Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Update on CO Bowhunter fatality

Plus they were hunting bulls and there are antler point restrictions. No way to know whether it was a legal bull without a clear look at the antlers.

If you shoot at movement, and kill a human, it's on you. If you go to prison for a while, it might get others to think before they shoot.

The requirement here for firearms hunters is 500 square inches. That's about equal to a vest and a hat.

I doubt we get a reply…..

Why wouldn't I reply, it was one he'll of a hunt. We were herd shooting elk after a 7 hour horse back ride. Our two guides rode down to the fence line of a ranch that bordered BLM land that had alfalfa planted on it. They had 22lr pistols and would shoot and and holler every 5 or 10 minutes. The herd of 56 elk came my way like they were on a string. They were walking on the same trail that I had shot a 180 class mule deer on a hour earlier. The dickhead from Pennsylvania who was supposed to stay on the opposite side of the mountain heard my shot and came over to my side of the mountain. The elk were only 20 yards from me when he started shooting over my head with a 300. At that moment I said screw the elk and laid down and started yelling and cussing at the dumbazz. Once I got my shirt back together the fun began. I was definitely excited, shook up and pissed. I shot at the first bull and he just kept on running like I missed. Then I shot at the second bull and he never flinched. So I went back to the first bull and thought they must be running faster than I figured and I was shooting behind them. So I just put a little air in front of the lead bull and squeezed the trigger and down he went. At that moment I knew I had screwed up. There was 3 of us shooting at the bulls and I was the only one shooting Remington bronze points. And needless to say the guide found my little bronze point in the off side hide right behind the shoulder of the second bull I shot. One of the guys from Pennsylvania who was blasting away claimed the bull and everything worked out. My Dad and brother were hunting with me and would of claimed the other bull it there was any BS. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Idaho has no requirement for orange. They recommend it but leave it up to the hunters. One place we hunt a lot has a lot of busy hiking trails. As long as the hikers stay on the trails, the deer and elk ignore them. Almost none of the hikers wear orange but some worry about getting shot. Depending on where we plan to go, I sometimes don't wear orange in that area just so I don't attract the attention of some of the idiots. One time an anti-hunting biker asked me why I wasn't wearing orange. The question should have been why wasn't HE wearing orange. I had the gun and was unlikely to shoot myself. If I was going to do something really stupid, he'd be the target, not me.

This has to be made up.

Wow. What did your guides have to say to the guy who was shooting in your direction?

I don't really want to go there. But we had 3 more days of hunting left and the one who said he seen me in his scope stayed in his tent a day and a half.

True Grit, maybe you realize this but shooting two bulls in Colorado is illegal. Having someone else put their tag on an elk you killed is also illegal.

Of course I know, but stuff happens, I'm not perfect. Is it illegal to shoot a wounded animal that your helping someone trail up? It's been almost 30 years ago and I owned it then and will now.

Yes

You can only shoot if you have a valid tag.

The way it went down sounds like a real goat show.

Interestingly I'll attempt to kill any badly wounded animal I see regardless of rules. Its call ethics. Sometimes ethics are above rules but you have to pay a price to be ethical.

What he did was not shoot at a wounded bull basically, but kill two bulls because he was stupid.

I wholeheartedly agree and have been in that situation more than once.

As mentioned if you still have a valid tag in your pocket it’s legal. If we don’t have a tag, but are honestly confronted with that situation, the DWM’s I know here in Colorado most likely would not take any action.

Sometimes doing the right thing comes with a price. I’ll help any deserving individual, short of getting a citation.

You sir, are full of chit.

Why would you say that? Stuff like that happens all the time

As to the bow hunter fatality, if it were me I would charge negligent homicide if he mistook a man for an elk. But Louisiana law and Colorado could be different on what qualifies for manslaughter. I would guess a jury will downgrade the manslaughter charge if they have that option.

That was the original charge. The newspaper article said that they were in negotiations but the negotiations apparently broke down. I'd guess they offered a plea deal for the lesser charge, the defendant didn't accept it, so they set the trial date.

Do you have any insight as to what an expert witness for the defense would be looking to testify on?