Gentlemen,

I can't say how the statistics were gathered, although I do trust the source. One thing is certain. Gunshot wounds, whether fatal or not are always reported. A police report is always filed when anyone seeks treatment for a gunshot wound of any kind, so these statistics are well documented.

As for the fall in accidents, it's easy to speculate that the decline in accidents follows the trend towards hunter safety education. Other factors may also have a bearing.