SC Hunter and Daughter Mistaken For Deer - Killed

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It's impossible for any hunter with any kind of sense to mistake a human for a deer and accidentally shoot that human- or in this case, 2 humans. In order to shoot anything, the target (in this case, a deer) needs to be identified, and then the portion of the target that needs to get the hit needs to be identified (on a deer, usually the area behind the shoulder). Head/neck shots are an option as well, depending on who you ask. None of these targets look remotely like a human. Deer look even less like a human wearing orange, which I think would be very important for people hunting in this manner (I don't do it, but if I did, I would def. be wearing orange, whether the law required it or not). People who hunt deer with dogs here (something else I don't do) generally use shotguns, and put orange on the dogs.
 
We use push and post hunting a lot, and Ive NEVER even heard of someone getting shot at by accident (tho there were a couple questionable happinings a number of years ago).....

The only genuine accidental shooting I've ever heard of was the ex's cousin. He shot a deer and the bullet went through the deer and killed someone in a duck blind. He lost his hunting license privilege for life.
 
It's impossible for any hunter with any kind of sense to mistake a human for a deer and accidentally shoot that human- or in this case, 2 humans. In order to shoot anything, the target (in this case, a deer) needs to be identified, and then the portion of the target that needs to get the hit needs to be identified (on a deer, usually the area behind the shoulder). Head/neck shots are an option as well, depending on who you ask. None of these targets look remotely like a human. Deer look even less like a human wearing orange, which I think would be very important for people hunting in this manner (I don't do it, but if I did, I would def. be wearing orange, whether the law required it or not). People who hunt deer with dogs here (something else I don't do) generally use shotguns, and put orange on the dogs.
What you are describing is what ethical hunters do. I totally agree with it.
On the other side, I know a couple people who have shot into brush at what they thought was a deer. They graduated to my don't trust with anything list.
 
I hear about people getting shot on deer drives just about every year. In states where drives are popular you can count on something like that happen just about every year at the season opener. Iowa is one state for example. It takes almost no Google skills to find examples every year of someone getting shot on a deer drive.

Not everyone is safe with a gun. You have to know who you're hunting with. There are some people I'll never hunt with, there are some I even refuse to go to the range with anymore.

I've read about people being shot and killed after the shooter thought they were a deer, turkey, or even a hog. It happens all too often.

No booze has to be involved, some people just suck at making decisions.

Tragic. I hate it for that family. Something that should've created a lifetime of wonderful memories for a father and daughter, just slaughtered them. Nothing will ever change the outcome, but I hope the justice is swift.
 
God that's awful. Only way stuff like this happens is people shooting at movement,or through brush and not identifying their target or what's beyond.

The shooters are to blame without a doubt. But looking at the pics I don't see ANY blaze orange. There are idiots out there during rifle season. Wearing blaze orange is a necessity during that time of year, it's not legally required everywhere but if you are in the woods during rifle season, especially with a little one you really should be loaded up with blaze orange. It's just an extra step to help protect your self from idiots. What a terrible event.
 
There is no excuse for not identifying your target and knowing what’s behind it . If the father / daughter were drivers they should have had on blaze orange and should have been making verbal noises as they were walking . But even if they were not wearing blaze and making noise , they should not have been shot . People like that give all hunters a bad name and gun owners . After the person or persons get out of jail ( hopefully 10 years ) they should never be allowed to own a firearm . That is gun control that I can support .
 
I hear about people getting shot on deer drives just about every year. In states where drives are popular you can count on something like that happen just about every year at the season opener.

In the late 1950s i was invited to a WV deer drive. At our early morning planning session; Virgil stated: "i'm gonna shoot the first thing that moves". i should have departed immediately. The first thing that moved was Sammy, of our hunting party, who was badly wounded and nearly died.
 
I once watched a “hunter” shoot a man at 30 yards with a 12 GA across an open field. A chukar took off between the two and moron boy mounted his gun and shot. He missed the bird and sent a full load of 7&1/2s into the other guy.

He claims he never even saw the other guy who was wearing orange.

I think the shooter was on anti anxiety meds and I think he saw the other guy. And I also think his brain was moving to slow to fully comprehend the situation.
 
What lays beyond the intended target is something some people don't think about when they take a shot. That is why there are shotgun/muzzle loader/pistol & straight walled rifle only areas.
My thoughts about this being a double homicide is the shooter or shooters seen movement and open fired upon that movement.
With as many people out & about in the woods & fields after wild game something like this will alway happen. Always has - always will, just like people driving cars. Something negitive will happen.

My remorse goes out to the victims family & friends, they have to deal with this loss of life for the rest of their lives.
The shooter should have to do some prison time, after that they go about thier life like nothing ever happened.
 
In the late 1950s i was invited to a WV deer drive. At our early morning planning session; Virgil stated: "i'm gonna shoot the first thing that moves". i should have departed immediately. The first thing that moved was Sammy, of our hunting party, who was badly wounded and nearly died.

That sounds totally crazy to us...but that actually happens. It's "unthinkable" to a responsible hunter. We literally can't get our minds around how someone could act like that, but they do.
 
I have been peppered by bird shot many times while hunting on dove fields by people who shot at low birds. I could tell ahead of time that they were going to shoot towards me by their body positions. Luckily, I was able to turn my back towards them in time.

People just don't use their brains in some situations. :thumbdown:
 
People just don't use their brains in some situations. :thumbdown:

I totally agree. You will see some normally intelligent people do some downright unsafe things with firearms. Lack of familiarity maybe? Lack of training? Lack of thought? I dunno. I once had to have words with a doctor in our club who was shooting at low birds on a dove hunt and peppering us pretty good each time he did it. Everyone was cautioned against shooting low birds during the safety brief prior to the hunt. Maybe he wasn't listening? Maybe he's not experienced enough to know what a low bird is? Maybe he just doesn't care about following the rules? Hard to say. It quit after I went over and had some words with him about it. Nothing crazy, just pointing out what he was doing and that he needed to not do it again.

Another time, one of the drivers on our pheasant hunt got cold while walking through the tall corn so he put on a wool cap. It was brown, and he put it on OVER his blaze orange baseball cap. He was a teenager, and just wasn't thinking things through. He probably thought there was no need to think about how you put on a hat. I explained the danger to him and described the situation from my point of view; he picked up on the risk pretty quick.

I think most people can learn to do things safely in the woods. However, there will always be some humans who can't be made safe, or who think they know better than the rules. You see it in driving, in shooting, in everything really. Some people will always be a risk to those around them no matter what. The best we can do is try to avoid them.
 
I have been peppered by bird shot many times while hunting on dove fields by people who shot at low birds. I could tell ahead of time that they were going to shoot towards me by their body positions. Luckily, I was able to turn my back towards them in time.

People just don't use their brains in some situations. :thumbdown:
I was once on a dove field and people weren’t taking low shots but the field was wide enough apart we were getting rained on. It was a first for me and oh boy did I jump.
 
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