Virginia hunting deaths up in 2008-09, to nine total

Posted to: Outdoors Sports Virginia
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The Associated Press
© January 8, 2009

RICHMOND

It has been a deadly season for hunters in Virginia.

According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the state recorded nine hunting deaths since the start of the fiscal year in 2008. That's the most since the 1994-95 season when 12 hunters were killed. There were two in 2007-08.

The 2008-09 deaths are through Saturday, which marked the close of the general firearms season for deer.

Department spokeswoman Julia Dixon said five of the nine deaths were self-inflicted. She said a consistent theme in those deaths involved the movement of firearms — through woods, for example. A weapon's safety should be on until a hunter is prepared to shoot.

The hunting toll did not include the drowning of two duck hunters in late December.

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pierreg18059

Submitted by joanie06 on Sat, 01/10/2009 at 12:16 am.

I do not think hunting is a constitutional right in this country. There is nowhere in the constitution where it gives you the right to hunt. However, you do have the right to bear arms. Which was originally intended to prevent the government becoming too powerful and overbearing like the British government back in the 1700s.

USV, a point of vocabulary

Submitted by FletcherPratt on Fri, 01/09/2009 at 9:51 pm.

Gun haters and anti-hunting people are sometimes different groups. I, for instance, am sort of anti handgun in Toys R Us or Walmart but perfectly OK with a couple of good old boys tramping off in the woods to gun down bambi. Go at it. Canada geese too. It should always been hunting season on those things. In contrast I bet you could find at least one dyed in the (synthetic) wool PETA devotee who would save Bambi but not care about wild west wanna bees wandering around Waterside. Just trying to help . . .

As for you hunters. Be safe out there . . .

PierreG

Submitted by katet43483 on Thu, 01/08/2009 at 7:23 pm.

You say that, "hunting can be a great family outdoor activity..." I find the brutal killing of defenseless animals with a gun or bow and arrow indefensible! I cringe at the values you share with your family members.

What Hunters?

Submitted by Caspar on Thu, 01/08/2009 at 1:31 pm.

Are we to assume these hunting deaths happened among actual hunters engaged in hunting within the woods or were they merely those who call themselves deer hunters while standing on the roadways with loaded guns while their dogs run into the woods to herd the deer in front of these so-called deer hunters standing on the road with loaded guns?

Hunting with Dick Cheney

Submitted by Warner Athey on Thu, 01/08/2009 at 12:21 pm.

I want to go hunting with Dick Cheney.

Hunter Education

Submitted by pierreg18059 on Thu, 01/08/2009 at 11:40 am.

These accidents are tragic and the State is working hard to educate hunters on all aspects of hunter safety. Hunting a constitutional right in Virginia and when done in accordance with laws and common sense, can be a great family outdoor activity. Take a free hunter safety course with your kids and get out doors!