Bad day for someone out there

[Hoosier Carry]

https://www.wthr.com/article/madison-county-deer-hunter-accidentally-shoots-himself

 

[cbhausen]

Rule #1: ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction (whether you’re pretending it’s loaded or not).

 

[GREEN607]

I feel sorry for Mr Stratton, and hope his injuries are not too serious.

But, who in the heck gets ready to disembark from a tree stand.... without UNLOADING the gun, completely??? Even if you are just heading down to walk 20 yards 'down wind' to relieve yourself.... don't leave your gun loaded, even if leaving it in the stand till you get back. I mean, that's just common sense, to me.

 

[halfmileharry]

"Hey, hold my beer while I gets off this ladder"
This is "The Guy" that accidentally shoots someone else.
The 4 rules are unforgiving.

 

[IndyDave1776]

This is almost as bad as "deer shoots hunter"!

 

[EricG]

12 gauge to the upper thigh? Ouch!

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

12 gauge to the upper thigh? Ouch!

Yeah- 12 gauge. That will leave a heck of a mark. Yikes.

 

[EricG]

Yeah- 12 gauge. That will leave a heck of a mark. Yikes.

I hope it was peasant load. Either way, I wouldnt want any parts of that.

 

[rkwhyte2]

I hope it was peasant load. Either way, I wouldnt want any parts of that.

But you just know it wasn't.

 

[T.Lex]

But, who in the heck gets ready to disembark from a tree stand.... without UNLOADING the gun, completely??? Even if you are just heading down to walk 20 yards 'down wind' to relieve yourself.... don't leave your gun loaded, even if leaving it in the stand till you get back. I mean, that's just common sense, to me.

So this is an awkward one for me.

First, I generally agree with you. But, it can come at an opportunity cost.

A few years ago, I had done what you described and was waiting to get picked up, with an unloaded rifle. WAY after I thought there was any chance that anything was around, and after making some noise getting out of the tree and getting to the pickup spot, all of a sudden the game came almost right up on top of me. As I chambered a round, it ran off before I could even take aim.

I'm not sure which of us was more surprised at the encounter!

I got a fair amount of ribbing for not having a round chambered all the way up until the time I got picked up.

 

[Tactically Fat]

I hope it was peasant load. Either way, I wouldnt want any parts of that.

I hope you meant Pheasant load... Because peasant loads in most shotguns are buck shot of some kind.

Anyhow - it wouldn't have been any "shot" load. He was in a stand. He was hunting deer. It was a slug.

Dude'll be lucky to A) have a leg and B) walk without aid ever again.

 

[Bigtanker]

An investigation found that Stratton's 12-gauge shotgun discharged as he was grabbing a soft case that was hanging on a branch next to his tree stand ladder. The safety of the gun was off and the gun was pointed towards him when the gun discharged.

So was his loaded shotgun in the case? Guess I'm trying to figure out the angles for a better understanding of what happened.

 

[ghuns]

Yeah- 12 gauge. That will leave a heck of a [STRIKE]mark[/STRIKE] HOLE. Yikes.

I have popped a couple deers inside 20 feet with good ole 1 ounce Remington Sluggers. To call it devastating is an understatement.

 

[rosejm]

I got a fair amount of ribbing for not having a round chambered all the way up until the time I got picked up.

And there are safe ways to accomplish this also: unload, check chamber, check it again, dismount, reload.
I feel your pain, but you can always remind your buddies that you didn't shoot your dick off while waiting to get picked up either...

 

[T.Lex]

And there are safe ways to accomplish this also: unload, check chamber, check it again, dismount, reload.
I feel your pain, but you can always remind your buddies that you didn't shoot your dick off while waiting to get picked up either...

Indeed.

And, I hate making a rule for the exception. All the hours that I've spent hunting, the man-hours my friends and family have spent hunting, and this is the only anecdote that even REMOTELY justifies keeping a round in the chamber.

I'll gladly give up that one opportunity to avoid bleeding from my femoral artery (or worse).

 

[Gluemanz28]

Calling Kirk in 3,2,1..........

 

[Vigilant]

I hope it was peasant load. Either way, I wouldnt want any parts of that.

You can buy loads to kill poor people?

 

[ghuns]

You can buy loads to kill poor people?

[video=youtube;YU6ebNd9v-w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU6ebNd9v-w[/video]

 

[bwframe]

...This is "The Guy" that accidentally shoots someone else.
The 4 rules are unforgiving.

Yep.