The equipment seized and offered on the sales includes guns, fishing tackle, lights, 

 boats and many other articles. Generally motor vehicles and larger boats are 

 claimed by the owners, although occasionally automobiles are sold at District 

 Offices on the basis of tenders. 



Hunter Safety Training Program 



It is gratifying to report that the number of hunting accidents which occurred 

 in Ontario declined to 126 from the previous and unfortunate record high of 

 154 in the calendar year 1960. Fatalities declined by 14 to 22 deaths, and non- 

 fatal accidents were reduced to 104. Negligence, thoughtlessness, or lack of care 

 continued to be the most important cause. 



A hunting accident is defined as an accident in which a person is injured 

 by a hunting weapon outside of the home, and arising from the activity of hunting, 

 including travel to and from the field. This definition excludes such accidents as 

 those which happen when children play with firearms. 



The number of accidents which have been recorded during the last three 

 years are as follows: 



Year Fatalities IVon-fatalities Total 



1959 ■ 



1960 



1961 



The main causes of accidents are outlined on the following table: 



1959 1960 1961 



Cause of Accidents F NF F NF F NF 



Mistaken for game 3 10 8 8 6 14 



Shooter stumbled and fell 4 8 7 14 3 11 



Victim out of sig'ht 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. . 



Removing weapon from or placing in veh- 

 icle and riding in vehicle with loaded 



firearm 



Defective weapon 



Crossing fence or other obstacle with 



loaded weapon 



Miscellaneous _ 



Loading and unloading 



12 21 2 10 



8 2 14 2 13 



5 3 14 7 



4 2 10 4 5 



10 



9 16 17 



3 4 12 



2 3 6 14 

 5 3 2 2 7 



3 2 9 9 



Totals 15 73 36 118 22 104 



It is evident that the total number of accidents is too high. This emphasizes 

 the need of intensifying the Hunter Safety Training Program and introducing more 

 stringent criteria for granting hunting licences. 



Failure to observe the game laws was associated with 13 per cent of the 

 accidents in 1961. Some 31 persons were charged with careless hunting during 

 the fiscal year, and 25 convictions were registered. Five cases were dismissed, and 

 one case is pending. 



The period in review is the first full year under the regulation whereby it is 

 compulsory for all new hunters to complete the course in order to purchase their 

 initial hunting licence. Most courses are given by members of conservation clubs 

 throughout the province. There are 3,300 certified instructors donating their time 

 to this worthy training. During the year, 15,267 students successfully completed 



117 



