17-YEAR-OLD HUNTER FATALLY SHOT IN HUNTING-RELATED INCIDENT IN LISBON, N.H.

CONCORD, N.H. -- A young man, age 17, who was hunting with his father and brother on the opening day of New Hampshire's firearms deer hunting season, was fatally shot today at approximately 8 a.m. by another hunter in the vicinity. The young man was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred off of Mt. Eustis Road in Lisbon, N.H. The alleged shooter was unrelated to the young man's hunting party and is being interviewed by authorities at this time.

The incident is being investigated by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the New Hampshire State Police. No further information is available at this time; updates will be posted at http://www.wildnh.com/Newsroom/newsroom.htm.

Fatal hunting incidents are unusual for New Hampshire, which has a generally good record for hunter safety, largely attributable to mandatory hunter education and the increasing use of blaze orange clothing by hunters. The average number of hunting-related incidents per year has gone down steadily since the state instituted the hunter education requirement for first-time hunters in the 1970s. During the 1960s, New Hampshire had an average of 21.4 hunting-related incidents per year. Fewer incidents have occurred each decade since, with an average of 3.36 incidents per year since 2000.

Serious incidents are even rarer – counting today's tragic death, only five hunting-related fatalities have occurred in the state in the last 15 years. The most recent previous hunting-related shooting fatality in New Hampshire occurred on the opening day of muzzleloader season in 2009; in that incident, a hunter was killed when his muzzleloader discharged shortly after he had gotten into his treestand.

All hunters are encouraged to review the ten commandments of hunter safety:

1. Treat every firearm with the same respect due a loaded firearm.
2. Control the direction of your firearm's muzzle.
3. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
4. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.
5. Unload firearms when not in use.
6. Never point a firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot.
7. Never climb a fence or tree, or jump a ditch or log, with a loaded firearm.
8. Never shoot a bullet at a flat, hard surface or water.
9. Store firearms and ammunition separately.
10. Avoid alcoholic beverages or other mood-altering drugs before or while shooting.