FOUR WISCONSIN HUNTERS SHOT IN ONE WEEKEND- Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) are currently seeking information regarding a man who was struck by a bullet while hunting in Washburn County. The man sustained non-fatal injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital.
According to a WDNR News Release, officials are working to obtain information from other individuals or groups in the area who were hunting around 11 a.m. on Sunday, November 24. The location under interest is a parcel of Washburn County land within the town of Minong, which sits between East Sleepy Eye Road and CCC Road. Individuals wanting to report violations of any kind may call 1-800-847-9367 or submit a tip through the online Violation Tip Line.
Three other accidents happened on Saturday, November 23. Two hunters accidentally shot themselves in the foot when discharging their firearm. One was a 38 year-old man hunting in Oneida County. The other was a 29 year-old woman hunting in Marathon County. Additionally, a hunter in Fund du Lac County who was shooting at a running deer instead struck a 19 year-old woman in the hand.
While there are some details regarding these incidents that are unknown, it begs the question; “what is going on?” The WDNR requires are individuals to pass a hunter education course before they are allowed to buy hunting licenses. During this course, aspiring hunters learn about hunting regulations, hunting safety, the proper way to handle firearms, and more. But, nonetheless, accidents do happen.
With firearms season upon us, safety should be at the forefront of our minds when hunting. This especially rings true among public lands, where hunters inevitably run into other hunters. A few safety tips: Don’t load your rifle until you are in a secure set-up. Always make sure the safety remains on, and that the barrel is pointing in a safe direction.
How do you think hunting accidents can best be prevented?
