While many families across the country were celebrating the Christmas holiday the last few days, several Louisiana deer hunters found themselves in the midst of a tragic situation in the deer woods.Â
According to Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries officials, a man hunting on Christmas Eve thought he was shooting at a deer when he accidentally shot another hunter. Both hunters reportedly had permission to be on the small piece of property, but were unaware that they were hunting at the same time.Â
Mistaking the hunter for a deer, one hunter shot the other with buckshot from a 20-gauge shotgun.Â
The shooter immediately notified authorities for emergency help, and the wounded hunter was airlifted to a hospital in Baton Rouge with injuries that are believed to be nonfatal.Â
Interestingly, reports show that neither hunter was wearing the required hunter’s orange at the time of the incident. Â
Not only was the shooter not wearing orange, he was also cited for hunting deer without possessing deer tags.Â
State law in Louisiana requires deer hunters using firearms to wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange or blaze pink on the head, chest and back. When hunting on privately owned land, they can wear a cap of those colors instead.
Wildlife officials remind hunters to fully comply with state safety regulations for hunter orange, as well as to be sure of their target, and the background beyond it, before pulling the trigger.Â
