We've been doing deer and bear drives on a 3,500 acre timber company property that my hunting club leases for the twenty-five years I've been a member and they did them many years prior to that.

They are maxed out at the 25 man limit too. It is a very productive way to hunt. Especially deer, especially after the first few days when the go completely nocturnal and bed in the thickest, nastiest cover the can find.

In all that time, during all those drives with all those guys and girls, there's never been an accident or even anything remotely like a close call.

Statistically, there are many common things more likely to injure or kill you. I think your more likely to be shot while in the spring woods hunting turkey than while driving deer or bear.

There's nothing dumb about it.

Grew up doing drives. Bear camp used to have 20 to 25 guys. I don't see it any different than walking through the woods alone in rifle season. Maybe safer since the all the people around know u r there and where u r going.
Amish are not known for safety. And a stander wasn't shot, a driver was by another driver. We are all in a line and can see each other. Some whistle, some yell or make other noises. Normally deer do not make those noises so its easy for standers to know what's coming way before they see them.

Will be driving deer this weekend. It's the only way my group hunts deer. Been doing it safely and successfully for many years.

no tree frog like Delaware rob posted only during youth hunts . And I said when they were 11 and 12 because that was the point I knew they were safer then most adults and had watched and taught them for years at that point. They started killing deer at 6( I thought it was 7 but my youngest promptly corrected me on that point)

Once they were shooting squirrels regularly at 25 yards with their 22's and could point out where to shoot deer on pictures at every conceivable angle I started taking them deer hunting.

Today they let many deer walk each year shoot as many as they want tell limits hit or they get burnt out or run out of freezer space. . They scout and pick locations shoot, track, gut, skin quarter them on their own when I'm not home. Part of the rules no hunting if I'm not home if you can't take care of what you kill without me.

My kids don't get sheltered. So many do it no wonder 30 year old men live in their parents basement.

I would not be a hunter at all if I had been required to have an adult to take me as a kid. I didn't have anyone. I got a ride to Aunt and uncle's and walked with my cousin(same age) to hunt from there . 100% self taught other than vhs hunting tapes I rented from national video. I grew up with single mom in an apartment.
Killed my first several deer with a bow( mom didn't like guns) started at 13. didn't kill my first deer with a gun tell I was 16 or 17. Always had my bow tags filled before gun came in or never would have take a gun hunting I liked bow hunting so much. but gun hunting keep me in the woods after my bow tags were filled.