Hunting Is Safer Than Golf

[on2wheels52]

from Gunbroker:

"Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, hunting with firearms is safe; in fact, hunting with a firearm is one of the safest of all recreational activities in America. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, has compiled data that shows hunting ranks third in safety when compared to 28 other recreational pursuits, ranging from baseball to wrestling. Hunting with firearms has an injury rate of 0.05 percent, which equates to about 1 injury per 2,000 participants, a safety rating bettered only by camping and billiards (good news for Paul). For comparison, golf has an injury rate of 0.16 percent (1 injury per 622 participants), while tackle football topped the list of activities with an injury rate of 5.27 percent (1 injury per 19 participants)."

Jim

[drcoastline]

I would probably agree hunting has a lower "injury" rate. Considering in golf you are swinging a a stick around with a metal tip to propel a ball on contact. The club could strike a person, the ball could strike a person. You could pull a muscle due to the movement. sprain an ankle walking the course, etc. Sure in hunting you could sprain an ankle, poke your eye out on a branch, get hit by your buddies gun, fall out of a tree stand, etc.

I would be more interested in the rate of deaths of the two sports. Again I am sure people die playing golf and I don't mean the 90 year old geezer who had a heart attack while peeing behind the might oak on the 9th fairway. I mean as a result of the sport. I will wager $1.00 the rate of deaths is lower than hunting.

[Mark Henry]

In golf you're less likely to take a trip to canada, shoot and kill your spouse "mistaking" them for a bear.

[oldE]

Just don't play golf with Dick C.


Les

[wdfifteen]

I wouldn't doubt that hunting has a low injury rate. It's the death rate that concerns me. How do deaths by golf club compare with deaths by hunting firearm?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I wouldn't doubt that hunting has a low injury rate. It's the death rate that concerns me. How do deaths by golf club compare with deaths by hunting firearm?

It probably really depends upon if they see you coming and start running or if you manage to "t off" while your partner is stationary. I suspect it's a lot easier to kill someone with a golf club if they are kind enough to stand still for it.

[recycled sixtie]

Death rate for critters is certainly more during hunting than golfing. However I have grazed a couple of geese on the fairway. They managed to get away. Thats par for the course for me. I dont get many birdies and when my fellow players are losing they might club me with a nine iron. Gosh nothing is safe nowadays.. As regards taking my wife hunting, she might be having a bad hair day and I could lose my head. Please dont bring it on.

[Head416]

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

For comparison, golf has an injury rate of 0.16 percent (1 injury per 622 participants)..."

Just ask Chubbs Peterson!

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I wouldn't doubt that hunting has a low injury rate. It's the death rate that concerns me. How do deaths by golf club compare with deaths by hunting firearm?

Most deaths in the woods are not caused by gun shots, they're caused by heart attacks.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I wouldn't doubt that hunting has a low injury rate. It's the death rate that concerns me. How do deaths by golf club compare with deaths by hunting firearm?

Quick internet searching on reveals data on occupational safety hazards of working at a golf course, and I cannot find actual # of people killed. Just workers alone accounts for 15-20 deaths per year. Another 15 golfers or so are killed by golf clubs or golf balls, and another golfers 5 by golf carts, golfers are also at fairly high risk of getting killed by lightning, an average of 5 lightning deaths a year over from 1960-1995. Health issues aside its probably about 30-45 deaths directly resulting from the sport of golf a year if you lump in the workers and the golfers.

Hunting deaths, most searches bring up USA/Canada combined, but it looks like somewhere around 80-100 per year in the USA. I do not know how many of those are health related. As for Golf, its about 650 deaths per year while golfing, with the majority of those being health related.

[Joe Bob]

Does the football stat include refs?

[vash]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Most deaths in the woods are not caused by gun shots, they're caused by heart attacks.

i think most injuries are from falling out of treestands?

heart attack makes sense. pretty physical out there.