Avoid Common Hunting Injuries—Take a Safety Course
09-04-17
Almost one half of hunting related injuries occur during the short gun deer hunting season. A wide variety of injuries occur during hunting activities. While many are minor, serious injury with potential long-term disability or even death may result.
The most common hunting injuries are:
- Tree stand injuries
- Knife or arrow penetration
- Misfire/shooting accidents
- Slips and falls
- Weapon malfunction including blocked barrels, wrong ammunition, gun wear, bad arrows, unclean guns
- Overexertion/hypothermia
- Animal related injuries
The good news is that hunting accidents are one of the few categories of fatal accidents that have been in decline over the past two decades. Mandatory Hunter Safety Classes are credited for this trend.
Most states DNR’s offer hunter safety courses during late summer and early fall prior to the start of hunting seasons. Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources offers both instructor led and online courses for adults and a home study course for kids 12 and under. Click here to find the right course for you and your family.
Volunteer instructors schedule the instructor led courses, which usually are completed in a weekend. There are also trapper education courses. Once you complete a course, you can get certified by passing a test. The courses are free and the certification cost is $15. Learn when and where it is legal to hunt the game you want, hunting safety, and the safe handling of firearms.
Even the most experienced hunter can learn something new at one of these courses!
