Thanks for the stats RSB!
I understandyour pointabout the present disparity between morning and evening. I'll even agree that it makes even more sense for archery hunting but.Lets put a different perspective on the facts you just gave us.....
I found these facts on the 2005 season on the PGC website:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=461&q=168059
Hunting-Related Shooting Incidents
SearchPennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency HomePrintable VersioneMail
2005 Incident Statistics
2005 Incident Statistics
Fatal
Non-Fatal
Total
Total Number of Incidents
3
44
47
INJURY TYPE
SELF-INFLICTED
1
11
12
INFLICTED BY OTHERS
2
33
35
SPORTING ARM USED
SHOTGUN
1
23
24
RIFLE
2
19
21
MUZZLELOADER
1
1
OTHER
1
1
SPECIES HUNTED
DEER
2
16
18
TURKEY
11
11
SMALL GAME
12
12
WATERFOWL
1
1
2
BEAR
1
1
FURBEARER
1
1
OTHER
2
2
VICTIM AGE
12 - 15 YEARS
5
5
16 - 20 YEARS
5
5
21 - 50 YEARS
1
28
29
OVER 50 YEARS
2
6
8
OFFENDER AGE
12 - 15 YEARS
5
5
16 - 20 YEARS
5
5
21 - 50 YEARS
17
17
OVER 50 YEARS
2
7
9
NOT REPORTED
1
10
11
LIGHT CONDITIONS
DAWN
6
6
DAYLIGHT
3
34
37
DUSK
3
3
DARK
1
1
WEATHER CONDITIONS
CLEAR
1
26
27
OVERCAST
2
11
13
RAIN
5
5
FOG
2
2
CAUSE OF INCIDENT
SPORTING ARM DANGEROUS POSITION
6
6
UNINTENTIONAL DISCHARGE
1
4
5
RICOCHET
4
4
STRAY SHOT
1
1
VICTIM IN LINE OF FIRE
2
12
14
HUNTER SLIPPED AND/OR FELL
3
3
HUNTER DROPPED SPORTING ARM
1
1
SHOT FOR GAME
11
11
SPORT ARM DEFECTIVE
1
1
OTHER
1
1
PLACE OF INCIDENT
FIELD
1
12
13
WOODLAND
2
27
29
ROAD/HIGHWAY
5
5
COVER
DENSE
15
15
LIGHT
3
29
32
VICTIM EXPERIENCE
UNDER 2 YEARS
4
4
2 - 5 YEARS
6
6
6 - 10 YEARS
2
2
OVER 10 YEARS
3
32
35
OFFENDER EXPERIENCE
UNDER 2 YEARS
1
5
6
2 - 5 YEARS
4
4
6 - 10 YEARS
4
4
OVER 10 YEARS
2
22
24
NOT REPORTED
9
9
OFFENDER EXPERIENCE HUNTING SPECIES
UNDER 2 YEARS
1
6
7
2 - 5 YEARS
7
7
6 - 10 YEARS
4
4
OVER 10 YEARS
1
18
19
NOT REPORTED
1
9
10
DISTANCE BETWEEN VICTIM/OFFENDER MISTAKEN FOR GAME
0 - 25 FEET
1
1
26 - 75 FEET
2
2
76 - 150 FEET
7
7
151 - 300 FEET
1
1
COLOR WORN BY VICTIM MISTAKEN FOR GAME
FL. ORANGE
2
2
CAMOUFLAGE
7
7
OTHER COLOR
1
1
NOT REPORTED
1
1
FLUORESCENT ORANGE VISIBLE TO OFFENDER?
YES
2
2
VICTIM POSITION
STANDING
1
22
23
WALKING/RUNNING
9
9
SITTING
1
8
9
IN VEHICLE
1
1
OTHER
1
4
5
VICTIM'S ACTIVITY
HUNTING
3
39
42
OTHER
5
5
OFFENDER'S ACTIVITY
HUNTING
3
40
43
UNKNOWN
4
4
CALIBER
CENTERFIRE
1
16
17
RIMFIRE
2
2
BLACK POWDER
1
1
UNKNOWN
1
1
2
GAUGE
10
1
1
12
1
13
14
16
20
3
3
UNKNOWN
6
6
SHOT SIZE
2
1
1
4
2
2
5
4
4
6
4
4
00
3
3
7.5
1
1
BB
1
1
BBB
1
1
OTHER
1
1
UNKNOWN
6
6
These47 incidents represent 100% of the47 incidents reported during the period.
Content Last Modified on 5/18/2006 7:54:51 AM
SearchPennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency HomePrintable VersioneMail
Using the last available stats lets just see how may extra accidents we might have at dusk.Since you didnt metion self inflicted shootings, lets leave them out for a moment. that leaves 35 "inflicted by others shootings" If the 6.4 % of that number doubles that would mean we could expect approximately 2 more incidents per year in the entire state out of almost a million hunters.
No number of hunting accidents is acceptable but hunting has gotten safer and safer as the years have passed. I would think most hunters would accept that 1 in half a million better chance that they might be involved in a shooting incident in that half hour after sunset in return for getting to hunt that very productive time.
The last time I read an article on hunting accidents versus other sports I beleive hunting was deemed to be a good bit safer than bowling. No activity is without risk, but the additional risk of that last half hour is worth the reward IMHO