Exposing the Big Game

Forget Hunters' Feeble Rationalizations and Trust Your Gut Feelings: Making Sport of Killing Is Not Healthy Human Behavior

Exposing the Big Game

Category Archives: Hunting Accidents

Charge lessened in hunting accident death

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 http://woodtv.com/2017/12/05/charge-lessened-in-hunting-accident-death/  
Roger Hoeker’s mug shot. (Oceana County Sheriff’s Department)

HART, Mich. (WOOD) — A man accused of killing a 13-year-old in a hunting accident earlier this year now faces a lesser charge.

On Monday, an Oceana County judge ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to support the involuntary manslaughter charge that was initially filed against Roger Hoeker in the death of Billy Gort Jr. The charge against Hoeker was amended to careless, reckless or negligent discharge of a firearm causing injury or death.

Undated photo of Billy Gort. (Courtesy GoFundMe)

In Michigan, involuntary manslaughter is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The reckless discharge of a firearm charge is a two-year misdemeanor.

Authorities say Billy, who was from Wyoming, was shot in the head while hunting on state-owned land in the Manistee National Forest in February. Hoeker, a hunting safety instructor from Jenison, was charged in August.

Hoeker’s case was sent to circuit court for trial on the amended charge. Trial dates have not yet been set.

Hunters make the great outdoors war zones

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Hunters make the great outdoors war zones

By Nicole Rivard

UPDATE 12/1/17: Hunter Thomas Jadlowski has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and hunting after hours. 

Tis the season for putting your life at risk if you want to go outdoors to walk a dog, ride a bike or hike on public or private land.

That’s because trigger happy hunters are out trying to kill any wildlife in their crosshairs, and no amount of orange clothing is going to make human animals safe.

We are sickened and saddened by the news that Rosemary Billquist, 43, who was just walking her dogs near her western New York home, was fatally shot last week by her hunter neighbor Thomas B. Jadlowski, who told police he mistook her for a deer. He was hunting after sunset, which is prohibited by law in New York, however Jadlowski faces a measly fine not to exceed $250 and 15 days or less in jail, according to an environmental conservation police officer from the NYDEC. Outrageous! (A criminal investigation is also ongoing, so hopefully that will yield some more justice, however it won’t bring Billquist back.)  

And this wasn’t the only hunting accident that involved a non-hunter in the news last week. Police in New Hampshire reported that a woman was shot by a hunter near Elm Brook Park in Hopkinton. Authorities say the woman was riding a mountain bike along a trail when she was shot. The area is used for a variety of outdoor activities including hunting, hiking and biking. Luckily, she is in good condition.

Both incidences highlight how important it is for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife watchers to call for changes. State wildlife agencies receive funding from hunter license fees and taxes on guns and ammo, a clear conflict of interest that explains why wildlife is not respected and forests and parks are being turned into killing grounds.

We need to vote for politicians who are willing to stand up to the hunting agencies and conservation officers who want to continually expand hunting. We need to tell our local elected officials we do not support hunting in our state forests or parks or in nature preserves where other outdoor activities take place.

Let’s face it, hunting safety is an oxymoron. However, agencies don’t care as they just want more clients. This year New York, where now only 5 percent of the population still hunts, has decided to allow junior hunters (14-15 years old) to take bear as well as deer during the youth firearms hunt and one of the requirements is that both the junior hunter and mentor must wear hunter orange visible from all directions: shirt, jacket or vest with at least 250 square inches of solid or patterned orange (the pattern must be at least 50% orange) OR a hat with at least 50% orange.

How ridiculous! Bullets are color blind.

We hope this latest hunting tragedy will lead to even more people to call on public officials to create hunting free zones in our state parks in forests. In Connecticut, for example, it is possible to reverse a decision and eliminate hunting from an area. In Colorado, a proposal was being considered to eliminate shooting on lands that are less than a half-mile from homes or in areas of highly concentrated recreational use.

Human and non-human animals should not have to senselessly lose their lives to recreational violence called hunting.

Nicole Rivard is editor of Friends of Animal’s quarterly magazine Action Line. She brings 18 years of journalism experience to the front lines, protesting and documenting atrocities against animals.

“One in Three Hunters Will Fall”

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…from their Tree Stands according to deer hunting.com.

So what is a tree stand? A tree stand (or deer stand, or more appropriately, deer-hunter-sit) has nothing to do with standing, yet everything to do with sitting on one’s heavily-armed rump. It looks basically like a lawn chair strapped high in a tree, accessible only by a ladder that the hunter (affectionately known as Elmer) brings along for the would-be kill.

Animal advocates (not to be confused with people who want to bring a dead body home to covet), understandably upset by all the carnage out there this time of year, sometimes write things like “I’ve been saying that tree stands could be a focus for some monkeywrenching” “We should lobby for tree stands to be at least 24′ off the ground” or in response to the many, many incidents they hear about of someone falling out of one, “Very encouraging. Where can we donate to a fund for more tree stands?” And “Karma’s a bitch. Well played karma!”

But it seems to me, hunters are scoring plenty of accidents on their own–based on the number of accident reports I’ve come across lately.

And how unnatural for anyone (human or otherwise) to hunt from high up in a tree anyway. No other large animal sits a limb 20-30′ off the ground or tries to kill prey from so far away. Cougars would not want to risk jumping from that height (though they’d survive it a lot better than the average Elmer). An owl might swoop down on a mouse or rabbit, but they don’t go after deer and they definitely don’t drive home in the luxury of a new, heated and leather-seated $35,000.00 pickup after the kill.

I mean, who do hunters think they are anyway? God’s gift to wildlife reduction; or “recreation”? I suppose some think they’re min-gods themselves.

Don’t get me started. Somebody stop me and all that…

While on the subject, here’s an article from the Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting about tree stands:

https://www.all-creatures.org/cash/taah-sh-20101129-7.html

Tree Stand Injuries – interesting statistics

November 29, 2010

This is an interesting article. While hunting orgs minimize the number of accidents that take place every year, every so often an article like this slips through and we get a more accurate estimate of what the true numbers are.

Back in 2009, Ron Kolbeck, a certified HuntSAFE instructor in South Dakota stated that there were 4,114 hunting accidents in the state in 2008. When we posted this info the hunters went nuts, telling us that we were making these stats up.

So here is another article I recently found that also discloses that the number of accidents that take place are far higher than the hunters will admit.

Tree Stand Injuries

Hunting in the U.S.

Hunting is a popular sport in this country. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates 12.5 million Americans 16 and older hunted in 2006. The hunters took 185 million trips and spent $22.9 billion.

More than 85 percent of hunters go after big game, like deer and elk. Roughly 38 percent hunt for smaller game like rabbits and squirrels. Less than 20 percent hunt birds.

Tree Stands for Hunters

A tree stand is an elevated platform placed from 15 feet to 30 feet above the ground and secured to a tree. The platform is typically small, with just enough room to sit or stand. Tree stands can be purchased from a retailer or built by hand. Many permanent tree stands are constructed by hunters rather than purchased.

There are several different kinds. One of the most popular types is the climbing stand. These are designed to be moved as the hunter climbs the tree, then secured when the desired height is reached. A fixed position stand attaches to a tree trunk for an extended period of time (like all of hunting season). A vertical ladder stand has a ladder attached to the platform. The ladder can often be disassembled and reassembled for carrying the stand into and out of the woods. The last type of stands are permanent tree stands. As the name suggests, these are designed to remain permanent and used season after season.

According to the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, more than 90 percent of hunters use some type of tree stand for hunting. Although tree stands were initially most popular with bowhunters, many rifle hunters use them also. Elevation enables the hunter to see game at a greater distance. In addition, the hunter can’t easily be seen or smelled by animals, improving the odds of bagging game. Some tree stands also have canopies that protect the hunter from the cold, wind, rain and sun.

Injuries Associated with Tree Stands

Researchers estimate about 10 percent of hunters who use tree stands are injured while using the platforms. Investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, looked at hunting accidents across the U.S. from 2000 to 2007. During that time, there were about 46,860 injuries to hunters associated with tree stands (Note: This averages to be 5,875 tree stand related injuries per year. Add to this all the other accidents that do not have anything to do with tree stands – JM) , mostly from falls. Male hunters were twice as likely to suffer a tree stand injury as females.

The researchers found injury rates to be highest among hunters 15 to 24 and lowest among those 65 and older. Gerald McGwin, M.S., Ph.D., Injury Epidemiologist, says the reasons for the highest rates of injury among younger hunters aren’t clear. However, he believes younger hunters are not aware of, or may not take appropriate safety precautions while using tree stands (like wearing a safety harness). Younger hunters may be more apt to take risks than older, seasoned hunters. Alcohol may also play a role in the risk for tree stand-related injuries. One study found 17 to 18 percent of hunters injured during use of a tree stand had been drinking at some point prior to the accident (NOTE: this means that 999 – 1,056 accidents per year – JM) .

The investigators found the most common consequences of tree stand injuries were fractures (especially of the spine, shoulder and arms), lacerations of the head and neck, and abrasions and bruises of the torso. McGwin says head and spinal injuries can be especially devastating to younger patients because they have to live with potential long-term disabilities. In the most serious cases, hunters may die from tree stand falls – either as a direct result of their trauma or by strangulation/asphyxiation when caught up in an improperly secured harness.

Tree Stand Safety

Many tree stand injuries can be prevented by taking a few extra steps: Check your stand. Experts discourage using home-made tree stands because they may not be properly constructed or unable to hold your weight. Even tree stands that are purchased from reputable dealers need to be inspected every season to ensure they are solid and will hold the weight of your body and equipment.

Use a harness. Researchers estimate more than half of all hunters injured in a tree stand accidents didn’t use, or failed to properly use, a safety harness. A harness is attached to the tree and designed to prevent a fall or catch a hunter who steps over the side of the tree stand. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends a full body harness. The harness should be inspected before each use and replaced if it shows any signs of wear or weakness. Roughly 50 percent of tree stand injuries occur when going into or leaving a tree stand. So it’s important to put the harness on before climbing the tree and keeping it on until you are safely back on the ground.

Don’t carry equipment while climbing or disembarking. Carrying equipment can affect your balance and cause you to fall. In addition, a gun can be accidentally discharged. Use a separate line to haul equipment up to the tree stand after you are settled in the tree stand. Also, don’t load the weapon until it is safely in the tree stand with you.

Have a plan. Let others know where you will be hunting and how long you expect to be gone. Carry a cell phone in case you have an emergency and need help. Carry emergency equipment in case you fall. While the harness may prevent you from hitting the ground, you can still die if you are suspended upside down for a significant amount of time and are unable to free yourself. Some experts even suggest practicing how to free yourself from the harness so you are better prepared to handle an emergency.

For information and tips on preventing tree stand injuries:
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation, Project STAND
Treestand Manufacturer’s Association
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service .

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Person airlifted after hunting accident near Morganton

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By: Lauren Ratcliffe

Updated: 

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/person-airlifted-after-hunting-accident-near-morganton/657763163

MORGANTON, N.C. – A duck hunter was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte after a hunting accident near Morganton Saturday morning, officials say.

A sergeant with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said the accident happened between 8 and 8:15 a.m Saturday on the Johns River Game Land in Burke County.

The victim was a duck hunter out hunting with a permit. Officials said the victim was leaving his hunt when he was shot through the left shoulder from behind with a high-powered rifle.

Officials said the victim is lucky to be alive and expected to be OK. He will need reconstructive surgery to his shoulder.

Early investigations indicate that a deer hunter, who was also permitted, shot the victim accidentally. Officials said the deer hunter mistook the victim for a deer.

Charges are expected in this case, but officials say they are waiting to ensure the victim’s condition continues to improve.

Reporter Dave Faherty first broke the story on Twitter, saying the accident happened off of Duckworth Drive.

HUNTING ACCIDENT BEING INVESTIGATED AFTER MAN FALLS FROM TREESTAND

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http://wibx950.com/hunting-accident-being-investigated-after-man-falls-from-treestand/

A 32-year-old man is recovering following a hunting accident just north of Old Oneida Road in the outer district of Rome.

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the man was hunting alone in a tree stand when he fell approximately 30 feet.

The fall is believed to be due to a defective strap securing the stand to the tree. No weapon was discharged and the man was transported to St. Elizabeth’s with non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation was turned over to NYS Conservation Police as the incident is considered an Elevated Incident Hunting Accident.

Hunter in fatal Chautauqua County hunting accident indicted on manslaughter charge

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http://wivb.com/2017/11/30/hunter-in-fatal-chautauqua-county-hunting-accident-charged-with-manslaughter/

By Published: 

MAYVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) – A Chautauqua County hunter who shot and killed his neighbor the day before Thanksgiving, mistaking her for a deer, has been indicted on a manslaughter charge.

Thomas B. Jadlowski, 34, surrendered himself to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the Nov. 22 incident.

According to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, Jadlowski shot and killed Rosemary Billquist, 43, who had been out walking her dogs behind her Sherman home after believing she was a seer.

Rosemary Billquist (right) with her husband, Jamie.

 

Jadlowski was arraigned Thursday in Chautauqua County Court on a two-count indictment, second degree manslaughter and hunting after hours.

DEC’s Environmental Conservation Police officers and Chautauqua County Sheriff’s deputies say the incident occurred just after 5:22 p.m., well beyond the legal close of the daily hunting period at sunset.

Billquist was struck in the hip by the bullet.

“After firing the shot, hearing a scream and finding Ms. Billquist, Mr. Jadlowski immediately called 911,” a press release from the sheriff’s office stated.

Billquist was found by first responders unresponsive about 150 yards behind her home.  She was immediately transported to UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania, but despite the efforts of the Sherman Fire EMT’s and Hospital Surgeons, later succumbed to her injuries.

“Today, Mr. Jadlowski is being held accountable for his dangerous and reckless conduct when he shot his neighbor in the dark,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said.

Jadlowski entered a not guilty plea in Chautauqua County Court.

Bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 property. He is due back in court Jan. 29.m

The charges carry a potential prison sentence of five to 15 years if he is found guilty.

Dog shoots man in Iowa hunting accident

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https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/11/30/dog-shoots-man-iowa-hunting-accident/908928001/

, ccrowder@dmreg.comPublished 11:05 a.m. CT Nov. 30, 2017 | Updated 11:37 a.m. CT Nov. 30, 2017

Iowa DNR Conservation Officer Aron Arthur discusses new state law that allow straight wall cartridge rifles for deer hunting.

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A dog stepped on a 12-gauge shotgun causing bird shot pellets to hit a man hunting in southwestern Wright County Wednesday.

William Rancourt, 36, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, was nearly 22 yards away when a hunting dog stepped on the trigger guard of a shotgun lying on the ground causing it to discharge, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

Rancourt was hit in the back and sustained injuries considered non-life threatening, but still “fairly moderate,” said Ken Lonneman, a DNR conservation officer.

Rancourt was conscious, alert and able to walk when he was transported to Trinity Hospital in Fort Dodge. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, X-rays were being performed to ensure all pellets had been removed from his back, Lonneman said.

“Shotguns are extremely dangerous at close range,” Lonneman said. “In this case, there was a good distance between the muzzle and the wound, but if the victim had been closer, his injuries would have been more severe.”

 Rancourt and his party — which included two dogs, two Iowans and another man from New Hampshire — had been pheasant hunting in the Boone River Greenbelt Conservation Board Public Hunting Area at about 1:20 p.m. when one of the men placed his shotgun on the ground without unloading.

The incident acts a good reminder to all hunters to both unload and double check the safety before putting any guns down or leaving them unattended, Lonneman said.

With shotgun deer season starting Saturday, the DNR cautions hunters that grounds will be busy this weekend.

“I would like to remind all hunters that no matter what season it is, but especially during a busy season like the one we are going into, to please be sure to identify your target as well as what’s beyond your target before firing,” Lonneman said.

If someone is hurt while on a public hunting ground, Lonneman said hunters should call for medical assistance right away and notify the local sheriff’s office.

For more information on hunting in Iowa, visit IowaDNR.gov.

CHILD SHOT IN FRANKLIN COUNTY HUNTING ACCIDENT

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http://www.kmov.com/story/36935282/child-shot-in-franklin-county-hunting-accident

Posted: Nov 27, 2017 2:09 PM PSTUpdated: Nov 27, 2017 2:12 PM PST

Credit KMOVCredit KMOV

ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) — A 9-year-old boy was shot in an apparent accident as he and his father were hunting in Franklin County Sunday morning.

Police said the shooting happened in the 1000 block of Sauer Ford Road, near Berger, Missouri. The boy was found in a wooded area on a large farm with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The injury is not life-threatening.

Police believe the child was in a tree stand when he attempted to hand a 20-gauge shotgun to a family friend. While handing the gun down from the tree stand, the butt-end of the firearm struck a rung on the ladder, causing the gun to discharge, striking the boy.

The child was transported to St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

MSP: Woman, 18, critically injured in hunting accident, Man shot in both arms in Oxford hunting accident and more…

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Hunting Accident:

http://woodtv.com/2017/11/27/msp-woman-18-critically-injured-in-hunting-accident/

An 18-year-old woman from Berrien County is in critical condition after a hunting accident at her home.

Michigan State Police say Delaney Nicole Flagel was unloading her vehicle after hunting when a rifle accidentally fell and fired a round, hitting her in the chest area.

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http://wkrg.com/2017/11/25/bcso-person-shot-in-leg-in-hunting-accident/

The wife of Adam Catrett, Charity, says her husband is stable at USA Medical center.  Catrett was flown there following a hunting accident Saturday morning.  Authorities say Adam Catrett and his father were hunting in the Upper Delta Wildlife Management Area.  They say his father slipped while crossing a creek and his gun accidentally went off.  A bullet caused a significant injury to Adam Catrett’s leg.

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Man shot in both arms in Oxford hunting accident

http://wgme.com/news/local/man-shot-in-both-arms-in-oxford-hunting-accident

by WGME

Monday, November 27th 2017

The Maine Warden Service says a group of four people were hunting over the weekend, about a quarter mile into the woods, when one of them shot another. (WGME)

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OXFORD (WGME) – A man was shot in both arms in a weekend hunting incident that happened about a mile behind the Oxford Plains Speedway.

The Maine Warden Service says a group of four people were hunting over the weekend, about a quarter mile into the woods, when one of them shot another.

Investigators say it happened around two in the afternoon on Saturday, on land open to hunting.

Corporal John MacDonald says the four people were in the woods hunting deer when one of the hunters fired his rifle.

“The shooter is 21 years old. He is from Oxford,” MacDonald said. “This wasn’t a case where a weapon was, or a firearm was dropped and discharged. It was, we’re thinking this was a hunting related shooting incident where the shooter actually pulled the trigger.”

MacDonald says the victim is 32-year-old James Footman from Paris.

“He sustained some injury, fairly serious injury, to his arms,” MacDonald said.

He says Footman was taken by life-flight to Central Maine Medical Center after a bullet struck both his arms. The hospital says Footman is now in serious condition.

Investigators say all four hunters are cooperating. They say the shooter’s identity will not be released unless charges are filed against him.

CBS 13 spoke to a cousin of James Footman, and she told us the family is not commenting right now about what happened.

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Father accidentally fatally shot in head while teaching 12-year-old son to shoot

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Father accidentally fatally shot in head while teaching 12-year-old son to shoot

by Renee Santos, Fox San Antonio

Sunday, November 26th 2017

A father remains in the hospital after he was shot in the head by his 12-year-old son Friday afternoon.

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BULVERDE — UPDATE (12:00 p.m.):

The CCSO says the man has succumbed to his injuries. He’s been identified as 53-year-old Daniel Boor from Garland.

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A father remains in the hospital after he was shot in the head by his 12-year-old son Friday afternoon.

The Comal County Sheriff’s Office says the 53-year-old man was teaching his son how to shoot on a more than 10 acre private property in Bulverde when it happened. Deputies say it was an accident.

Many in the community are saddened by the news, but local gun expert Jaime Correa says it’s not unusual for kids to learn how to handle a gun at such an early age.

“The rules of gun safety are no different at the public range, at the private range and your own backyard,” Correa said.

He said it is important to always assume a gun is loaded, keep your finger off the trigger and always know where the gun is pointed.

Deputies are still investigating the incident. The man’s condition is unknown at this time.