CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS 



Mistaken for game 



Shooter stumbled and fell 



Victim out of sight of shooter 



Victim covered by shooter swinging on game 



Trigger caught on brush or other object 



Victim moved in line of fire 



"Horseplay" — did not know it was loaded, 



etc. 5 10 



Removing weapon from or placing in 

 vehicle and riding in vehicle with loaded 

 firearm 1 



Defective weapon 



Crossing fence or other obstacle with 

 loaded weapon 3 



Miscellaneous 3 



Loading and unloading 2 



Totals 36 118 22 104 17 109 



The kind of game being hunted in relation to the numbers of accidents may 

 be of interest, although comparison is difficult due to lack of information con- 

 cerning the relative numbers of hunters pursuing each type. 



The game being hunted by the shooter at the time of the accidents was: 



Species 1960 1961 1962 



Babbit 34 34 38 



Grouse 34 21 28 



Deer 23 17 15 



Duck 15 13 11 



Moose 11 9 8 



Groundhog 11 6 13 



Pheasant 4 5 4 



Squirrel 13 3 



Bear 112 



Crow 1 — 1 



Fox _ 1 _ 



Wolf 11 — 



Unprotected Birds 3 3 — 



Miscellaneous 5 3 2 



Unknown 10 9 1 



Totals 154 126 126 



Disregard of the game laws has been associated with an alarming number 

 of accidents. About 27% of the shooters involved in hunting accidents were con- 

 travening one or another of the laws and regulations. Altogether, 33 persons were 

 charged under Section 66a of The Game and Fisheries Act, which creates the 

 offence of careless hunting. Of these 33 persons charged, 28 were convicted and 

 5 were dismissed. 



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