Lots of points can be made in regards to this tragic death. I’ve never been one to consider such incidents an accident because the shooter knowingly pulled the trigger. A $5 flashlight would have very likely kept the idiot hunter from breaking a key safety rule. Besides, blaze orange isn’t as visible at night. I also remember reading that these types of incidents occur just as often in states that require blaze orange as those that don’t. I’ve often thought that could be because when careless idiots see movement and don’t see orange, they believe it must not be a human.

Hunter mistaken for a deer

Ive never understood the " mistaken for a deer" excuse. Any of you guys think a person looks like a deer? Like you said the guy is an idiot I dont even consider him a hunter. A hunter doesnt just fire at some random movement. Terrible for the family of the deceased.

Way back when, my football coach’s son shot a guy out of a tree. Thought he was a turkey due apparently to his turkey calling.

That is a sad event. Even more sad that it is completely unavoidable. KNOW your target. Don't think you know, don't have a good idea of your target. Fully identify and KNOW your target! I don't understand how hard that is for some people to comprehend.

If I had the money, I'd bet that there are many that
just shoot at the first movement they see, or at the
first brown color they see. The old 10 commandments
of gun safety said know your target and what lies
beyond in your line of fire, etc.
But we still see people that get shot and shot at, and
people that need help tracking bad hits, etc.
I've seen the sound shooters, so I know that has happened
and still happens. There's been people shooting a
couple of places over, and their strays cut through tree
limbs overhead.

yep, most are totally avoidable.

It should be manslaughter at the very least with mandatory prison time IMO.......

I cringe each time I hear a shot go off either before or after shooting light and I'm struggling to make out objects. I know it is illegal but still happens way too often. I can't comprehend how people shoot at unknown objects. Especially in some ar counties I hunt I know dang well they are some shooting and ground checking later. Just asking for an accident in my opinion. I promise you there's not a deer out there that justifies shooting and not clearly being able to identify your target.

Terrible

I lost a friend like that, idiots should be prosecuted for manslaughter at the very least but most get off scott free.

IMO, there are more people than you might think who are simply afraid of being in the dark woods at night by themselves. It's why so many deer are left in the woods by hunters who are too afraid to look for them.

There was a case in Mississippi back in the 80's where a game warden was shot and killed by an out-of-state hunter who was visiting his in-laws. His FIL had a foot plot and shooting house on his property and was probably known for hunting it at night. His daughter and SIL were there visiting for Christmas and I suspect the dad's night hunting had caught the attention of his neighbors. The SIL must have decided he would do the same while visiting with his wife's family. The local game warden apparently wanted to catch the FIL in the act so he went down to the food plot at night in an effort to do so. It was reported the SIL was on his way back to the house when he heard something moving in the bushes. In an effort to scare it off, he shot into the brush and hit the officer. Of course it's pure speculation the locals had reported the night hunting but it seems the most logical reason why the officer was being so stealthy in his approach. My thoughts were the SIL would have easily confessed had the officer just approached him in a safe fashion. The SIL would later die in prison. No winners whatsover.

If you feel threatened in the woods at night at something that's unknown to you and feel you must fire a shot, just shoot into the ground. I can assure you the blast will have the same effect.

Public Land.
Not enough blaze orange
Dumb people with guns in the woods.


Now just this past opening weekend I was hunting with the son of a fraternity brother. He has done a lot of hunting but this just happened to be the first time he was in a stand by himself.
Got his first deer, medium sized doe. He didn't want to drag it out and being a healthy mid twenties year old guy he just picked it up, threw it over his shoulder and carried it out.
Back at the house when he told us that we started laughing and saying it was a good thing we knew where you were and that we weren't on public land


On a totally different note.. the victim was from Bemidji, MN. One of my favorite Profs in college was from Bemidji.