Summary of hunting injuries in central Wisconsin: a 4-year experience at a rural referral center.

Abstract

Surveillance of hunting-associated injuries was performed over a 4-year period at a rural Emergency Department in central Wisconsin. Over that period of time, 125 individuals sought treatment for hunting-related injuries. The majority of injuries were related to autumn deer hunting and included both gun and bow and arrow hunting. Over half of the persons injured while hunting with a bow and arrow fell from a height. The admission rate for persons in the immediate area was 35.1%, but for those from outside the area, it was 64.8%. The effects of the referral bias result in severe injuries being seen in rural Emergency Departments during hunting seasons, necessitating such departments to be prepared for a wide range of injuries.