The Department of Conservation (DOC) is urging deer hunters to take care during the peak of the ‘roar’ this Easter weekend – in what is predicted to be a busy red deer shooting season.
Data from previous years shows an increase in hunting activity means an increase in injuries.
As last year’s roar hunt was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown, it is expected more hunters than usual will be chasing stags this autumn.
Red deer are widespread and can be hunted on public conservation land throughout New Zealand, except for Northland and Taranaki. During the roar, large males are less cautious and noisy while trying to attract a mate.
DOC’s visitor safety manager Andy Roberts said each year during the roar there was a spike in hunting accidents, such as slips, trips, falls or firearm injuries.
ACC data showed there were 435 hunting-related injury claims during March and April in 2019, up 31 per cent on the same period in 2018.
“Because hunters haven’t been able to enjoy the roar for two years, we’re expecting to see a large number of people hunting on public conservation land over Easter,” said Roberts.
“We’re asking hunters to think about their hunt, plan well and look out for each other… hunters should expect to share huts, campsites, and tracks with others.”
The New Zealand Police, Game Animal Council, Mountain Safety Council and New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, were also reminding hunters to keep safe.
According to Mountain Safety Council data, between 2004 and 2016 44 per cent of hunter injuries were from trips or falls, while 10 per cent were from carrying heavy loads. In those years, just under five per cent of all injuries involved firearms discharging.
A hunter last accidentally shot and killed another hunter in 2018.
Researcher Dr Karl Bridges who helps DOC with safety advice and has examined the human factors behind hunting fatalities, said hunters needed to slow down when identifying their target.
During a simulation experiment, he found hunters tended to overestimate the time they took on this by as much as 25 per cent.
“What felt like two minutes for a hunter to identify their target and place a shot, was actually only 90 seconds. Taking an extra 30 seconds and slowing down could mean the difference between life or death.
“Sadly, most hunters who have killed someone believed they were shooting a deer and had identified all parts of it. That’s why I’m urging hunters to focus more on the way they hunt, slow down and take their time to identify their target this Easter,” said Bridges.
Credit: Stuff.co.nz
