AUSTIN, Texas (KETK) – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced that Texas hit an all-time record low for hunting accidents last year.
The record low of only 10 non-fatal hunting accidents was reported by the 2023 Texas Hunting Accident Report. Texas’ highest ever year was reportedly in 1972 when 30 people were killed in hunting-related accidents.
“The continued decline in hunting-related accidents and fatalities is in large part due to the efforts of the TPWD Hunter Education Program and the many Hunter Education instructors across the state, many whom are volunteers,” said Steve Hall, TPWD Hunter Education coordinator. “Beyond safety, we teach hunters how to be legal, ethical, take a good shot and take care of game from field to fork.”
Hunter Education is a requirement for every hunter born after Sept. 2, 1971 and since 1972 more than 1.5 million students have been certified through the Hunter Education program.
Hunter Education can be done in person or online for varying fees.
The TPWD gave the following tips that will help keep hunters safe no matter where they are:
- Watch the muzzle – point the muzzle in a safe direction at all times. This is the most important safety rule.
- Unload all firearms when not in use, especially at home, during transport and in the field, until ready to shoot.
- Keep your fingers outside of the trigger guard until ready to take a shot.
- Waterfowl hunters should wear protective clothing, waders and approved life jackets while in boats or around water, especially in winter months. Drowning ranks as the number one cause of waterfowl hunting-related fatalities.
- For dove, quail and pheasant hunters, the number one cause for accidents or fatalities is shooting at game outside a safe zone of fire. Communicate and stick to your safe zone of fire and never shoot towards another hunter, buildings or structures, or domestic animals such as cows.
- Be sure of your target — what is in front of and behind the target.
- Wear blaze orange to be seen by other hunters.
To learn more about Hunter Education visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department online.