Col. Mustard
New member
From the (MN) Star-Tribune:
EAGLE RIVER, Wis. -- A deer hunter could face charges after killing his hunting partner on the wrong side of the Wisconsin-Michigan border, the Vilas County Sheriff's Department said.
James MacDonald Jr., 40, of West Bend, died after his 43-year-old hunting partner, of Mequon, accidentally shot his rifle Sunday while using its telescopic sight, the department said Tuesday.
State Department of Natural Resources hunter safety administrator Tim Lawhern said the men were in a cabin near the Michigan state line for that state's 16-day gun deer hunt, which opened Saturday. They had apparently returned to the cabin and saw a buck move across the property.
While they were looking for the deer, the shooter's rifle discharged, striking MacDonald from a distance of about 18 feet.
But it appears the men were not hunting, but poaching, because they were actually on Wisconsin soil, said Det. Sgt. Jon Kindlarski of the sheriff's department. Wisconsin's gun hunt does not start until Saturday.
Also, Lawhern said neither man was wearing blaze orange, a violation of gun hunting regulations in both states.
``It's a tragedy that shouldn't have happened,'' Lawhern said. ``There were violations of several firearm rules.''
The sheriff's department has referred the case to the district attorney's office.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/3442749.html
Okay, I'm puzzled.
"A deer hunter could face charges after killing his hunting partner on the wrong side of the Wisconsin-Michigan border, the Vilas County Sheriff's Department said."
Is he going to face charges for killing his partner, or for doing it on the wrong side of the state line? Is negligent homicide while poaching different than negligent homicide while hunting? Or is stupidity while hunting more legally excusable than stupidity while poaching?
Inquiring minds want to know...
EAGLE RIVER, Wis. -- A deer hunter could face charges after killing his hunting partner on the wrong side of the Wisconsin-Michigan border, the Vilas County Sheriff's Department said.
James MacDonald Jr., 40, of West Bend, died after his 43-year-old hunting partner, of Mequon, accidentally shot his rifle Sunday while using its telescopic sight, the department said Tuesday.
State Department of Natural Resources hunter safety administrator Tim Lawhern said the men were in a cabin near the Michigan state line for that state's 16-day gun deer hunt, which opened Saturday. They had apparently returned to the cabin and saw a buck move across the property.
While they were looking for the deer, the shooter's rifle discharged, striking MacDonald from a distance of about 18 feet.
But it appears the men were not hunting, but poaching, because they were actually on Wisconsin soil, said Det. Sgt. Jon Kindlarski of the sheriff's department. Wisconsin's gun hunt does not start until Saturday.
Also, Lawhern said neither man was wearing blaze orange, a violation of gun hunting regulations in both states.
``It's a tragedy that shouldn't have happened,'' Lawhern said. ``There were violations of several firearm rules.''
The sheriff's department has referred the case to the district attorney's office.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/3442749.html
Okay, I'm puzzled.
"A deer hunter could face charges after killing his hunting partner on the wrong side of the Wisconsin-Michigan border, the Vilas County Sheriff's Department said."
Is he going to face charges for killing his partner, or for doing it on the wrong side of the state line? Is negligent homicide while poaching different than negligent homicide while hunting? Or is stupidity while hunting more legally excusable than stupidity while poaching?
Inquiring minds want to know...
