—Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson

http://www.whdh.com/story/27579597/man-shot-by-hunter-while-walking-in-hyannis-woods

HYANNIS, Mass. (WHDH) – A hunter accused of shooting a jogger twice appeared in court Tuesday while police searched for the weapon and the victim recovered at home.

Sean Houle, 47, was arrested and will face a number of charges including careless and negligent use of a weapon causing injury. He also faces other charges including unlawful possession of a primer and unlawful possession of firearm for another gun he was said to be carrying at the time.

Barnstable police said Houle accidentally shot the jogger while he was hunting for deer.

The victim, Jon Way, was hit twice with pellets from Houle’s black powder shotgun, but was recovering. The first shot hit him in the hand.

“I somehow just dove behind a small tree, but didn’t exactly figure out where it came from because it happened so quick. Once the second shot came it went right into my back. That’s when I was realized it was being shot at me, and I started yelling,” Way said.

In court Houle said he had fired at group of deer, but then he heard someone yelling to stop so he ran up to see what had happened.

“Maybe he thought I was a deer, but you don’t shoot at a deer if you can’t identify it,” Way said.

Prosecutors said police still had not found the shotgun Houle was using and said his son may have left the scene with the gun.

It was already dark outside when the shooting occurred around 5 p.m. Monday.

Prosecutors said Houle didn’t have the proper hunting license and has a history of hunting violations and multiple assault and battery cases dating back to the 1990s.

He entered a not guilty plea and was ordered held on $4,000 bail.