Minnesota Sheriff Shot in the Face by Turkey Hunter

Jerry Cusick of Scandia on a recent turkey hunting trip to Nebraska. (Courtesy of Jerry Cusick)

Twin Cities via democommie

Cusick, a Washington County sheriff's commander and firearms safety instructor, was shot by a turkey hunter Tuesday while Cusick was scouting private land in St. Croix County, Wis., for an upcoming turkey hunt.

"I'm very disappointed in people, especially this shooter," he said. "I mean, how could you? ... The fact is, he made a very, very poor choice. It was an unconscionable choice to shoot without identifying what he was shooting at."

He estimated the other hunter was 15 to 30 yards away -- a typical range for a hunter to draw a bead on a turkey's head.

The shooting is being investigated, but the presumption is Anthony Cardarelli, 27, of White Bear Lake mistook Cusick for a turkey.

A cardinal rule of hunting safety is this: Positively identify your target and what's beyond it. In turkey hunting in Wisconsin and Minnesota, only birds with a "beard" -- a hairy tassel hanging from the chest of most males -- can be shot. The requirement serves to create an extra level of positive identification.

Yet, safety experts and hunters warn, the mind plays tricks.

The task force examined 158 incidents in which hunters were injured. "Failure to identify target" accounted for 68 percent of them.

Perhaps surprisingly, novice hunters were not the most likely to pull the trigger. Average age of the shooter: 42.

Cardarelli was no novice either.

Accidental Shooting Death of Tennessee Turkey Hunter - Shooter Goes to Jail

The Daily Herald reports

A Lewis County man will serve more than a year in prison for the 2011 accidental shooting death of another man, county officials said.

William Wesley Allen was found guilty of the criminally negligent homicide of 38-year-old Patrick Bennett after a two-day jury trial June 13-14, the Lewis County Herald reported. He pled guilty to an additional charge of hunting during a closed season.

Judy Bennett, the victim’s mother, told The Daily Herald her son died of a gunshot wound to the neck while turkey hunting in a wooded area on March 27, 2011.

Allen was hunting with a child in the area when the incident occurred. He told a jury he didn’t see Patrick Bennett through the trees, Judy Bennett said.

Allen was sentenced Wednesday to serve 18 months in a state prison for the charge of criminally negligent homicide. He was also ordered to serve 30 days in the county jail for hunting in closed season. The two sentences will be served concurrently, a county court official said.

It's interesting how many negligent shooting stories we've seen among turkey hunters.

1. Tennessee
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. North Carolina

And that's just earlier this year. What is it with turkey hunting? Does it attract a lower caliber gun owner than, say, deer hunting?  Excuse the pun?

What do you think about the sentencing of William Wesley Allen?  Was that too severe?  It was an accident, after all.

Please leave a comment.

Accidental Shooting while Turkey Hunting - Hidden Criminal Hunter Arrested

 Local news reports

Officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency say they've arrested the hunter responsible for accidentally shooting another man in April.

Officers say Nicky Hayes, 34, was using a metal detector in a Claiborne County field when he was shot by a turkey hunter.

Hayes suffered serious injuries. 

Officials with the TWRA say the hunter was later identified as Chase Myers, 28. 

They say he was arrested Friday and charged with reckless aggravated assault and hunting without permission.

You know, we reported several turkey-hunting incidents but I don't think we picked up on this one.

Is turkey hunting more dangerous than, say, deer hunting?

In any case, we must take notice that the guilty party was one of those "bad rules be damned" fellows.  A felony charge sounds about right for him.

What do you think?  Please leave a comment.

Accidental Shooting of OR Turkey Hunter - No Charges

The Ashland Daily Tidings reports

Richard Kidd, 44, of Portland, received shotgun pellet wounds to his legs when his 60-year old hunting partner, David C. Brant, also of Portland, fired at a turkey that flew out of its roost in a tree. The two were hunting around sunrise in the Wimer area when the accident happened, OSP said in a news release.

Kidd and Brant were about 70 yards apart and were wearing camoflauge clothing. Lighting and terrain also limited visibility, officials said.

We just had another case of a turkey hunting accident. Imagine the ones we don't hear about.

Why would hunters rear camoflauge clothing while hunting?  Is that to fool the animals?  Aren't they supposed to rear bright reds and yellows to avoid this very danger?

What could possibly be the justification for shooting such magnificant animals? Are turkeys out-breeding their environment and the turkey hunters doing a humanitarian service in killing them? Or is this just another sick and cruel activity which real men with guns like to participate in?

 I think it's the latter.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.