Oregon hunting guide killed by accidental discharge

[CMP70306]

So now I don’t have all the details but based on the initial article it’s pretty easy to see how something like that could happen without anyone directly doing anything intentionally negligent like blatantly flagging someone.

It says they saw elk and exited the sxs, assume that the guide is driving so the hunter is in the passenger seat. They see elk so they stop and exit, hunter gets out and starts loading his rifle pointing away from the group towards the front of the sxs. Guide is looking for the elk not paying attention to the hunter and walks around the front of the sxs unintentionally putting himself inline with the hunters rifle.

Hunter thinks he has his rifle pointed in a safe direction and is focused on loading, doesn’t realize the guide has moved and is now walking right into the line of fire. Hunter closes the bolt on a live round and the sear slips dropping the striker and setting off the rifle which is now unintentionally pointed at the guide and the guide gets killed.

All of that could happen in just a few seconds, buddy of mine had a jewel trigger set at 2 pounds, it was fine for years until one day we were shooting some targets in between pig hunts. He had just used the rifle the night before and had already shot several rounds that day all with no issues. He had the rifle in a lead sled pointed at the target and when he closed the bolt the gun went off. At first he thought he might have hit the trigger but while testing it ended up happening again on an empty chamber when his hand was nowhere near the trigger so he cased the rifle until he could send the trigger back to jewel.

Either way it is a tragic situation, one that only takes a split second to go from perfectly safe happy trip to a fatal life changing event.

 

[Dave0317]

@*zap* , someone said basic firearm safety would have prevented this. You said that was incorrect.

Do you believe that if the shooter had utilized basic firearms safety, that the guide would still be alive?

Let me define basic firearm safety as…

1. Muzzle pointed in safe direction
2. Gun unloaded until ready to fire
3. Don’t rely on your guns safety
4. Don’t point a gun at something you don’t wish to destroy

I’m sure you are aware, but your 1 and 4 are almost the same. A good list a lot of organizations use is Jeff Cooper’s:

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.
3. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
4. Be sure of your target and what is in front and behind it.

I’ve been around a few firearms NDs and investigated a handful of others. In almost all of them, multiple of these rules get violated in order for the incident to occur. For the most part, if only one gets violated, the ND doesn’t happen, or no one gets hurt if it does. Multiple get violated=people get hurt or killed.

As others have mentioned, it’s not always practical to have an unloaded gun. Ask a pheasant hunter, rabbit hunter, still-hunter, anyone that hunts driven game, dangerous game, etc.
Jeff cooper has a good chapter in one of his books called “rifle handling under hazard”. It’s either in his Art of the Rifle or To Ride Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth. Has some good advice on this topic as well.

Lastly, for the group, I’ll say these things are preventable, but always act as if it could easily happen. Don’t underestimate the possibility of fatigue, complacency, lack of O2 at altitude, old age, etc, affecting even the most experienced hunters.

 

[Snowwolfe]

there’s no such thing as an accidental discharge. It’s a negligent discharge

A bunch of Remington rifle owners would disagree with you

 

[Oregon]

Let’s stay on track. We lost a good man due to someone else’s stupidity.
I killed my first bull because Jon put me on a stump in a reprod patch and said do not get off this stump until I come get you or you shoot a bull. 1994. Long before he was a guide. Was at his house the week before this incident. Most intuitive hunter I’ve ever been around. I still think today he was part deer/elk.
Still coping with this.

 

[hikenhunt]

I am not arguing. Simply explaining why I am correct.

Oh man….!! I’m gonna save that one up for my next argument (explaining session) It’s exactly like “I’m sorry ma’am, I don’t make the rules. I just think em up and write em down.”

Zap, I have a mug for you!

 

[Ucsdryder]

Zap, I have a mug for you!

View attachment 790883

He’ll make someone a hell of a wife!

 

[freebird]

I grew up with this guide, I hunted, fished and trapped. He was a stand up guy. This was a tragedy. I have only seen the initial police report. I'm heart broken for his mom, wife, daughters and grand kids.
This Saturday I will be saying my final goodbye to my life long friend in Halfway. We just need to be better and take a little time and pay attention so we can make it home to our loved ones.

 

[Rotnguns]

Tell me how I get other people to follow those safety precautions. People I do not know who are at the range or walking around the woods.

Zap, I see your point from a fatalistic perspective, but maybe the best way to phrase the safety comment is: "If all parties concerned practiced basic safety procedures, the guide would not have been shot."

 

[fngTony]

Yesterday this got immature and down in the weeds with tangent conversations. Out of respect for everyone involved and people that personally know them (several members included) let’s keep this classy and informative.