Hunting incident reports

The Department of Natural Resources compiles annual reports on hunting incident statistics. These reports contain information regarding the type of firearm involved, the location of the incident, the species hunted and numerous other factors involved with hunting incidents.

2026 Hunting incident synopsis

2026 Hunting incident synopses table key

1. Two members of the same party were coyote hunting. As a coyote ran near, the shooter discharged their firearm. The two hunters could not see one another at the time of the shot. The victim was struck in the neck. Neither party believed the discharge was in the direction of the victim but the result of a ricochet.
2. Three members of the same party were pheasant hunting on a game farm. The victim was positioned at the corner of a field. A pheasant flew up, near the shooter, heading in the direction of the victim and low to the ground. The shooter fired once, striking the victim with birdshot pellets in both legs.
3. Two hunting parties were participating in the youth turkey hunt when the shooter spotted what appeared to be a turkey moving through the woods. The shooting mentor kneeled in front of their mentee and aided in positioning, aiming and firing the firearm. The pellets struck another turkey hunting mentor and their youth mentee in their head, back and hands.
4. Both hunting parties were knowingly turkey hunting on the same property. The shooter took a shot at what they thought was a turkey and instead struck the victim in the head.
5. Both parties were dove hunting. The victim was standing slightly to the front and left of the shooter. The shooter shouldered their firearm, following the direction of the birds while the victim simultaneously extended their arm, pointing out the same flight pattern. The victim’s finger merged with the muzzle of the firearm as the shooter pulled the trigger.
6. Two hunting parties were duck hunting on public land. Hunters from one party shot at a flock of ducks between both parties. One pellet struck the victim and was lodged into their left eyelid. This incident is under investigation.

2025 Hunting Incident Annual Report

View the 2025 hunting incident annual report.

Hunting incident synopses and annual reports - Archive

For historical hunting incident synopses, view the hunting incident synopses archive.

View historical archived hunting incident annual reports.

Reporting a hunting incident

A "reportable" hunting incident is any incident in which a person has been injured or killed by the discharge of a firearm or arrow while hunting, fishing or trapping.

Wisconsin law requires a person who, while hunting, fishing or trapping, discharges a firearm or arrow, and injures or kills another person, to do the following:

1. Provide his/her name and address to the other person
2. Render assistance to the other person
3. Obtain immediate medical or hospital care
4. Report the accident without delay to law enforcement officials