’07 deer season ranksamong safest recorded

AUGUSTA – Maine fish and game officials say 2007 is turning out to be one of the safest years for hunters since the state started keeping records in 1940.

With just a few days left on this year’s calendar, no hunter deaths have occurred and 11 people have been wounded in hunting-related accidents. More than half of those wounded suffered self-inflicted injuries.

The safest year on record for hunters was 1998, when three people were hurt. In 2003 and 2005, five people were hurt each year. Maine’s safest seasons have been since 1986, when mandatory hunter safety education courses were implemented.