Muzzleloader who shot hunter found guilty

Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
46
Location
Montana
Sad day all around. I’ve spent a lot of time pursuing elk in this area. It’s very chaotic when the archery and muzzleloader season are running together. I personally put blaze orange on and require it for anyone with me. Nevertheless basic hunter safety rules were broken and someone paid the ultimate price. Thoughts go out to the victims family.
 

sneaky

"DADDY"
Joined
Feb 1, 2014
Messages
10,112
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ID
He broke the cardinal rule and didn't positively identify his target before pulling the trigger. There are no winners in this case, but he absolutely needs to be punished for stupidity. I'm sure a wrongful death suit will be filed in civil court as well.
 

blairvt

FNG
Joined
Jan 23, 2023
Messages
31
Its hard to understand. He hit what he was aiming at but didn't know what it was.
 

5MilesBack

"DADDY"
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
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16,148
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Colorado Springs
Its hard to understand. He hit what he was aiming at but didn't know what it was.
Well ya, there were several issues. He had a bull tag and was hunting in a 4 point or better unit. How could he have possibly identified that the elk he thought he was shooting at was even a bull, let alone a 4 point or better bull? And he said he "saw something white and shot". What the heck did he think he was shooting at that was white? Lots of errors and negligence. Kind of like the guy that took a broadhead to the head while bowhunting a few years ago. Luckily the BH deflected off the bone instead of penetrating, but my goodness. I never did hear whether they found the guy that shot him.
 

NB7

WKR
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Jul 8, 2020
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383
The case from 2020 near Kremmling involving Watkins and Howell goes to trial in March, if I'm not mistaken. That one also had an original mistrial
 
Joined
Apr 23, 2021
Messages
524
Location
Dallas
Certainly negligent if he was shooting at a target that looks nothing like a bull elk. Very sad for the victim's family. Below is the sentence option. I would hope he sees some jail time since his actions resulted in the loss of life.

"The sentence for criminally negligent homicide, a Class 5 felony, is one to three years in prison, or probation. Probation can entail up to 90 days in jail. A fine of up to $100,000 may be imposed."
 
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
3,741
Location
Weiser, ID
Kind of like the guy that took a broadhead to the head while bowhunting a few years ago. Luckily the BH deflected off the bone instead of penetrating, but my goodness. I never did hear whether they found the guy that shot him.
If you're referring to the incident in Idaho that I'm thinking of, they never found the arrow flinger.
 
Joined
Jan 28, 2023
Messages
11
This event makes me sad and mad. Taking an animals life is a HUGE responsibility..... to just throw some lead at something that is moving is totally out of line. Sad that someone had to pay the price.
 
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Messages
328
Location
CO
Too light of a sentence...

Orange or not, its impossible to shoot someone if you even have any morality, ethics, or common sense.
 

Ucsdryder

WKR
Joined
Jan 24, 2015
Messages
6,602
Sad… I feel for the shooter and of course the poor man that lost his life. Two lives ruined.
 
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