Hunting accidents down; rifles exonerated
By JEFFERY SMITH THE LEADER

BATH - Concerns that allowing deer hunters to use rifles would make the woods more dangerous have proved to be unfounded.

In fact, the number of gunrelated hunting accidents and damage reports are down through the first 10 days of this deer season, said Lt. David Baker of the state Department of Environmen-tal Conservation.

"We have not had a single injury reported in our region and only one property damage report involving a rifle," Baker said. "But at this point there's really not enough data to draw any conclusions."

The local DEC region stretches across 11 counties from Lake Ontario to the Pennsylvania border.

The law allowing the use of rifles was passed in 2006. In the past, most hunters used shotguns that fire slugs. The greater range rifles have created fears their use would cause more accidents.

"To this point that hasn't been the case," Baker said.

Gun/rifle deer season will end Dec. 9. Hunters will be able use bow and muzzleloaders to take deer through Dec. 16.

But while accidents may be down, the usual number and types of hunting-related arrests have occurred. Those include:

• Daniel Byler, 49, of Rathbone, was charged with failure to carry a big-game license.

• Ervin C. Kurtz, 24, of Rathbone; Joel E. Stauring, 37, of Hornell; Richard Salisbury, 39, of Elmira Heights; Brandon Hackett, 22, of Nelson, Pa.; Richard M. Sanford, 24, of Springwater; George Buckley, 71, of Dansville; and Patrica C. Breault, 53 of Tupper Lake; were each charged with not filling out the deer tag properly or not immediately filling a tag upon taking a deer.

• Earl Buckley, 43, of Campbell, was charged with illegal antlerless deer and failure to immediately fill out a deer tag.

• Robert E. Desalvo Jr., 42, of Bradford; and Michael J. Barber, 51, of Wayland, were each charged with trespassing on posted property.