A picture is worth a thousand words.

This is what happens when your hunting partner mistakes you as being a bobcat. The photo appears in a past TPWD Hunting Accident Report. A link to all these reports is given below and offers some valuable lessons.



TPWD Hunting Accident Reports

Ouch!

What is the story on the accident? Look like entry wound to the left, exit being the big nasty hole?

As it appears on the final pages of the 2008 TPWD Hunting Accident Report. Again, the full report can be downloaded at the URL given earlier.

“Some of you may already know that I was involved in a hunting accident on New Year’s Eve but wanted you to hear about it from me so that you have the story first-hand and know that I am going to be okay.

I was sitting in a tripod stand on my lease in South Texas at dusk when one of my hunters drove down an adjoining road. He stopped his jeep in my sendera, and I waved my hat and whistled so that he would see me and leave. I watched him get out of his jeep and the next thing I know I hear and feel the shot at the same instant. I was able to stand up and yell to him that he shot me and he drove to me as I climbed out of the stand. The 25-06 bullet went in the front of the top of my left shoulder where it joins the neck and exited out the back. He rushed me to the Eagle Pass emergency room which is only minutes from the ranch.

I was flown home to Houston the next afternoon and have been having the wound treated at home by a doctor friend until I get in to see a general surgeon tomorrow. I have a very nasty exit wound that will require several weeks to heal and then plastic surgery to finish off. I was very, very fortunate in that the bullet missed all bones and vitals. I have attached a picture of the wound (don't open if you are squeamish). You will see how lucky I (and the shooter) am to be able to sit and write this today. I will tell you that it hurts, a lot!

As to the question of how this could happen I don't have an answer. He is an experienced and normally very safe hunter and he can't explain his total lapse in judgment at shooting at something he could not positively identify, in very low light and at a 200 yard distance. He broke the number 1 rule in gun safety. His recovery time will be much longer than mine but he is not getting any sympathy from me at this time.

The soreness gets a little better (easier to take) every day, and I expect to be working at least part time tomorrow and picking it up a little more every day.

I'm thankful for all the support I have gotten in the last few days. I expect to have a great new year!”

Bummer. Glad you are still here to offer your reminder. I would much rather learn from your experience than have to experience it myself.

Thankfully that isn't my photo, but one that appears in the 2008 TPWD Hunting Accident Report.

It's just one of many accounts you can read in any of these reports that offer valuable lessons. They also made for good discussion during my past Hunter Education offerings.

Been part of 3 (none of which were my fault) thank goodness no one was hurt. I don't load my gun till I'm ready to shoot. These 3 were folks that accidentally hit the trigger with the safety off.

A quick follow up to the earlier report.

A TPWD employee told me that some time after this incident, the victim filed a civil suit against the shooter for his negligence.

Be safe out there folks.