New Hunter Safety Study Compiles List of High Risk States for Hunting Accidents

‘Tis the season when headlines seem to be filled with news of deadly or near fatal hunting accidents across the country. With new stories rolling in by the day, it’s easy to assume that things are getting worse out there, but in actuality, a lot of states have been celebrating safer hunting seasons in recent seasons.

Nonetheless, hunter safety will always be a point of concern for all of us until that day comes when we have no accidents afield at all. While we all try to do our best, a Florida law firm has gone ahead and compiled a new study that aims to assign a safety score to certain states based on hunting accident data. 

As part of the study, Florida-based law firm Anidjar & Levine analyzed 2024 data from the FBI and the US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the number of long-gun firearm checks and hunting licenses issued per 100,000 people. By cross-referencing the data, those states with the highest rates were given higher risk scores. 

Western states such as Montana and Wyoming were ranked the highest while states like California, Hawaii and New Jersey were assessed much lower scores, which reveals just how skewed some of this data could be. In terms of hunter participation, it’s no secret that states like Montana and Wyoming would have some of the highest percentages of hunters per capita, and as such, would be at a higher risk for hunting accidents.

That said, we ought not make excuses and continue to shore up all of our hunting operations. At the end of the day, there’s honestly not much more that can ruin a hunting trip than a preventable accident that quite possibly could cost someone their life.

As seasons continue in full swing, the law firm left a bit of advice that most certainly could have changed the course of a few of the accidents we’ve already covered this season.

“Hunting can be incredibly dangerous,” states a spokesperson from Anidjar & Levine. “Therefore, hunters must apply safety measures when participating in the activity. Hunters should treat every firearm as loaded by always keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Unload your firearm when crossing fences, climbing trees, or traversing slippery terrain. It is also wise to store firearms and ammunition separately and always keep them out of the reach of children. Be sure to let someone know your hunting plans, location, and your expected return. Your loved ones could identify the possibility of an accident if the venture does not go according to plan.” 

Have fun and stay safe out there this season.