State DEC officials recorded only 12 incidents during the 2023 hunting seasons, tying with 2019 for the second-fewest hunting-related shooting incidents on record.

“Thanks to New York’s Hunter Education Program and hunters following the rules of firearm safety, hunting continues to be a safe activity enjoyed by thousands of New Yorkers and visitors each year,” said Basil Seggos, state DEC commissioner. “Following proven hunting safety tips is the best way to keep hunting safe and prevent incidents in future seasons.”

The 12 incidents recorded in 2023 include six two-party firearm incidents and six self-inflicted incidents; two of the 12 HRSIs resulted in fatalities. The two fatalities include one self-inflicted incident resulting from hauling a loaded firearm into a tree stand and one incident from a two-party firearm incident caused by carrying a loaded firearm while dragging a harvested deer out of the woods. Hunting Safety Statistics are available on DEC’s website.

Hunting incidents have decreased over the decades. DEC officials said there were 166 hunting-related shooting incidents were reported in 1966.

In 2017, Seggos directed the agency’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) to begin tracking and investigating tree stand injuries for the first time. Tree stand injuries are under-reported, and DEC is not always notified when tree stand falls occur. In 2023, eight tree stand incidents were reported and investigated; none were fatal. Seven of the hunters involved in these incidents suffered extensive injuries after falling while not using a fall-arrest harness system. One hunter was wearing a harness, but it was attached to the stand, not the tree, and when the stand broke, the hunter fell with the stand. Additional information about tree stand incidents is available on DEC’s website.