Unlike other countries, in the US firearms skills are not the exclusive domain of the military or law enforcement. In the US there are a great many civilians with more individual weapons training and experience than armed "professionals". Millions of law-abiding civilians in the US walk around all day, ever day with their handguns on their person, fully loaded, ready for use, with near zero problems. A tremendous amount of civilian ammo goes down range, far more than the military uses, every year, again with near zero problems.
The big difference is that the military and law enforcement are subject to competency checks and compliance with rules of engagement - how may of your millions of civilians have to comply with that?
Equally, spraying a bunch of rounds down range at the weekend is no indicator of competence or safety - much like practicing instrument flying in VMC and expecting yourself to be ready for IIMC.
Even a PPLH holder is expected to show some level of competence before being let loose solo !
Maybe those hunters have served, maybe not - you don't know either but apparently you are correct and not me.
BTW, anyone who tells you that they are "fun to shoot" or "easy to shoot", and a bunch of other fluffy stuff like that
I'm quite capable of making my own assessment of a weapon thanks - the AR 15 is 'easy to shoot' as it happens but not as devastating as an AK47
Out of interest, are these guys going for single shot kills?