Several hunting seasons have opened this week and thousands of Missourians will hunt this fall and winter, but the State Conservation Department predicts relatively few will be in hunting accidents. Last year, there were 37 incidents where hunters either shot each other or shot themselves. None of those accidents were fatal.Bob White with the Conservation Department says that’s a low number considering the thousands who take to the fields and timbers each year. He credits the safety education courses that have become mandatory in Missouri. White says one of the best ways to avoid being shot by another hunter is to ask permission from private land owners before going onto their land. They can tell you where someone might be hunting. He suggests hunters on public ground make sure to wear something that will stand out while walking through the woods.
