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Accidental Shooting in St. Charles County MO

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Oaktree45

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Yesterday a hiker was accidentally shot by a turkey hunter at the Weldon Spring Conservation area. The hiker was on the very popular Lewis and Clark 8 mile loop trail in the area.

Details are sketchy but it is being called an accident. The shooting is still under investigation but I hope the hunter faces some type of charge. At the very least he should lose his hunting privileges for a few years. Every hunter has the responsibility to identify his/her target before shooting. I mean really, you mistake a hiker for a turkey?
 
Oaktree45 said:
Yesterday a hiker was accidentally shot by a turkey hunter at the Weldon Spring Conservation area. The hiker was on the very popular Lewis and Clark 8 mile loop trail in the area.

Details are sketchy but it is being called an accident. The shooting is still under investigation but I hope the hunter faces some type of charge. At the very least he should lose his hunting privileges for a few years. Every hunter has the responsibility to identify his/her target before shooting. I mean really, you mistake a hiker for a turkey?
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Hmm, something doesn't sound right here.
 
The thing about turkey hunting is that it isn't like deer hunting. No blaze orange. Turkey see ridiculously well. There's some kind of disconnect going on. NOBODY who isn't turkey hunting should be in or near the woods unless they're decked out in blaze orange. Hiking in Weldon Spring, through the woods, during spring turkey season? Without having seen an article or heard it on the news I would guess the hiker wasn't supposed to be there. I can't imagine a trail through the woods at Busch Wildlife being open to hikers during turkey season.



"This is a freak accident, I think. I always purposely wear my bright colors, so no hunters mistake me for anything," said Phillips.
A turkey hunt managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation was underway when the man was shot. Near the entrance to the trail, only a sign indicated the managed turkey hunt was going on until 1 p.m. Sunday is the final day of turkey hunting season in Missouri.
 
My initial thought is the hunter shot at sound. It's a bad idea to walk the woods during hunting season without blaze on, as Bassbob said, but I always put the responsibility on the hunter to identify the target.
 
I remember my dad driving down the road and taking a bunch of bb's to the windshield from a guy and his teenage sons bird hunting. He was pissed, he chewed their azz for shooting towards the road. I think that was taught in the first day of gun safety when I was in the 4th grade, DO NOT SHOOT TOWARD THE ROAD. EVER!!
It is a bird for heavens sakes, there will be more birds to shoot at.
That said accidents happen. I think joggers and people walking in the woods should always wear bright colors. Just to many things can happen that if they needed help, bright colors would make them easier to locate.
 
Devils advocate:

A sign at the entrance to the trail said a turkey hunt was going on until 1pm. People with zero experience in anything resembling hunting going to walk on a hugely popular walking trail see the sign and go “oh cool” wonder where that is. The sign didn’t say “TRAIL CLOSED UNTIL 1PM FOR TURKEY SHOOT”.
People fall into the mindset that everyone thinks like them or should at least have a base understanding. It’s not so. I read several of the reports and there were “many” people out walking at the time of the shooting. The Wildlife Mgt Dept dropped the ball hard here.
 
Bassbob said:
Even still though I can't imagine mistaking a human for a turkey.
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And as much as I agree with you, there is a phenomenon called "Early Blur" that sometimes occurs, especially in hunting situations such as early mornings, low light conditions, etc. It was one of our most intense sessions in our hunter safety program classes. It's not a case of sound shot, or even true carelessness, it's a situation where the hunter's brain is actually telling him it's a viable target. Something he really has to think through to prevent it.

Go here to read about it:
 
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benstt said:
My initial thought is the hunter shot at sound. It's a bad idea to walk the woods during hunting season without blaze on, as Bassbob said, but I always put the responsibility on the hunter to identify the target.
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This is the key right here, the responsibility is on the hunter/shooter !!! In my opinion, anyone who would take a "sound" shot is no hunter .... he's not only a fool, but an idiot as well. (y) (y) (y)
 
OkiePewPew said:
Devils advocate:

A sign at the entrance to the trail said a turkey hunt was going on until 1pm. " ......................... " The Wildlife Mgt Dept dropped the ball hard here.
(my emphasis)
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It's likely a situation where federal money requires an equal use privilege of the land by all pursuits IE: hunting, hiking, bike riding, bird watching, etc, etc. I'm even aware of horse backing in deer season ......... think about that one !!!

A truly ignorant rule/requirement, but that's what the feds do best, unfortunately (most times) !!! (y)(y)(y)
 
OkiePewPew said:
Devils advocate:

A sign at the entrance to the trail said a turkey hunt was going on until 1pm. People with zero experience in anything resembling hunting going to walk on a hugely popular walking trail see the sign and go “oh cool” wonder where that is. The sign didn’t say “TRAIL CLOSED UNTIL 1PM FOR TURKEY SHOOT”.
People fall into the mindset that everyone thinks like them or should at least have a base understanding. It’s not so. I read several of the reports and there were “many” people out walking at the time of the shooting. The Wildlife Mgt Dept dropped the ball hard here.
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Absolutely.
 
All good points. That said, there really is no valid excuse for mistaking a human as a turkey. It is your responsibility as an ethical hunter to positively identify your target and to know what lies beyond your target. There really is no getting around that.
 
Bassbob said:
All good points. That said, there really is no valid excuse for mistaking a human as a turkey. It is your responsibility as an ethical hunter to positively identify your target and to know what lies beyond your target. There really is no getting around that.
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Amen, Absolutely, hit the nail on the head right there. Couldn’t have stated it better myself. I recently had to take the Hunters Education course yet again for another state. In that course it clearly stated this exact thing Multiple times. Matter a fact it even stated depending on the state you are hunting in. You can and most likely will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if this type of incident happens.
 
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Poor choice of hats?
 
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