Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Man dies after being accidentally stabbed with hunting knife, officials say

By WKYT staff and Jordan Gartner
Published: Oct. 27, 2023 at 5:31 PM CDT|Updated: 9 hours ago

ANDERSON COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) - A man is dead after a reported hunting accident in Kentucky.

According to the Anderson County coroner, 37-year-old Jared Hausfeld was hunting alone over the weekend when he approached a deer that he thought was dead.

Officials said the deer then made a sudden movement and Hausfeld accidentally stabbed himself in the leg with a large hunting knife.

Hausfeld died before family members found him, the coroner said.

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said they want to take this time to remind everyone of important hunting safety tips.

Wildlife Conservation Officer James Brace said many accidents can be prevented by thoroughly checking your equipment.

“Most people stop their hunting when hunting season is done and they don’t even worry about it until next season,” Brace said.

Officials said it is also important to let a family member or friend know exactly where you’ll be hunting and how long you might be gone.

“When you have firearms or bows and arrows while hunting, things can go wrong,” said John Stepp with Eastern Outdoors Media.

Brace added, “Hunting is fun, but let’s be safe about it,” Brace said. “You can never be too safe.”

Copyright 2023 WKYT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Obituary of Jared James Hausfeld

Jared James Hausfeld, 37, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 21, 2023, after he was in a tragic hunting accident. He was the ultimate family man, always leading, serving, and loving Emily, his wife of 12 years, and their three sons, Ryan (11), Mason (9), and Cole (5). A country boy at heart, he loved the outdoors and wanted to share that passion with his family by taking them on camping and boating trips and teaching his sons to hunt and fish. He took care of their acreage and cattle, and always had a building project he was working on at home. He loved coaching Mason and Cole in baseball, and Ryan in golf. Jared was born in Englewood, Ohio and grew up in Springboro. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing baseball. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Business and has lived in Versailles for the last 8 years. Wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps, he entered the business world right out of college and eventually became business partners with his brother-in-law, Zach, at OKT Properties, which owned numerous businesses and commercial properties in the tri state area. Jared was a true man of character. He was honorable, kind, patient, and generous and would do anything for anyone who needed help, or even just to talk. He embraced a traditional lifestyle and loved his role as provider for his family as he supported Emily in homeschooling the boys. He was a caring husband, and the love that he and Emily had for each other was very special. His sons aspire to grow up to be like him one day and continue his legacy. His selfless giving of time for others in helping or coaching was appreciated by many, and his smile, laugh, and good nature will be missed by all.

He is survived by his wife and sons, parents Brad and Chris Hausfeld of Springboro, OH, sister Jaclynn (Joey) Krella of Springboro, numerous nieces and nephews, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Jared had a strong Christian faith and was a member of the Journey Church family. We find comfort in knowing he is in heaven now.

A Funeral Service will be held 1:00pm, Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Journey Church in Versailles, with Rev. Randy Nation officiating. Visitation will be from 10:30am until the time of service at the church on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests Memorial Contributions to the Children’s Hemiplegia & Stroke Association at chasa.org.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jared Hausfeld, please visit Tribute Store

Good man gone. What a tragedy!

I now usually do an insurance shot from a few yards out. "Dead" or not. Skart myself a couple-three times, and yeah, I'm a slow learner.

That doesn't prevent you from cutting or stabbing yourself while gutting or deboning the animal.

Having a "dead" animal run off with the rifle or bow is funny. This incident above wasn't, and would likely not have occurred with an insurance shot. A round (or two) is cheap insurance. It may not be "needed" but it works.... most of the time. Agreed- being able to handle a stab wound while dressing out afterward s good.

I've related before one of my incidents, but here it is again. I shot a running 16 month old "spike/fork-horn" moose, which had momentum enough to fall into the bog he was headed for - 16" or so of water and muck. High shoulder shot. At the edge of the bog, from about 20 feet away from his head, I put another 250 gr. .338WM round into his head, parked the rifle against a willow , and went out to drag him back to shore. When I grabbed his antler, he blinked.

That will get your interest. And earned another insurance shot. Took no time at all to reach the rifle again, either!

Screw the "finish it off with the knife". or "bleed it out" thing.