Author Topic: Hunting accident (Read 1971 times)

swordfish · « **on:** March 10, 2009, 06:57:54 AM »

Not sure where to post this one but wanted to share. I got this email forwarded from a buddy.

EDIT:
This is not me. It was forwarded to me by someone. I don't know the guy.

I was sitting in a tripod stand on my lease in S. 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 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.

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2009, 07:02:41 AM »

This was not an accident. This was negligence.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2009, 07:40:37 AM »

Very lucky my friend!

What a terrible mistake for both of you.
Glad you are able to make light of it and lucky it wasn't a little farther down!

If there is any good to come from this is the fact that maybe others will learn from it.
I know when I had a cheap single action go off a few years ago and rip through the top of my foot I used it to teach all who would listen about how easy it is to mess up while using a firearm.
In my case it was partly my fault and partly the guns fault as the transfer bar was broken.
I had never seen a single action with a transfer bar before so I didn't realize anything was wrong with the gun when I bought it.
The hammer got caught on my shirt tail as I put it back in the holster and, well just glad it was my foot and not my knee!

Our thoughts are with you my friend.
Mend soon!

LONGTOM

Siskiyou · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2009, 07:49:38 AM »

Ouch! I am pleased that this was not a fatal accident. It is the responsibility of the hunter to always be sure of his shot.

Were you wearing full camouflage or did you have any amount of blaze orange on?

I wear a mix, military camouflage BDU pants, and Blaze Orange camo top and hat.

I wish you well, and fast healing.

Skyman · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2009, 07:50:01 AM »

Ouch: That looks like something right out of my Mom's hunter safety classes. Know the guy that squeezed that trigger wishes he could pull that bullet back. He's going to be a long time thinking about this shot.

Wish you luck with the healing and surgery.

dukkillr · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2009, 07:55:46 AM »

I figured orange was required in every state by now...

WylieKy · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2009, 07:58:42 AM »

1. Shooter was an idiot for not ID'ing his target.
2. Why would you EVER not wear a minimum of an orange hat in rifle season, anywhere???

*EDIT: Sorry for crossing you dukkillr

Skunk · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2009, 08:06:02 AM »

That goes beyond OUCH. That's at least an "OUCH-E-MAMA!!"

Cabin4 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2009, 08:26:09 AM »

Find a new hunting partner and be extremlly particular about anyone you decide can hunt with you in the future.

Good luck on the recovery and nothing wrong with wearing blaze in certian circumstances even if it's not required in the regs.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2009, 09:21:00 AM »

All I can say to that is holy crap!!!!!!

Now that has to hurt. I would be real worried about infection with a wound like that. This is not over for the guy that got shot by far. He could have real complactions with that. He was lucky though. Dale

Ron/Pa. · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2009, 09:40:38 AM »

Wow, count your blessings! Here in Pa. the Fluorescent Orange regulations are all screwed up. Different coverage for different seasons. Me and my Boys and the Missus wear an Orange Hat and vest no matter what the season. Too many trigger happy slob Hunters around here!!

rparsons934 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2009, 09:56:46 AM »

Was that your buddy who sent it to you or something he found? Either way i hope the person who was shot recovers soon.

Dillohide · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2009, 10:02:48 AM »

Hunter orange is not required in Texas, where this occurred, except on public lands. Most of our hunting is on private leases. Doesn't mean it's not prudent, just not required. Cannot imagine anyone shooting at movement without positive identification.

rockbilly · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2009, 10:32:40 AM »

I am glad that this was not serious, and that you will surely make a full recovery from the shooting.

You said this was an accident, I changed my views on accidents while serving as a Safety Officer in the AF many years ago. I am convinced there is no such thing as an accident, most often it is the result of someone doing something stupid. I think this is the case here, and no matter how good the friendship I think I would be looking for a new hunting partner. (THs old redneck might even consider adminstering a good case of whupass to the shooter when I recovered.)

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #14 on:** March 10, 2009, 10:52:50 AM »

Was he arrested ?
what was he thinking he was shooting at 10-12 feet off the ground ? ya'lls deer that tall ?
good luck on healing , hope it goes well and fast .
Hope he covers the bills and then some for lost time at work and more important in the field .

Dillohide · « **Reply #15 on:** March 10, 2009, 10:53:19 AM »

Believe swordfish just posted what a friend emailed him and hopefully not anyone on this forum that was shot. But have got to agree, if it had been a friend of mine doing something so stupid, he would be a friend no more.

Spanky · « **Reply #16 on:** March 10, 2009, 11:34:43 AM »

Was he hunting with Dick Cheney?

I hope the idiot who made the foolhearted shot realizes how close he came to being a murderer.
If that sounds harsh I'm sorry but that is unacceptable.

Thank God the man survived.
6" to the left and this would be an obituary.

Spanky

swordfish · « **Reply #17 on:** March 10, 2009, 12:08:04 PM »

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I was not involved. This is a report from a friend. I don't know the hunters involved.
It's is something I do worry about.

Tommyt · « **Reply #18 on:** March 10, 2009, 12:18:03 PM »

How many other animals does he just shoot on Sight

does he have a Brother Rick OhShea'

Foxxtrot · « **Reply #19 on:** March 10, 2009, 01:56:04 PM »

Quote from: dukkillr on March 10, 2009, 07:55:46 AM

I figured orange was required in every state by now...

not in Vermont.

bubba · « **Reply #20 on:** March 10, 2009, 02:10:03 PM »

not in ny either

LONGTOM · « **Reply #21 on:** March 10, 2009, 03:10:44 PM »

Sorry swordfish, I thought the story was about you.
Glad it's not and I am still sorry for whoever it was.

LONGTOM

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2009, 03:45:25 PM »

Thats a rule that we have all be taught..Be Sure..Certain of your target..

Yet as a young hunter about 14 years old I targeted my uncle with a 30.06 just about to take off saftey and fire when he stepped out where I could clearly see hi. I have had nightmares about what could have happened.

To this day I still have the picture in my mind when I raised a rifle up. I had taught by this very uncle and told hundreds of times...Make sure you see the antlers before you fire.

There, but for the grace of God go I..

I sure you partner will never forget and will always remember what a carless moment did as well as could have done.

Accidents do happen I hope that you are man enough to forgive him as I am sure he will not forgive himself.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #23 on:** March 10, 2009, 04:19:33 PM »

Hell that man got shot in his deer stand, what in the hell would orange have helped?

Not too many deer hide in deer stands where i come from!

maybe an orange target on his behind might have saved him Jeeeeez!

That shooter is a fool or an attempted murderer !

Cabin4 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 10, 2009, 04:44:23 PM »

The shooter shot at what he thought was a deer. If the guy had blaze on it might have helped avoid it. I don't know of many deer that wear blaze orange. Being in the stand or not is irrelevant. The shooter exercised severe poor judgment and perhaps blaze could have been a pretty clear indication even for a moron who thought a deer decided to hang out in a tripod stand.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #25 on:** March 10, 2009, 04:59:27 PM »

Quote

Being in the stand or not is irrelevant

Well i'll tell you what Matlock............you shoot at me in a deerstand you better hope you kill me!

45-70.gov · « **Reply #26 on:** March 10, 2009, 05:05:09 PM »

he shot at dusk,,,,,was that legal time??

it may be illegal but i always carry a flashlight

and use it to and from the stand

he could have shined the other hunter rather than wave his hat

Cabin4 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 10, 2009, 05:11:02 PM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on March 10, 2009, 04:59:27 PM

Quote
Being in the stand or not is irrelevant

Well i'll tell you what Matlock............you shoot at me in a deerstand you better hope you kill me!

The point was, it was obviously irrelevant to the shooter. He still put one into the stand. Maybe if the guy was wearing blaze, it may have sparked some thought with the shooter, like, maybe it’s not a deer because it's wearing blaze!!

Oldshooter · « **Reply #28 on:** March 10, 2009, 05:33:45 PM »

Well my point is that a tripod stand is at least 10 feet off the ground some are 15 ft.

Thats a helluva mistake! been hunting for 50 years, seen and heard some stupid things! That takes the cake!

45-70.gov · « **Reply #29 on:** March 10, 2009, 05:51:45 PM »

at dusk and 200 yards

it may have looked at ground level
either way did he see antlers ect

no he shot at movement thats all

carry a flashlight to signal with at dawn and dusk
whistle if legal light has past