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Show Record Low In Hunter Accidents The majority of Utah's hunting seasons have ended with but a few days left to hunt waterfowl, rabbits and some upland game birds. We can reflect back over one of our best seasons yet with a near record low accident year. THE RECORD low was in 1976 with only eight firearms-related field hunting accidents. It was also our very first fatality-free deer hunt. It appeared we would duplicate that record until the last weekend of the hunt when a self-inflicted accident in northern Utah proved fatal. A second victim in eastern Utah also died, marring the year with twelve accidents to date and a deer hunt that totaled two fatalities. YET, THIS is a far cry from the 126 accidents and 22 deaths we recorded in 1957 when the Utah Hunter Education Program began. A drastic decline in hunting accidents followed throughout those busy years until today this program has trained over 8,500 instructors. Since 1957 they have given over 93,400 hours of instruction to over 296, 102 students. THIS YEAR alone saw 560 active instructors train nearly 14,000 young hunters. The instructors in-structors gave 4,670 hours of their time toward making the sport of hunting safer for all of us. Not only are today's young hunters a safer lot, they are far more knowledgeable about their sport than in earlier years. TODAY'S young hunter learns about modern wildlife management and wildlife conservation as well as the safe handling of his firearm. He gains a knowledge of basic survival in the event he becomes lost. He learns good sportrpanship and field first aid, along with many other related subjects. All this from a volunteer work force of Utah's citizen sportsmen. A success story of which they can be justly proud. |