Hunting & Fishing Remember kids, safety third...

[hlee]

But in all seriousness, be safe out in the woods this year. Some seasons are just starting and others have already finished, but it is never a bad time to be reminded of what can happen...

Hunter Mistook Friend for Deer, Fatally Shot Him, Prosecutor Says | NBC New York

At least 2 rules of firearms safety were broken, not including "don't shoot your best friend in the chest."

There may be some backstory we are not getting in the article, however, from my limited experience hunting in NY there is way too much shooting at sound/movement and the "if it's brown, it's down" mentality is much too prevalent for my liking.

Be safe, have fun, and don't shoot your friends.

 

[GlockBlock]

Yeah, I am always leary of stories where hunting buddies shoot each other. I suspect foul play before believing it was an accident.

Still, I agree with the idea of your post. Be safe out there everybody.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Terrible, everytime I hear one of these stories I cant help but wonder what kind of hunter would just shoot at something, not knowing even if its a deer or not. Foul play... Maybe... Criminally irresponsible? For sure.

 

[hlee]

what kind of hunter would just shoot at something, not knowing even if its a deer or not.

Teddy Roosevelt, for one. Now, I'm not saying that he ever shot a person. However, according to one of the books he wrote about hunting in the west ("Hunting Trips of a Ranchman" or "The Wilderness Hunter") he had no problems shooting at sound or a fleeting patch of brown glimpsed through heavy underbrush. I'll add the quote here if I can find it...

I suspect there is more to this story than reported. If the NSSF calls me asking about suggestions to flesh out their rules for safe firearm handling I am going to suggest "don't shoot your friends" just in case there may have ever been any confusion there.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Perhaps that may have been aceptable in Teddys day, but reprehensible by todays standards.

 

[Asperly Aimless]

The only time of year that I wear orange at all times while hiking and camping is during hunting season.

Shooting at random movement and brown patches was the norm in Georgia. I swear it sounds like the battle of the bulge is taking place on the opening day of hunting season. CRACK!!! Pause and then CRACK, CRACK, CRACK, CRACK!!!! As they dump the last 4 rds on whatever they were shooting at.

It is quite better here in Nevada, but I still go out like a hi-lighter during hunting season.

 

[jclark]

People are dumb, identify your whole target.. some idiot just may be wearing a deer head and cape on private land you are hunting. He's alive because more than one of us wanted to see the "deer" a couple more steps out in the clearing to take a cleaner shot.

 

[xdeano]

There was a kid in MN this last fall who was out duck hunting and was shot by his dog. Dog was getting back into the boat and depressed the trigger and shot the kid in the leg. So even man's best friend, can be a little sketchy.

xdeano

 

[40xs]

Yeah! Dick Cheney has a hard time trying to find someone to hunt with. It sounds like either no hunter education of poor hunter education. I don't care how old a person is, jor how long they have been hunting. Everyone can benefit from hunter education and it should be mandatory.

 

[hlee]

Yeah! Dick Cheney has a hard time trying to find someone to hunt with. It sounds like either no hunter education of poor hunter education. I don't care how old a person is, jor how long they have been hunting. Everyone can benefit from hunter education and it should be mandatory.

This reminds me of a joke...

Would you rather... Hunt with Dick Cheney or take a car ride with Ted Kennedy?

 

[EXTREMEPREJUDICE]

It's really a terrible deal and of course the question as noted in the article is "How can a human possibly be mistaken for a deer?"

 

[hlee]

Maybe they were hunting with these guys...

Deer with Blaze Orange Vest Hangs with Hunters! | Crazy Videos | Bowhunting.Com

 

[lash]

Terrible, everytime I hear one of these stories I cant help but wonder what kind of hunter would just shoot at something, not knowing even if its a deer or not...?

I suspect that your question is rhetorical, but the truth is there are all too many "hunters" that have no business out there until they pass some sort of hunter safety course.

I've been hunting on public land on opening day in Michigan...once. As soon as dawn broke, it sounded like a war zone. I hunkered down and did not move until well into the late morning, after all the party hunters had headed back to wherever to start drinking and card-playing. Every time I hear a single shot, followed but three or four more in rapid succession, I know it's from someone who shot at something they shouldn't have.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has passed on a shot for some reason, even though the game is in my sights. This discipline is gained through proper training and instruction, followed by some experience.

As hard to believe as it may seem at times, there are plenty of stupid people with guns out there during deer season, lumped in and labeled as "hunters", who have no business being there. Trust no one and you'll be right most of the time.