subject: Stay Safe This Hunting Season [print this page] Deer hunting season is upon us once again, and with all kinds of hunting comes the unfortunate dangers of hunting accidents. Just last week two Vermont men lost their lives in a hunting accident. Two hunters from Bennington County were involved in what seems to be an accidental shooting and subsequent suicide last Saturday afternoon.
Police said they were called to a location off Howe Pond Road in Readsboro, Vermont. Police detectives were able to get a clear story because the two men were hunting with a third partner. Their friend recalled the story; Benjamin Birch, 39, had shot a deer that ran off. He and hunting partner, Timothy Bolgnani, 49, tracked the deer into the woods. When Bolgnani fired a shot, he accidentally shot Birch, killing him. Afterwards he turned the gun on himself.
Authorities continue to investigate the tragedy but don"t think there was any kind of foul play. Still, the accident was a tragedy that should not have been endured. "There shouldn"t be any hunting related incidents, ever," said Vt Dept. Fish and Wildlife Sgt. George Scribner. "You can"t bring the bullet back once it leaves the gun."
Scribner believes that hunting rules exist to prevent these exact accidents, and that "any hunting related incident is basically a product of not knowing your background, not knowing where your bullet is going and not properly identifying your target."
Scribner continues saying that hunting safe requires you to follow four important rules:
1) Make sure to identify your target before you pull the trigger""this is especially important with deer or other large game hunting, since a fellow hunter can easily be mistaken for your target.
2) Make sure there"s a safe background for the bullet to exit the target. This is extremely important in all hunting, but especially for small game""since it"s much easier to miss your target.
3) Know where to point your muzzle. Your gun should not be carried upwards, especially when running and tracking, they can go off too easily.
4) Wear as much orange as possible. The neon orange is worn to help other hunters see you from hundreds of feet away.
Scribner added that hunting is a very safe sport when you follow these rules. Be safe this hunting season by always following the four cardinal rules. From the Waco and Killeen personal injury attorneys at Davis Law, we'd like to remind you to play it safe this hunting season!
