A bit long and not directly related to upland hunting. (Turkey hunting)
Date 4/16/2019 - time 6:30am - current weather, warm and sunny- Location Chewelah, Wa.
My partner and I were standing on a logging road about 6:30 am in the morning. We had been hunting and eventually walked up a logging road to a pond looking for two more turkeys to complete our tags. When we drove in earlier that morning we noted we were the only persons in the immediate area. We were standing in the middle of the road as my partner was removing some of his gear. As my partner bent to retrieve his vest a loud shot went off a short distance down the road from us. We both sustained impacts and immediately dropped to the ground. Both my partner and I began yelling that we had been hit and to stop firing. Several seconds later a hunter finally spoke up saying he was sorry. The hunter indicated that he had thought he’d seen orange. My partner immediately yelled why would he shoot at Orange as Tom turkeys head are blue and red?
I got back up from the ground and started wiping blood from my face, throat, and arms. My partner sustained 2 impacts to neck and wrist, and I received about a dozen either through and through impacts, impacts that hit and did not penetrate and 3 penetrations (2 in the face, throat, and 1 in the wrist).
The father and his two sons 16 years and younger approached us and profusely apologized for the mistake they had made. He indicated that they were coming up the road and had seen movement as they rounded a brush pile up the road. He indicated he had seen orange, and had instructed his oldest son to step forward and take the shot. The son saw movement and shot hitting us. My hunting partner again noted that you don’t shoot at Orange and that Tom turkey heads are red and blue. We were both wearing camouflage for turkey hunting. My partners jacket and hat had Browning buckmark logos on the sleeve and hat brim. These logos are blaze orange and appear to be what the father had seen prior to his son shooting.
I requested the father and sons identification so that we could file a report. The father at that time offered to head down to his vehicle and drive up to pick us up to take us to the hospital. After completing information exchange and assuring that while in some pain from the gunshot I thought I was ok to begin walking. They took off directly downhill and we followed the logging road 1 mile back to the vehicles. We found out when we reached the bottom that the gate was still locked which is why they were unable to drive up to get us.
by the time we arrived at our vehicle there were several sheriffs, state patrol, local wildlife officer, EMTs, and fire department arriving. The land owner at the bottom of the road (friend of the father and sons) had contacted them as soon as the father told him of the incident. The EMTs checked us out, bandaged some of the fresh wounds, and we refused transport. After completing initial reports they released us to go to the nearest hospital in Chewelah, Wa.
I was shot at a distance of 43 yards with a 3 1/2 inch round 2 ounce load of number #5 turkey loads. My partner sustained 2 impacts and I received about a dozen either through and through impacts, impacts that hit and did not penetrate and 3 penetrations (2 in the face, throat and 1 in the wrist). My jacket and turkey vest (has padded back and seat bottom), and pants took numerous hits as well. This happened March 16. This was a father hunting with his two sons. The father saw movement up ahead and told his son to shoot. They did not verify their targets. With Tom turkeys as you can see in my pictures you are looking for Red and Blue heads. They did not verify. The father was being charged with reckless endangerment. A 3 1/2 inch, 2 ounce load of #5 shot has approximately 340 projectiles which passed between myself and my partner about 5 feet away. God was with me that morning. My partner was stripping out his gear as we had walked a mile up the hill. he was just putting his jacket and vest back on. I had gone to the center of the road to see if he wanted help with his vest. When he said no I just started to turn when the shot rang out. Had I not turned there likely would have been a different outcome. After a couple months I went in to have the pellets removed. They managed to get all out except for one in my jaw/gums. For now it’s still too deep. After speaking with the doctor we determined that unless the shot moves towards the surface, or becomes more painful we will leave it in.
In my opinion, the most important point that can be made here is know your target before you shoot. Once you pull the trigger you can not call it back. Many young hunters depend on their parents to help them make wise choices. In this instance the father took responsibility for the shot, however the young hunter will likely lose his hunting privileges for a period of 3 years. The hope is that he will continue to hunt and be a safer hunter.
As a Hunter Education instructor I had the opportunity to mentor a young lady several years ago in the field hunting upland game. We hunt with dogs and use them to find and flush birds. This you lady was instructed by both myself and her father in the importance of taking the right shot. One that had a high assurance of hitting the intended target and lowest percentage of hitting something not intended. Over the first season we put her in an opportune place to get a shot at Pheasants flushing ahead of our dogs. Our biggest caution was to make sure the bird was high enough to prevent hitting a dog. On several instances birds flushed at what we felt were safe shots and we encouraged her to take the shot. When she didn’t we always let her know that was ok and that we’d find another opportunity. At times by the time she did take the shot the bird was frequently too far out and she only shot once. Again we encouraged the second shot.
One morning about 3 weeks into the season we had hunted together about a half dozen times. That morning we came upon a pheasant hiding in cover. We set her I. The best place to get a good shot, then released the dogs in to flush the bird. As the bird flushed it flew out away and about 7 feet off the ground. The dogs were behind but generally low enough and far enough that we felt it was a good, ethical shit and encouraged her to fire. When she didn’t we took it in stride. At the same time I felt it necessary to understand what happened, why she didn’t fire. I asked her.
Her response was:
I was pretty sure I could hit the bird, but I saw the dogs out of the corner of my eye and with them behind and below the bird I just didn’t want to take the chance of accidentally hitting one.
At this point I could see no wrong in her decision. She knew enough about bird shot and that it spreads. She knew where the dogs were in relation to the bird and she made a decision that for her was safe and ethical.
I couldn’t fault and congratulated her on good decision making and we continued our hunt. Within the next couple weeks she eventually got her first bird and also chose not to take several shots at others. Understand your target. Know what’s behind it, and make good, ethical choices.
Will go back to the doctor in a couple weeks to see if it’s working it’s way out, leave it, or whether we have to schedule something different for removal. Other than a couple very minor scars I’m doing fine.
