Wisconsin's Deer Hunt -- an Experience in Responsible Gun Ownership
Lasee’s Notes
Nearly 700,000 men, women, and children (12 and older) will don their blaze orange and take to Wisconsin’s outdoors with gun in hand for the annual deer hunt.
That means there will be nearly six times as many guns in our woods, forests, and fields this weekend as there are in the hands of our troops in Iraq (roughly 700,000 hunters compared to 140,000 troops).
The greatest part is that even with hundreds of thousands of guns in the woods, Wisconsin’s outdoors will still be a safe place to be (unless you are a deer). In fact, last year there were only 14 hunting related accidents (3 fatalities) during the entire 9 day gun deer season. That’s a little more than 2 accidents per 100,000 hunters and less than 0.2 fatalities per 100,000.
Why is Wisconsin a safe place to hunt?
There aren’t many hunting fatalities and accidents in Wisconsin because hunters accept the responsibility that comes with carrying a weapon into the woods. For the most part, these people are conscientious, safe, and well-trained in the proper use of a firearm. And for generations they have passed this tradition and the responsibility that comes along with it onto their children and their children’s children.
We also have one of the largest volunteer run hunter’s safety and training courses in the nation. In fact, we require any person born after 1973 to take the class before they can purchase a license. This especially helps those kids that don’t have a family member to introduce them to the outdoors get involved and to be safe.
Our safe hunt annoys gun-control groups that want to limit our Second Amendment rights. Every year when Wisconsin hunters take to the woods and have very few gun related accidents, it takes away from their push to outlaw guns.
As sportsmen and women we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to continue to find new ways to get our youth involved in the outdoors to protect our hunting heritage and the economic impact it has in our state.
Hunting is big business in Wisconsin. Our sporting heritage fuels a large part of the economy. Wisconsin deer hunters spend on average about $1,500 each season on gear, gas, eating, licenses, lodging and other costs associated with the annual hunt.
That’s more than a $1 billion dollar boost for our economy every hunting season.
If you are one of the 700,000 members of the “Blaze Orange Army” heading to the woods on Saturday morning cherish the memories that each new season brings and remember to take a young person hunting with you next time. They are the future and we need to keep them involved for the sake of our hunting heritage and the economic boost it brings with it.
Most importantly – be safe, happy hunting, and good luck!
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Lasee’s Notes is a weekly column by Representative Frank Lasee, 2nd Assembly District, covering events in the Legislature and statewide.
Nearly 700,000 men, women, and children (12 and older) will don their blaze orange and take to Wisconsin’s outdoors with gun in hand for the annual deer hunt.
That means there will be nearly six times as many guns in our woods, forests, and fields this weekend as there are in the hands of our troops in Iraq (roughly 700,000 hunters compared to 140,000 troops).
The greatest part is that even with hundreds of thousands of guns in the woods, Wisconsin’s outdoors will still be a safe place to be (unless you are a deer). In fact, last year there were only 14 hunting related accidents (3 fatalities) during the entire 9 day gun deer season. That’s a little more than 2 accidents per 100,000 hunters and less than 0.2 fatalities per 100,000.
Why is Wisconsin a safe place to hunt?
There aren’t many hunting fatalities and accidents in Wisconsin because hunters accept the responsibility that comes with carrying a weapon into the woods. For the most part, these people are conscientious, safe, and well-trained in the proper use of a firearm. And for generations they have passed this tradition and the responsibility that comes along with it onto their children and their children’s children.
We also have one of the largest volunteer run hunter’s safety and training courses in the nation. In fact, we require any person born after 1973 to take the class before they can purchase a license. This especially helps those kids that don’t have a family member to introduce them to the outdoors get involved and to be safe.
Our safe hunt annoys gun-control groups that want to limit our Second Amendment rights. Every year when Wisconsin hunters take to the woods and have very few gun related accidents, it takes away from their push to outlaw guns.
As sportsmen and women we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to continue to find new ways to get our youth involved in the outdoors to protect our hunting heritage and the economic impact it has in our state.
Hunting is big business in Wisconsin. Our sporting heritage fuels a large part of the economy. Wisconsin deer hunters spend on average about $1,500 each season on gear, gas, eating, licenses, lodging and other costs associated with the annual hunt.
That’s more than a $1 billion dollar boost for our economy every hunting season.
If you are one of the 700,000 members of the “Blaze Orange Army” heading to the woods on Saturday morning cherish the memories that each new season brings and remember to take a young person hunting with you next time. They are the future and we need to keep them involved for the sake of our hunting heritage and the economic boost it brings with it.
Most importantly – be safe, happy hunting, and good luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lasee’s Notes is a weekly column by Representative Frank Lasee, 2nd Assembly District, covering events in the Legislature and statewide.
posted by John Q Cheesehead | 3:25 AM
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