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Resident presents out‑of‑state hunting‑injury data; commissioners say they will monitor before changing county rules
Summary
A county resident reviewed deer‑hunting injury statistics from several states to argue that fears about rifle hunting are overstated; commissioners and township representatives said they prefer to monitor and not change county deer‑season rules immediately.
Shane Eastman, who identified himself as a Houston County resident, told the board he had researched hunting‑related injuries on several states' natural resources websites and concluded that most incidents were self‑inflicted or associated with deer drives and tree‑stand falls, not accidental shootings of farmers or passersby.
Eastman summarized data he said came from DNR websites in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois: examples included multiple years with tree‑stand fall injuries and several incidents involving shotguns or rifles, some self inflicted, and a 2024 Illinois report he said listed 16 incidents of injuries associated with deer hunting, most of them tree‑stand falls.
Eastman said he would provide links to his sources and noted he could not find similar compiled data for Iowa and Missouri without a records request. "So that's what I have for you today is the fear of these things happening by this data is unfounded," he told commissioners.
Separately, commissioners reported they had met with the township association, which "expressed a consensus" of preferring the county not change its rules immediately and to watch how a first year goes and see what neighboring counties do. No change to county deer‑season policy was adopted at the meeting.
Commissioners said they will continue to consult DNR guidance and local stakeholders before any policy change.
