

Stalking

In a Tree Stand

Other Activity

Unknown

In Blind

Not Hunting at Time

Hunting Violation

In a Vehicle

0

2

4

6

8

10

0-1 Yd 2-5 Yds 6-10 Yds 11-20 Yds 21-50 Yds 51-100 Yds Over 100Yds

Unknown

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Incident Victim StatisticsAll Incidents 2009

Age 12-1722%

Age 18-236% Age 24-29

6%

Age 30-3922%

Age 40-4922%

Age 50-596%

Age 60 & Over16%

Age

Female0%

Male100%

Gender

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Incident Victim SurroundingsTwo-Party Incidents 2009

Unknown0%

Other10%

Vehicle 0%

Open Area20%

Light Cover30%

Dense Cover40%

Incident Victim Clothing ColorTwo-Party Incidents 2009

CapUnknown

10%Brown

0%

Other20%

Blue or Green0%

Camouflage30%

Blaze Orange40%

Other Includes:Creek 0Game Farm 0Garden/Yard 1Open Area 0Marsh 0Roadway - 0Right of WayOn Road in 0Vehicle

Other Includes:Creek 0Game Farm 0Garden/Yard 1Open Area 0Marsh 0Roadway - 0Right of WayOn Road in 0Vehicle

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Incident Victim Clothing ColorTwo-Party Incidents 2009

Other20%

Blaze Orange/Camo0%

Camouflage30%

Blue/Green0%

Brown10%

Blaze Orange30%

Unknown10%

Incident Victim Clothing ColorTwo-Party Incidents 2009

Camouflage30%

Blue/Green20%

Blaze Orange10%

Other20%

Brown10%Unknown

10%

Coat or VestCoat or Vest

TrousersTrousers

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2009 HUNTING INCIDENTS BY COUNTY(ALL INCIDENTS)

COUNTY # INCIDENTS COUNTY # INCIDENTS

Adams Marathon

Ashland Marinette 1

Barron 1 Marquette

Bayfield Menominee

Brown Milwaukee

Buffalo Monroe

Burnett Oconto 1

Calumet Oneida

Chippewa Outagamie 1

Clark Ozaukee

Columbia Pepin

Crawford 1 Pierce 1

Dane 2 Polk

Dodge Portage

Door Price 1

Douglas Racine

Dunn Richland

Eau Claire Rock 1

Florence Rusk

Fond du Lac St. Croix 1

Forest Sauk

Grant 1 Sawyer

Green 1 Shawano 2

Green Lake Sheboygan 1

Iowa Taylor

Iron Trempealeau

Jackson Vernon

Jefferson Vilas

Juneau Walworth

Kenosha Washburn

Kewaunee Washington

La Crosse Waukesha

Lafayette Waupaca 1

Langlade Waushara 1

Lincoln Winnebago

Manitowoc Wood

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2009 HUNTING INCIDENTS BY DEER MANAGEMENT UNIT(ALL INCIDENTS)

DMU INCIDENTS DMU INCIDENTS DMU INCIDENTS

01 60A 1

01M 36 60B

02 37 60M

03 38 61

04 39 61A

05 40 62A

06 41 1 62B 1

07 42 63A 1

08 43 63B 1

09 44 64

10 45 64M

11 46 65A

12 47 1 65B

13 48 66

14 49A 67A

15 49B 67B 1

16 50 68A

17 51A 68B

18 51B 1 69 1

19 52 69C

20 52A 70

21 1 53 70 A

22 1 54A 70B

22A 54B 70C

23 54BCWD 70D

23A 54C 70E

24 55 70F

25 1 56 70G

26 57 71

27 57A 72

28 57B 72A

29A 57C 73A

29B 57D 73B 1

30 58 73D

31 59A 73E

32 59B 74A

33 59C 74B 1

34 59D 75A 1

35 59M 75B

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DMU INCIDENTS

75C

75D

76 2

76A

76C

76M

77A 1

77B

77C

77D

77E

77M

78

79

80A

80B

80C

81

82

90

MCC

2009 HUNTING INCIDENTS BY DEER MANAGEMENT UNIT(ALL INCIDENTS)

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History of Gun Deer Incidents

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Fatal Non-Fatal

Nonfatal87%

Fatal13%

2009 Gun Deer Season Incidents

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Non Fatal = 7Non Fatal = 7Fatal = 1 (Rock County)Fatal = 1 (Rock County)Total = 8Total = 81.25 incidents per 100,000 deer hunters1.25 incidents per 100,000 deer hunters

Gun Deer Season Incidents 2009

1

11

11

11

1

1

1

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Incidents by Day of Week 2009 Gun Deer Season

Sunday25%

Saturday63%

Friday0%

Thursday0%

Wednesday0%

Tuesday12%

Monday0%

Blaze Orange100%

No Cap0%

Cap

Incident Victim Clothing Color2009 Gun Deer Season - Two-Party Incidents

Blaze Orange100%

Coat/Vest

Brown25%

Blaze Orange

25%

Blue/Green

25%

Camo25%

Trousers

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2009 Deer Season Safety ViolationsArchery

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Hunt w ithin 50 Feet of Rd. - H07

Transport Loaded f irearm inVehicle - H43

Transport Uncased Firearm inVehicle - H44

Hunt Deer w ith Illegal Firearm -H54

Shoot From/Across Rd. - H82

Hunt Before/After Hours - H23

Hunt Without Blaze Orange - H08

2009 Deer Season Safety ViolationsFirearms

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Shoot From/Across Rd. - A37

Shoot from vehicle - A26

Hunt Before/After Hours - A27

Hunt w ithin 50 Feet of Rd. - A6

Transport strung bow in or onvehicle - A1