February 20, 2019
Provided By:
Don Williams, Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation
In the past 5 years in Pennsylvania:
* 179 incidents total
* 6 incidents involving non-hunters = 3 HRSI on private land (unclear on family to family involvement) NO fatalities
* 3 incidents on State Game Lands, NO fatalities = 1 ATV related incident; 1 Kayak related incident; 1 HRSI.
* High number of incidents involved falls from tree stands.
* Most HRSI are self-inflicted.
* Spring Turkey HRSI incidents vary from 0 - 8 per year (most either self-inflicted or mistaken for game).
IF there are @ 700,000 hunting licenses sold in Pa. per annum. And if we say each hunter only hunted 1 day, the highest chance ratio of hunting days afield to non-hunter incidents during those 5 years is 3,500,000/6 OR 1 in 583,333. The highest hunter to non-hunter HRSI is 1 in 3.5million with an actual lesser chance as hunter days increases to more than 1.In comparison, your chances of being struck by lightning is 1 in 3,500.
* Hunting is lowest on the list of non-hunter injuries in the outdoors.
* Swimming is the most dangerous outdoor activity with the highest mortality.
* Falls have the greatest morbidity (injury) and a significant mortality as well.
* A non-hunter is more likely to be injured or die from an auto accident traveling to and from the outdoor venue/trail head.
However hunter to non-hunter HRSI unfortunately do occur.
* In 2018 a fatal HRSI occurred in Western NY. A non-hunter was mistaken for game while walking her dog after sunset. She was not wearing fluorescent orange AND it happened after legal shooting hours. The hunter was prosecuted, convicted and recently found guilty of manslaughter.
* In 2017 there was a non-hunter HRSI in Maine. 1st in 29 years.
* In 2016 there was an non-hunter HRSI in Germany (no fluorescent orange required).
Wearing as much fluorescent orange when outdoors in a hunting area during hunting seasons is the key safety factor for both hunters and non-hunters.
////Signed////
Don Williams
Pa. Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation
For clarification, "Counsel" implies attorney. This is a misrepresentation. I am NOT an attorney. I am only a volunteer member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Hunting, Fishing and Conservation. Please correct. Don Williams.
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