[Jack Crevalle]

A Maryland man, turkey hunting in Virgina, was found dead after he failed to return to camp on April 12. He had been shot with a rifle. NWTF offered a reward of $1000 which was increased to $11,600 by an anonymous donation.

Unfortunately for VA turkey hunters this may give ammunition to those seeking to outlaw rifles for turkey season.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/loca...r18,0,145091.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia

 

[varmit_master]

I sorry to hear that about a fellow hunter there isnt any way a person can misstake a man for a turkey NO WAYY i HOPE they catch the person that did it But that want help his family memebers or bring him back i like turkey hunting i think the closer the gobblers is the better and i use decoys all the time SO WHEN i put the Jake out i will ALWAYS PUT it out in front of me BUT ALWAYS to my RIGHT or LEFT BUT NOt right in front of me NEVER so in case some body comes over the hill and shoots the decoy i have a better chanse i wont get shot Good Luck and be Safe VM

 

[Jack Crevalle]

From the report, this hunter was shot in the back. It doesn't say whether he was using decoys or not but that was something that crossed my mind, maybe he had a decoy in front of him and the person that shot him was aiming for the decoy. Unfortunately, I don't think that's what happened.

My wife showed me this article, carried in our local paper, Saturday when I got back from hunting. She had previously told me that she was concerned about my getting up in the middle of the night to drive out to the mountains without much sleep. I told her that it was okay because I took naps when I was out in the woods. She told me that that worried her more because she was afraid somebody would shoot me. I had assured her that was unlikely.

 

[willis5]

That is one reason I don't like to hunt on public land. i still do it, but I am nervous when there are others in the woods... you never know who is out there...

Cheers,
willis5

 

[Robert]

personally......

I live in Oregon and it is shotgun only. If rifles were allowed for hunting Turkey here, I wouldnt even go in the woods during season.

 

[Jack Crevalle]

That is one reason I don't like to hunt on public land. i still do it, but I am nervous when there are others in the woods... you never know who is out there...

Cheers,
willis5

Unless you own the land or know the others that the land owner allows to hunt there by sight, you probably still never know who's out there. I used to belong to a club and I would see people all the time who I knew weren't members hunting there. The club allowed some public hunting on the land adjacent the private hunting area and slobs just decided that it was okay to come over and hunt the private area to.

It's not for nothing that you see all those "posted" signs.

 

[Stan M.]

This is very sad. It is a terrible thing for someones family to have to go through this, unexpectedly on their vacation. I really think it all boils down to a CARELESS IRRESPONSIBLE HUNTER not identifying his target. He has to see a beard before he shoots. Perhaps we don't know the rest of the story and we probably never will. Somewhere this person will have to live with this guilt on his mind.
It doesn't matter what weapon he was shooting, a hunter should know his target. I hunt turkey with a shotgun and always will, but a careless hunter is a careless hunter whatever the weapon.
This shouldn't turn into a debate about weapon of choice. This should be a way to remember a fellow hunter who died doing what he loved and his world was shattered by someone elses negligence. Maybe we can learn from this and may it be a wake up call for all of us hunters. There are dangers out there.
Please be safe. Always be sure of your shot before you take it. Make sure it is a real turkey you hear and a real turkey you see. Never take that for granted.

 

[Jack Crevalle]

Unfortunately, given the little that has been publicized about this case, I don't think that this was an accident. If it was an accident there is a slight chance that the guilty party saw what they did and fled the scene rather than reporting it. I think that even if that were the case that they would have eventually turned themselves in, especially after having learned a reward was being offered and knowing therefore, that there would be more pressure on them.

There was a murder a few years ago, I can't remember the state, that was killing hunters and he was eventually caught. This guy ought to keep that in mind if he thinks that shooting someone, even in the woods, is a crime they can get away with.

 

[willis5]

It makes me sick to think of people intentionaly doing it or unintentionaly doing it.

I guess this is just a reminder to all of us that responsibility and respect are the most important parts of our sports. Respect the laws (legal and logical), and be responsible for your actions whether they are positive or negative ends.

A somber "Cheers",
willis5

 

[Stan M.]

Jack,
I kind of thought this was a suspicious story. I didn't come out and say it though. Like I said, we may never know the rest of story. I'm kind of glad this has been kept low profile. Just fuel for the liberal anti's. Hope they do bring closure to this.
Stan

 

[Jack Crevalle]

Jack,
I kind of thought this was a suspicious story. I didn't come out and say it though. Like I said, we may never know the rest of story. I'm kind of glad this has been kept low profile. Just fuel for the liberal anti's. Hope they do bring closure to this.
Stan

Anti's like to dance in blood, there's no helping that and I'm sure that more than a few are just as glad to see what they perceive as "gun nuts" knocking themselves off.

Personally, would like to see this get more publicity so that the perpetrator is caught sooner. If this is not an accident then this person is likely to do this again. Of paramount importance is saving lives and getting justice for the victim and his family. It will also not help the law abiding firearms owner if more people are killed no matter how illrational the "reasoning" the anti's.

Maryland firearms owners are still feeling the fallout of the DC sniper.