Hunter safety makes strides

Accidents, deaths decline with recent education efforts.

Early-morning weather has a crisp edge to it with the arrival of fall throughout Georgia. That subtle temperature change gets animals to feeding more heavily in preparation for winter. Hunters also start anticipating opening day of deer season.

On Oct. 17 the regular firearms season begins statewide for white-tailed deer. It is an event that sends virtually the entire Georgia hunting population heading to the woodlands and fields.

Beginning hunters just entering the sport have a new resource to make the transition easier. This year for the first time the hunter-education course that is required for all hunting in Georgia is being offered completely online.

Individuals now can take the course and requisite test at their own pace at home. Four private firms conduct these courses and charge a fee for the service. The Department of Natural Resources will continue to offer free classroom versions of the course during the year in locations around the state.

Georgia’s efforts in promoting hunter safety have had an effect. In the period of 1979-89 there were averages of 59.4 hunting accidents annually, with 8.5 fatalities. In 2006-10 the averages were 43 accidents and fewer than four fatalities.

During that latter period, an average of 150 pedestrians were killed annually when hit by vehicles in the state. The bottom line is you are much safer on a hunting trip than walking along or crossing a road in Georgia.

Most years around 40 percent of accidents and deaths occur as a result of falling from tree stands, about the same percentage as involve firearms. As a result, tree-stand and firearms safety is heavily emphasized in the state’s hunter-safety programs.

More information on hunter-education courses is available at georgiawildlife.com. Follow the links through Hunting and then Hunter Education Classes.