The latest hunting season is only three days old and already there have been several accidental shootings. Police say it’s because some hunters aren’t practicing basic gun safety.
“Once you pull that trigger you can't take that bullet back,” is the advice Rob Seal has for anyone being cavalier about hunting.
“You always got to be paying attention you have to know where your fingers are,” he says. “Guns just don't go off, it takes something to set it off, so it's always best to have it on safe until you're aiming at what you want to shoot ’cause once you shoot, it's game over.”
Since Monday, five people have been accidentally shot while hunting in Ontario – one incident was on Monday near Ottawa, and four people were shot yesterday including a 17-year-old near Peterborough, a man in Huron County and two people in Essa Township.
OPP Sgt. Peter Leon says it's rare to see so many accidents so early in the season.
“Point the gun in the right direction, keep your finger off the trigger,” Leon says. “If they trip and stumble on the ground – and there are lots of leaves on the ground – and the fire arm is pointed forward there is a potential for that fire arm to discharge and injure someone.”
One of the Essa Township residents remains in hospital tonight although police say their injuries are not life threatening.
“Call it what you wish but it is certainly a case of luck that no one has been seriously injured,” says Gary Banting, the owner of Wolf's Den in Essa. He says if you don't know how to use a gun, don't pick one up before learning.
“They have to be proficient with it, they have to know how to use it and be safe with it, like anything else,” he says. “It's like driving a vehicle.”
So far police have laid charges in only one of these cases – a teen from Essa has been charged with careless use of a firearm and that gun has been seized by police as part of the investigation.
