The number of hunters killed during the 2024-2025 season in France almost doubled compared to previous years, rising to 11 fatalities, despite a decline in hunter numbers, according to the annual report from the French Biodiversity Office (OFB).
This marks a sharp increase from the six deaths recorded in each of the two preceding seasons.
All 11 deaths involved hunters, and all occurred during bigger game hunts for animals such as deer or boar.
Five were self-inflicted, pointing to ongoing issues with weapon handling and safety.
However, the OFB’s annual report, published on July 18, also shows that the total number of registered hunters has continued to fall.
From 1.45 million in 1998, the figure stood at just under one million (964,000) in 2023, according to the Fédération nationale des chasseurs.
Hunting bigger game remains the most accident-prone activity, accounting for 63% of all incidents. The most common cause was again a failure to respect the 30° shooting angle (33% of accidents), a long-standing safety guideline designed to reduce the risk of ricochets and stray bullets.
The OFB also recorded 135 non-injury shooting incidents - up 31% on the previous year. These included 58 shots towards buildings, 27 towards vehicles and 50 involving domestic animals.
The OFB and hunting federations say they are analysing the causes of the rise and adapting training schemes.
Since 2003, the hunting licence exam includes practical and theoretical tests, with a strong focus on firearms safety. The national pass rate is 72%.
