Patrick Durkin: Low fall drowning rates doesn’t mean safe hunting, fishing

Only two of Wisconsin’s nearly 19 boating-related deaths each year happen between October and December, but that doesn’t mean autumn is a safe time on the water for anglers and waterfowlers.
Water temperatures steadily decline after Labor Day, which means hypothermia can quickly kill those falling from a boat or filling their chest waders far from dry ground. Plus, waterfowlers often navigate boats in darkness, increasing their risks of striking unseen logs, stumps or exposed rocks.