Backyard
01-13-2007, 08:33 PM
Friday, 01/12/07
Hunting dog hits trigger, kills hunter
By ANNE PAINE
Staff Writer
A 28-year-old duck hunter was killed when he was accidentally shot by a hunting dog on an inlet of the Cumberland River in west Nashville, a state wildlife official said today.
The victim was identified as Thomas Ayer St. Charles III of Carriage Drive, Metro Police said this afternoon.
The man had gotten out of the boat to pick up decoys at the end of the day, said Cape Taylor, Tennessee Wildlife Resources law enforcement supervisor for Davidson and several other counties.
A hunting companion, who didn’t have waders on, remained in the boat, where the other man’s shotgun lay on the floor.
“The dog apparently jumped back there and hit the trigger of the gun,” Taylor said.
The safety lock had either not been on or the dog hit the safety button — depending on the type of shotgun — and released it, he said.
The shotgun fired and blew a hole through the side of the boat, striking the man in the water in the lower abdomen, he said.
“He said, ‘Call 911, I’ve been hit,’” Taylor said, repeating what the other hunter had told officials.
The 911 call was made to Metro at about 5:50 p.m. Thursday.
Emergency personnel could get to the men by driving down River Road, he said. The slough where they had been hunting is just off the west Davidson County road.
The man who had been shot was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died, Taylor said.
The death at this point is considered accidental and the only evidence of any breaking of regulations was that the hunter who remained in the boat did not have a current hunter education certification.
“That’s something we’ll address in the future as part of our investigation,” Taylor said.
The man who died did have the certification.
Anyone born Jan. 1, 1969, or after, is required to undergo the training. Taylor said it’s recommended for all hunters of any age.
Hunters, also, are advised to unload their firearms as soon as they are through for the day, he said.
The incident is the second death this month in a Midstate hunting accident. The other was a deer hunter who was mistakenly shot by his brother outside White House. Neither of the brothers were wearing the required blaze orange clothing.
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070112/NEWS01/70112030
Hunting dog hits trigger, kills hunter
By ANNE PAINE
Staff Writer
A 28-year-old duck hunter was killed when he was accidentally shot by a hunting dog on an inlet of the Cumberland River in west Nashville, a state wildlife official said today.
The victim was identified as Thomas Ayer St. Charles III of Carriage Drive, Metro Police said this afternoon.
The man had gotten out of the boat to pick up decoys at the end of the day, said Cape Taylor, Tennessee Wildlife Resources law enforcement supervisor for Davidson and several other counties.
A hunting companion, who didn’t have waders on, remained in the boat, where the other man’s shotgun lay on the floor.
“The dog apparently jumped back there and hit the trigger of the gun,” Taylor said.
The safety lock had either not been on or the dog hit the safety button — depending on the type of shotgun — and released it, he said.
The shotgun fired and blew a hole through the side of the boat, striking the man in the water in the lower abdomen, he said.
“He said, ‘Call 911, I’ve been hit,’” Taylor said, repeating what the other hunter had told officials.
The 911 call was made to Metro at about 5:50 p.m. Thursday.
Emergency personnel could get to the men by driving down River Road, he said. The slough where they had been hunting is just off the west Davidson County road.
The man who had been shot was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died, Taylor said.
The death at this point is considered accidental and the only evidence of any breaking of regulations was that the hunter who remained in the boat did not have a current hunter education certification.
“That’s something we’ll address in the future as part of our investigation,” Taylor said.
The man who died did have the certification.
Anyone born Jan. 1, 1969, or after, is required to undergo the training. Taylor said it’s recommended for all hunters of any age.
Hunters, also, are advised to unload their firearms as soon as they are through for the day, he said.
The incident is the second death this month in a Midstate hunting accident. The other was a deer hunter who was mistakenly shot by his brother outside White House. Neither of the brothers were wearing the required blaze orange clothing.
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070112/NEWS01/70112030