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January 15, 2010

Seven Hunting Incidents Reported in 2009

Seven hunting incidents involving North Dakota hunters in 2009 is half of what has occurred annually over the past decade. Furthermore, three of the seven were not even hunting-related shooting incidents, according to Jon Hanson, hunter education coordinator for the state Game and Fish Department.

Of the four hunting-related shooting incidents, three involved shotguns and one involved a rifle. None were fatalities. The other three incidents involved two handgun victims and one fatal heart attack victim.

“While we won’t be completely satisfied until we are incident free, only four hunting-related shooting incidents are encouraging compared to past years,” Hanson said.

North Dakota has averaged 14 hunting incidents since 2000. In 2008, 10 were reported. The number of shotgun incidents is consistently higher than those with a rifle, Hanson said, with shooter swinging on game the number one factor over the last three years.

“Since 2006, shooter swinging on game, careless handling, victim out of sight of shooter, and discharge in/around a vehicle contribute to 86 percent of all incidents in North Dakota,” Hanson said.

The average age of people involved in 2009 hunting-related incidents remains on average, with the shooter age 34 and victim 42. Two of the shooting-related incidents involved residents, and two involved nonresidents.

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