palmer_mike
Well-Known Member
No, just Google it and I’m sure it’ll tell you.
My post was related to the statement that ‘Serious accidents on big game driven hunts are rare.’
Driven Hunting
- Thread starter Heym SR20
- Start date
My post was related to the statement that ‘Serious accidents on big game driven hunts are rare.’
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
We started the conversation dealing with driven shooting, specifically driven big game. Those stats include all recorded hunting accidents over the relevant time period. Given that hunting is far more common with far more participants in France, Spain and Italy, it seems logical that the incidence of serious accidents may be higher than in the UK, but without the figures from BASC, NGO and the various other underwriters and databases, its impossible to compare the data.
Most claims are small and involve minor injuries and property damage, how many beaters or their dogs are “ peppered” annually in the UK? How many Range Rovers or F150’s have their paint touched up?
I suspect that the level of small claims in the UK is relatively high, not because you are inherently less safe, but because a lot of your game shooting involves relatively large numbers of people and a large expenditure of ammunition. Compare that with me, I shoot twice a week at least, but I’m out on my own and rarely fire more than half a box, my chance of injuring a third party is very low in comparison to an active driven game shooter.
The French stats are a bit worrying right enough, I did read somewhere that there has been a move away from shotguns to rifles associated with the increase in boar numbers in that country, maybe I’ll stay away until they sort it out.
You can’t beat the bookies on this, and the bookies are the underwriters. At the moment my NARGC insurance costs me E60 for E10 million cover per claim. European insurance is typically half that, but with a much lower limit. If there was a significant risk, the underwriters would be all over it.
True story, I was in Sweden on a driven hunt, the Hunting Master examined my insurance, frowned and walked away to consult with the committee. He came back a few minutes later, “ for E10million each you can have 2 members, but we get to pick them”.
Who says the Swedes have no sense of humour?
Pine Marten
Well-Known Member
Those numbers are also absolutes and mask the fact that France, Spain and Italy are countries with a lot more hunters than the UK. France has something like 750k hunters for a population the same size as the UK's. By contrast Germany has about 100k hunters for a larger population. And the Scandinavian countries may have a higher participation in hunting but have comparably very small total populations.
So you know, apples and pears (and other Cockney things).
palmer_mike
Well-Known Member
Do they?
I was specifically searching for a driven hunt statistics but as it was only a google search I guess what you say is possible
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
I dont know, largely because I haven’t asked, but it does make sense that accidents involving rifles happen over a longer range and are more serious than the average shotgun misadventure.
No one is perfect.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
460,771 German Jagdschein holders in 2024.
Pine Marten
Well-Known Member
My mistake, Entschuldigung. Although the point about Hunters as a proportion of population stands. Just more shakily.
UpNorthMI
Well-Known Member
I'd just like to add a comment on the deer hunting season here in Michigan USA, compared to Europe is looks like the US hunters are doing pretty well! It seems that dragging deer is the most dangerous aspect of the sport. As I'm now over 60 years old I think dragging reds up and down Scottish burns is the most dangerous aspect in the UK, some days I feel I could die on the hill while dragging deer. I'm sure those hills get steeper every year!
"Preliminary data from Michigan’s 2025 hunting seasons indicate a safe year for the state's 644,000 hunters, with only three reported hunting incidents, including one fatality, as of January 8, 2026. Despite the safe season, health risks occurred, with three hunters dying from heart attacks within 48 hours, often while handling deer carcasses."
"In 2024 there were more than 58,000 vehicle-deer collisions in Michigan. Vehicle-deer collisions can cause serious damage to vehicles, injuries to people and even kill people."
Stay healthy out there.
"Preliminary data from Michigan’s 2025 hunting seasons indicate a safe year for the state's 644,000 hunters, with only three reported hunting incidents, including one fatality, as of January 8, 2026. Despite the safe season, health risks occurred, with three hunters dying from heart attacks within 48 hours, often while handling deer carcasses."
"In 2024 there were more than 58,000 vehicle-deer collisions in Michigan. Vehicle-deer collisions can cause serious damage to vehicles, injuries to people and even kill people."
Stay healthy out there.
reiver
Well-Known Member
Just my opinion on this . I started out shooting wild boar back in 2005 I went on my first hunt with Frank aka Basswood sporting in Croatia .It was a fly by the seat of your pants sort of hunt . A mixture of shotguns and slugs and a couple of rifles amongst us all .no high viz back then . But no one was shot or injured and I shot my first wild boar in a back garden on one of the local hunts.
Shot every year since never shot from a stand or a tower . And still I don’t know of any injuries apart from one man having to go to hospital with a large spelk in his hand to get it removed . Now the band of brothers that I shoot with are all armed with 30 caliber and above rifles and so far still no one has been shot. On the other hand I have been shot at twice in the uk once whilst beating in a wood and the others at a clay ground . we’re the man next to me took the full force of a 28gm load in the neck he survived though I think he still picks the odd bit of shot out now and again The man who hit him was his father who has shot pistols and shotguns for GB and was a qualified instructor!!
Driven boar shooting is in my opinion no more dangerous than any other shooting sport . I am probably more likely to have a heart attack walking up to my peg than get shot on a hunt ..
Shot every year since never shot from a stand or a tower . And still I don’t know of any injuries apart from one man having to go to hospital with a large spelk in his hand to get it removed . Now the band of brothers that I shoot with are all armed with 30 caliber and above rifles and so far still no one has been shot. On the other hand I have been shot at twice in the uk once whilst beating in a wood and the others at a clay ground . we’re the man next to me took the full force of a 28gm load in the neck he survived though I think he still picks the odd bit of shot out now and again The man who hit him was his father who has shot pistols and shotguns for GB and was a qualified instructor!!
Driven boar shooting is in my opinion no more dangerous than any other shooting sport . I am probably more likely to have a heart attack walking up to my peg than get shot on a hunt ..
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Pighunter
Well-Known Member
The vast majority of hunts here are very safety conscious, but there are others, so I've heard. We now have to do a safety refresher course every 10 years to keep hunting. And written and practical exams to get your permit in the first place.
Shooting running ground game with high velocity rifles is inherently dangerous, and we can have up to 60 guns on a hunt, if we have a joint event. The mother of the president of our village hunt sadly was killed by a ricochet from her best friend just before I came here. These things happen.
From what I've read, the majority of accidents are caused by young or very old hunters not identifying properly and shooting at a moving bush. Or not having a backstop.
I suppose that the excitability factor may have some bearing, but as others have said there is far more participation and lead in the air.
There are around 1 million hunters in France, almost every commune has it's own hunt. Going out Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays every week for 5 months a year. Sundays are generally the biggest day, and 600,000 people generally participate across the country, that's a lot of lead flying around. So there is a big exposure to risk.
Shooting insurance is €22.00 a year for Public Liability, which says something.
Generally, I have personally found the hunts here very well run in my 14 years experience, but there are always exceptions and sadly accidents.
Shooting running ground game with high velocity rifles is inherently dangerous, and we can have up to 60 guns on a hunt, if we have a joint event. The mother of the president of our village hunt sadly was killed by a ricochet from her best friend just before I came here. These things happen.
From what I've read, the majority of accidents are caused by young or very old hunters not identifying properly and shooting at a moving bush. Or not having a backstop.
I suppose that the excitability factor may have some bearing, but as others have said there is far more participation and lead in the air.
There are around 1 million hunters in France, almost every commune has it's own hunt. Going out Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays every week for 5 months a year. Sundays are generally the biggest day, and 600,000 people generally participate across the country, that's a lot of lead flying around. So there is a big exposure to risk.
Shooting insurance is €22.00 a year for Public Liability, which says something.
Generally, I have personally found the hunts here very well run in my 14 years experience, but there are always exceptions and sadly accidents.
Pighunter
Well-Known Member
And dogs wear bells for various reasons:
1. So you know it's a dog, not a boar rustling towards you
2. So the piqueur (handler) can hear where they are
3. To encourage the boar to get moving
4. To stimulate the dog
I love hearing the bells tinkling during hunts. My Bullet used to get so excited when I put his bell on.....
1. So you know it's a dog, not a boar rustling towards you
2. So the piqueur (handler) can hear where they are
3. To encourage the boar to get moving
4. To stimulate the dog
I love hearing the bells tinkling during hunts. My Bullet used to get so excited when I put his bell on.....
Attachments
I can figure out that it is a very commercial hunt.
On a regular driven hunt in a state forest it would all be over for that day at 5.24.
He has fired 2 shots without any of the game he shot at lying visible. This means stop shooting for the rest of the day, because they don't want too many searches.
In addition, it is seems quite clear that the rear pig is hit in shot number 2 at 5.20.
At 11.17 comes a situation that everyone wants, but rarely gets.That he then hits all 6 pigs he shoots at is pretty good. The sow gets a "over spine" shot in the first shot, but is clearly fatally hit in shot number 2 it wont get far.
Have so many good memories from such hunts, it brings back a lot of good memories to sit here and watch the film.
On a regular driven hunt in a state forest it would all be over for that day at 5.24.
He has fired 2 shots without any of the game he shot at lying visible. This means stop shooting for the rest of the day, because they don't want too many searches.
In addition, it is seems quite clear that the rear pig is hit in shot number 2 at 5.20.
At 11.17 comes a situation that everyone wants, but rarely gets.That he then hits all 6 pigs he shoots at is pretty good. The sow gets a "over spine" shot in the first shot, but is clearly fatally hit in shot number 2 it wont get far.
Have so many good memories from such hunts, it brings back a lot of good memories to sit here and watch the film.
shakey jake
Well-Known Member
Or serious?
Those are all excitable countries by nature. Have you got the Denmark, Sweden, Germany & Poland statistics for comparison?
Here in Denmark, where most of our hunting is done as driven hunting with both shotguns and rifles, often "fast drives", there have been 4 fatal hunting accidents since the year 2000.
Have no numbers on accidents without fatal outcome.
175,000 people pay hunting licenses in Denmark every year.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
I have been on a few driven hunts in Germany. Typical farmer / local forester type shoots with people of all walks of life involved. Costs are minimal other than a contribution towards the costs of dogs. Typically €20 to €50 Euros.
Safety is paramount. Your stands all have very clear arcs of fire marked out.
Day after the hunt shoot captain / local forstmeister (often one and the same) with trained dogs will go around each and every stand checking that each shot has been accounted for. Given that these have all been marked on cards they should see bullet tracks in ground where these are marked.
If the find any signs of shots taken into areas where you shouldn’t shoot, or shots taken at animals not accounted for then you will be invited for a discussion without tea and biccies to discuss having your hunting licence removed for a period of time.
Without a hunting license = no hunting.
Novices or those whom the are not sure about will have a loader with them - to assist and ensure safety.
Safety is paramount. Your stands all have very clear arcs of fire marked out.
Day after the hunt shoot captain / local forstmeister (often one and the same) with trained dogs will go around each and every stand checking that each shot has been accounted for. Given that these have all been marked on cards they should see bullet tracks in ground where these are marked.
If the find any signs of shots taken into areas where you shouldn’t shoot, or shots taken at animals not accounted for then you will be invited for a discussion without tea and biccies to discuss having your hunting licence removed for a period of time.
Without a hunting license = no hunting.
Novices or those whom the are not sure about will have a loader with them - to assist and ensure safety.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Germany now has about 500,000 hunters witj Jagshein
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
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