Deer Hunting Safety

[Doc]

The most recent bunch of years, we have seen some pretty impressive hunter safety numbers when compared to the old days of the 60's and 70's. and we have all been patting ourselves on the back for being such good safe hunters. But the other day as I sat on the hillside, with what sounded like almost no one out hunting, I started thinking about those wonderful numbers and it occurred to me that perhaps the fantastic safety record probably is due more to the diminishing hunter participation.

What do you think? Are we getting fantastically safety-minded, or are there simply fewer hunters in the woods, spending fewer hours hunting?

[GreeneHunter]

I would think it's because the number of hunters has dropped dramatically !

[greg54]

Fewer hunters.

[gopher]

They have been handing out 4 dmu 7j permits for years now.

There are many many deer around skaneateles 

[nyantler]

On 11/27/2024 at 9:39 AM, Doc said:

The most recent bunch of years, we have seen some pretty impressive hunter safety numbers when compared to the old days of the 60's and 70's. and we have all been patting ourselves on the back for being such good safe hunters. But the other day as I sat on the hillside, with what sounded like almost no one out hunting, I started thinking about those wonderful numbers and it occurred to me that perhaps the fantastic safety record probably is due more to the diminishing hunter participation.

What do you think? Are we getting fantastically safety-minded, or are there simply fewer hunters in the woods, spending fewer hours hunting?

Not just fewer hunters, but less mobile hunters. Not many hunters get out of their tree stands these days and move around in the woods like years past. Most hunting accidents these days are treestand related

 

[First-light]

I haven't run into a hunter in years. Yup not moving around. Still have to keep it in your mind anything can happen. 

[Doc]

There may also be a correlation regarding all the land that is being locked up with leases, and the fact that there are fewer hunters per acre because of that.

Another thing that I have noticed is the number of part-time hunters. There are many who only hunt opening day. There are also a lot of 1/2-day hunters......Those who go out for lunch and don't come back. This sort of thing is what makes the numbers seem not so bad as far as the number of licenses sold. But there is a participation factor among those that buy the licenses.

So many reasons for the "silence phenomenon" during the season.

[Northcountryman]

Fewer hunters , for sure , but the point that hunters arent as mobile in the woods as in years past is valid as well IMHO.