While it is true that accidents with bows and arrows are less common than other forms of hunting, they do happen -- see below. Most go unreported, as people remove errant arrows from their yards, homes, garages, etc., without notifying the authorities.
In New Jersey, children as young as 10 can obtain a free hunting license, courtesy of taxpayers, upon completion of a hunter safety course. According to the International Hunter Education Association, there were 445 hunting accidents in 2004. At least 103 accidents involved children. Of those, at least 20 were fatal.
The Families Afield** lobby claims that hunting is far safer than other recreational activities, even cheerleading. Clearly, injuries sustained while hunting can be far more severe. Cheerleading is seldom fatal; nor does it involve razor-tipped projectiles designed to inflict maximum damage and gaping wounds. One remarkable fact gleaned from the list of hunting accidents is the large number of incidents in which parents killed their children or children killed a parent or other relative. Unlike the sprained ankles and twisted knees that come from cheerleading, these are devastating traumas that ruin the lives of the survivors and destroy families.
According to a mother opposed to 10-year olds being allowed to hunt in New Jersey: "When my sons were 10, they could not even aim into the toilet, so why would anyone put a firearm or other dangerous weapon in their hands at that age?" [It is a fact.] Young children lack the mental and emotional maturity to take part in an activity that requires split-second life and death decisions—the same reasons why most states require a person to be 17 years-of-age to drive and 21 years-of-age to drink.
**Families Afield is a lobbying group dedicated to lowering the minimum hunting age across the country and exempting children from hunter safety courses. It describes age minimums and required safety courses as "barriers" to children wishing to hunt.
Recent discussions about the dangers of bow hunting:
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the town staff members rejected a proposed bow hunt for deer: "If an arrow strikes a tree and ricochets, it is a projectile that could cause death or serious injury," said police Lt. Kevin Gunter.
See full story here:
If link disappears, click here.
Recent accidents involving arrows:
April 28, 2010 - Goose pierced by hunting arrow lands in veterinarian's yard in Toms River.
App.com story here.
Raptor Trust worker Kristi Ward releases a Canada goose into a stream in Millington, N.J. The goose was released back into the wild April 19 after rehabilitation from an arrow wound. (Mel Evans / AP)
September 2, 2009 - Dog Shot By Bow And Arrow - Connecticut News Story
Full story with video here:
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September 2, 2009 - Cat limps home with 13-Inch Arrow Through Head
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March 25 2009 - Another Archer Loses an Arrow
Photo: Michael Appleton for The New York Times
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March 16 2009 - Yonkers Woman Shot by Errant Arrow on Riverdale Street
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November 21 2008 - Family pets can also be harmed.
Photo:
Ben Scheetz/Hunterdon County Democrat
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December 25, 2009
Minn.
man found dead in apparent hunting accident
Associated Press
AUSTIN, Minn. - Minnesota deputies say an Austin man has
died in an apparent hunting accident.
KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa, says authorities found the
body of 44-year-old Bernard Olson on Thursday evening.
Fillmore County deputies were investigating a report of
a missing person when they found Olson's parked vehicle.
They followed tracks in the snow to his body. An initial
investigation suggests Olson might have fallen on an
arrow, injuring himself too severely to make it back to
his vehicle. Fillmore County is in the southeast corner
of the state.
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November 11, 2009
Pet dog
shot by bowhunter on Geauga park land
By John Horton, The Plain Dealer
Montville Township -- An archer permitted to hunt deer
on Geauga Park District property killed a dog being
exercised in Observatory Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The hunter -- whose name has not been released by park officials -- launched an arrow into the side of a 9-year-old black Labrador retriever named Steel, according to the dog's owner. The trained bird dog lived with Robert Phillips at a Clay Street home adjacent to the 1,200-acre park in eastern Geauga County.
Phillips, 62, said he was outside working with Steel when the hunter shot the dog at close range. He said he heard Steel "scream" from about 100 yards away. The dog had been running back and forth across the park district's property line.
The hunter told rangers that he shot Steel after the dog
moved toward him in "an aggressive manner," park
spokeswoman Cindy Ford said.
Phillips said that account is believable only if the
hunter "has arrows that go around in circles" given the
location of the dog's wound.
Observatory Park is one of six properties that the park
district opened to hunters this season as part of a
wildlife management plan. This is the fourth year with
allowed hunting on county parkland, and the third
involving deer. Last year, hunters harvested 150 deer
from park properties; 36 came from the woods of
Observatory Park.
The park district selects licensed hunters by lottery and requires them to pass a proficiency test and attend a safety meeting, Ford said. Hunters are required to stay at least 200 feet away from roads and neighboring properties.
Ford said that the incident took place "well within park
boundaries," but Phillips described the location as "8
inches" onto park property.
The hunter phoned park rangers to report what he did,
while Phillips dialed 9-1-1 and told dispatchers that
"someone just shot my dog with a bow and arrow and
killed it." The shooting remains under review by
rangers. Deer hunting has been suspended at Observatory
Park while the investigation takes place.
Other Geauga parkland open for hunting at some point
during the state's bow, shotgun or muzzleloader seasons
includes the Ellerin Property and Frohring Meadows in
Bainbridge Township; the Rookery and Bass Lake Preserve
in Munson Township; and Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve
in Burton and Newbury townships.
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October, 2009
Fairfield Man Dies in Hunting Accident
By Andy Waterman
WAYNE COUNTY- Illinois State Police are investigating
the death of a Fairfield man killed in a hunting
accident Thursday night. It was around 6:45 on Thursday
evening when 20 yr. Old Aaron Long and his 16 yr. Old
friend were hunting turkeys here down this path at Sam
Dale Lake in rural Wayne County, but just minutes later,
the 16 year old friend made a fatal mistake.
Wayne County Sheriff Jim Hinkle says, "He believed he
was shooting at a turkey, and after shooting he quickly
realized that he had shot his friend." Hinkle says the
20 year old didn't live long after the shot.
The arrow pierced Long in the left side of his back near
his heart. Shortly after the accident his friend found a
group of hunters and they called 9-1-1.
The sheriff says because it was an accident- It's
unlikely the young man will be charged, "It's just an
extreme tragedy and this young man and the families of
everybody involved is something they got to live with
for the rest of their lives."
Sheriff Hinkle adds that a hunting accident like this
hasn't occurred in Wayne County in several years, but he
recommends that no matter how old you are or how long
you've been hunting, that you should take a hunters
safety course to prevent accidents like this from
happening.
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April 24 2009 - Man shot with arrow.
Leavenworth Times
Leavenworth County, Kan. - An Independence, Mo., man had
to go the hospital to have an arrow removed from his leg
following a hunting accident Tuesday in Leavenworth
County, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.
The arrow
completely pierced through the upper right thigh of
Daniel G. Jennings, 33.
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March 5, 2009
Md. teen fined for firing arrow into home
Associated Press
ROCKVILLE, Md. — Maryland Natural Resources Police say a
Germantown teen has pleaded guilty to a hunting
violation after a Montgomery County man found a hunting
arrow in his sofa.
The arrow was discovered at the home on Spring Meadows Drive in Germantown in September and investigators determined that it had flown through a window.
Police say 18-year-old Paul Howell Jr. was charged in January and pleaded guilty last week in Montgomery County District Court to violating a county weapons ordinance.
Howell was fined $100 and placed on three years
probation. He was also ordered to pay $620 restitution
to the homeowner and $300 to the Wildlife Conservation
Enforcement Fund.
Howell's hunting privileges are suspended until July
2010.
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Posted: 1:44 PM Nov 18, 2008
Student Killed in Bow & Arrow Accident
Reporter: Phil Weber
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- A student at Portsmouth High
School has died in an accident involving a bow and
arrow.
According to Portsmouth Police, 17-year-old Storm
Bratchett was killed after he was hit with an arrow from
a hunting bow at his friend's house Tuesday morning.
Investigators tell WSAZ.com that Bratchett's friend was showing him his new bow and loaded it with a practice arrow. During this time, police say the bow somehow went off, and the arrow hit Bratchett in the chest.
Bratchett's friend then pulled the arrow out and
notified a relative, who drove Bratchett to the
hospital, according to police.
Bratchett died during surgery at Southern Ohio Medical
Center.
Family and friends are currently gathering at Christ
Community Church in Portsmouth.
Police are still investigating the incident.
[ Copyright 2009 – WSAZ.com. All Rights Reserved. ]
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Bow Hunting Accident
October 13, 2007
Brian and Tyler Flynn were bow hunting near their camp
in Huntington during the evening of Saturday October
13th, 2007. Brian Flynn was hunting out of a ground
blind when he heard a noise behind him so he exited the
blind and saw what he thought was a bear. Brian Flynn
shot an arrow at the bear which turned out to be Tyler
Flynn sitting on a rock a short distance away from him.
At the time of this incident Tyler Flynn was wearing a
black fleece jacket.
The arrow struck Tyler Flynn in the upper back on his left side. The arrow lodged in his shoulder blade. Brian Flynn brought Tyler Flynn to the General Store in Huntington where he called 911 and met with rescue personnel. Tyler Flynn was transported to Fletcher Allen in Burlington where the arrow was surgically removed without incident. Tyler Flynn was expected to be released from the hospital on Tuesday October 16th, 2007.
A joint investigation was conducted between Vermont
State Police and Vermont State Game Wardens. The
investigation is continuing and at this time appears to
be accidental. This incident will be sent for review by
the Chittenden County State's Attorney when completed.
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Bow-Hunting Accident Kills Man Near Lake of the
Ozarks
KYTV - Springfield, MO,USA - 26 Sep 2004
CAMDENTON, Mo. -- A man from Independence died in a
bow-hunting accident in Camden County on Saturday.
The Camden County Sheriff's Department says 52-year-old
Ammon Cerda died near Laurie about 7 p.m.
The sheriff's department and the Missouri Department of Conservation are still investigating the accident and haven't released other details about it.
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Boy
Impaled By Arrow While Hunting With Father
Florida Boy Impaled In The Neck By Arrow, But Survives
POSTED: 4:57 pm EDT July 29, 2004
WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. -- A 7-year-old boy fell on an
arrow and was impaled in the neck, narrowly missing his
jugular vein, officials said.
The father of the boy, whose name was not released, drove him 30 miles to a fire station for help. The boy was hospitalized in stable condition after Thursday's accident and was expected to survive, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said.
The boy fell while holding the arrow and playing in his backyard in rural Central Florida, his father told paramedics. After piercing his neck near the jugular vein, the arrow nearly passed all the way through to the boy's spine, said Lt. Dave Hover of the Brevard County Fire Rescue's Station where the boy went for emergency treatment.
Firefighters cut about 6 inches off the arrow so he
could be flown to an Orlando hospital.
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Boy, 17, Charged With Manslaughter In Hunting Bow
Death
POSTED: 10:35 p.m. EST November 17, 2003
ALBION, N.Y. -- A 17-year-old boy was charged Monday
with manslaughter in the death of a 16-year-old friend
who was shot in the head with an arrow.
The Orleans County Sheriff's Office on Monday charged
Jeremy D. Hucknall of Barre with one count of
second-degree manslaughter in the Nov. 9 death of
Christopher McClary of Albion, 30 miles west of
Rochester.
McClary, Hucknall and two other friends were shooting arrows from a hunting bow in a field. McClary ducked behind a junked car but then stood up just as Hucknall fired an arrow toward the car, police said.
The arrow hit McClary, who was rushed to a nearby
hospital and then airlifted to Buffalo. He was
pronounced dead about seven hours later.
Hucknall appeared in Barre Town Court Monday afternoon
and was released without bail to the custody of his
father. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov.
20.
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October 28, 2003
Bow hunting accident claims life of Mountain City man
By Lesley Jenkins
star staff
ljenkins@starhq.com
A bow hunting accident claimed the life of a Mountain
City man Saturday evening. Michael Todd Stout, 43, 920
A. Davis Lane, died from massive blood loss after an
arrow accidentally pierced the calf area of his leg,
according to the Johnson County Sheriff's Department.
JCSD Deputy Johnny Roberts responded to Davis Lane after a neighbor called reporting the accident at approximately 5:30 p.m. Roberts found Stout in the front seat of his vehicle not far from his home.
"It is determined that the victim was walking with (the) bow in his left hand with (the) arrow in (the) bow and had apparently tripped, jabbing the arrow into his left leg," Roberts' report states. Roberts determined Stout removed the arrow from his leg before walking nearly one mile down the mountain to his vehicle, where he constructed a tourniquet for the wound then drove approximately a half mile before passing out from blood loss. Because Stout was driving a manual vehicle, his car came to a stop, according to the police report.
Roberts stated Stout possibly remained in his vehicle between one to four hours before a neighbor found him. He was transported to the Johnson County Health Center where he died due to massive blood loss, according to Johnson County Coroner Willie Debord.
Foul play is not suspected in the case.
Stout is survived by his wife, Lisa Henson Stout, and two daughters, Jessica and Rebekah.
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School, neighbors mourn loss of Perry Hall pupil
Boy, 10, killed by crossbow called 'good-hearted'
By Laura Barnhardt
Sun Staff
Originally published October 28, 2003
As state officials continued their investigation
yesterday into the death of a Perry Hall fifth-grader
killed by a crossbow in a weekend hunting accident,
friends and neighbors remembered the boy's love of
animals and the outdoors.
"It's awful. I'm going to miss seeing him and his little
smile," said Susan Collins, a neighbor on Joppa Pond
Road whose 6-year-old and 4-year-old sons played with
Tyler Stephen Mattison. "He liked playing video games.
He was good with the little kids -- giving them
piggyback rides. He was kind and good-hearted."
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EMTs aid a child with arrow in eye - Wednesday,
October 22, 2003
WILMINGTON- A 9-year old Andover boy was rushed to
Massachusetts General Hospital late last week after
being shot in the eye with an arrow.
Deputy Police Chief Bob Spencer said Wilmington
dispatchers received a 911 transfer call on Saturday
from Massachusetts State Police. Mark Coneeny, the boy's
father, told dispatchers his son had an arrow sticking
out of his eye and he was rushing him to a Boston
hospital.
Dispatchers told the father to pull into the Interstate 93 south breakdown lane and wait for an ambulance. Officer John Tully responded with the ambulance to I-93 and met the Coneeny's black Lexus at the Route 129 exit. There he spoke with Bret Coneeny who told him a friend accidentally shot him with an arrow. "I do not know what type of arrow it was," Spencer said.
However, he is concerned by the accident. While the
accident happened in Andover, there are no rules or
regulations governing who can buy archery equipment.
Wilmington is no longer the rural community it once was
and Spencer said he wonders how careful a child will be
with a bow and arrow. Wilmington does not allow hunting
in any form within the town boundaries, but it does not
mean people do not hunt here, he said.
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Bowhunter shoots teen who scared deer
Associated Press - Oct. 29, 2002
MOUNT VERNON, Ill. - A New Athens man was hunting deer
with a bow and arrow when he says he accidentally shot a
teenager in the chest who had scared away his prey,
according to authorities.
Steven Kemp, 17, of Dix, was upgraded from critical to stable condition Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospital in this southern Illinois city, hospital spokeswoman Kathy Atchison said.
Kemp was riding his recreational, all-terrain vehicle with friends near North Miller Lake Saturday afternoon when Donald Foutch Jr., who was hunting deer in the area, complained and tried to get the group to stop, according to police reports and court papers.
Police say Foutch, 41, complained the teens had scared away a deer he had been watching from his hunting stand. An argument ensued, and Foutch partially drew back his quick-release bow as if he were going to shoot his arrow at Kemp, witnesses said.
Foutch told police he then slipped, "and the bow just
went off," according to court papers. He was standing
about three feet away from the teenager
at the time.
The arrow pierced Kemp's lung, narrowly missed his heart and extended through the back of his shoulder, witnesses said. Doctors later said they used more than 20 units of blood treating the teen.
Foutch, who administered first aid to Kemp, was charged with aggravated battery and possession of drug equipment. Police said they found a marijuana pipe with what appeared to be residue of the drug in his car nearby.
Foutch remained at Jefferson County Jail Tuesday on $60,000 bond. His arraignment was scheduled for Nov. 21.
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Father accidentally shoots son with arrow while deer
hunting.
Associated Press
October 29, 2000
NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. -- A Kosciusko County man was killed
Sunday on a hunting trip when his father mistook him for
a deer and shot him with an arrow. Frederick C. Searfoss,
28, of Syracuse was pronounced dead early Sunday morning
at the scene of the accident in an area near North
Webster, about 30 miles northwest of Fort Wayne.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources reported that Searfoss was bow hunting with his father, Jerry Searfoss, and a friend, Daryl Gans. While Frederick Searfoss was on his way to a tree stand he was mistaken for a deer by his father, who later told conservation officers he thought the sound his son was making was a deer walking.
Jerry Searfoss fired his bow and said he thought he saw a buck take the arrow, but then Frederick Searfoss called out to the other hunters that he had been hit. Jerry Searfoss and Gans located Frederick Searfoss, and while one of the men attempted to control the bleeding, the other hunter sought help.
Emergency crews dispatched a Lifeline helicopter, but Searfoss died before he could be transported. DNR officials said the incident is considered an accidental shooting and is no longer under investigation.
Hunters are not required to wear orange during bow hunting season.