About 15yrs ago Wisconsin started doing away with some shotgun areas. There was no rise in accidents. About 8 yrs ago Wisconsin decided to make all rifles legal. There has been a decline in hunting accidents since then , especially stray bullets hitting people . The most dangerous is loading and unloading, it seems. I wonder if a 12 ga. shotgun slug, 365 gr. is more dangerous than a 100 gr. .243 cal. It has 70%? less lead flying, we know that . Part of the reason there is less accidental shootings is cause there are about 10% less hunters, but , there are 30%? less accidents. It likely is that perhaps hunters know they have a rifle and are more careful. I imagine , many out there say " it's just a shotgun, doesnt go that far" . Yes, it does go a long ways.