[Attitude to safety among Danish hunters and behavior during hunting--a questionnaire study]

Accidents occur during hunting each year. The general experience of Danish hunters of the safety level when hunting is unknown. The extent which hunters use safety precautions, such as hearing protection, goggles and "hunter" orange clothing is also unknown. We present the first part (part one) of an extensive questionnaire to evaluate the mentioned problems.

The questionnaire was designed as an anonymous cross-over examination. The validated questionnaire, in two sections (part one and part two) contained general questions (demographic data, attitude and behavioural pattern) and specific questions (hunting accidents, facts) respectively, and was distributed to 4,000 members of the Danish Hunters Union in March 2002. 1,797 replies (response rate= 45 percent) were submitted for further analysis.

More than two thirds (70 percent) of the hunters had experienced situations where they had been worried about their own safety or the safety of others during hunting. Among young hunters (21 to 25 year-olds) nine out of ten (91 percent) had had at least one such experience and there was an overall significant (p<0.001) connection with age. During hunting 78 percent of the hunters never used hearing protection and 82 percent never used goggles. 57 percent of the hunters did wear "hunter" orange clothing routinely during hunting. Concerning alcohol intake during hunting 86 percent of the hunters consumed two or less drinks.

Focusing on the subject of safety during hunting is critical not only to younger but also more experienced hunters in order to reduce the risk of severe accidents and injuries in the future.