Jerry Cusick of Scandia on a recent turkey hunting trip to Nebraska. (Courtesy of Jerry Cusick)
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.
He mistook his hunting partner for a turkey! Sounds like Greg the NRA expert.
ReplyDeleteHey! Slander slung at a person who hasn't even commented on the post.
DeleteWhat's the matter, Steve? Couldn't come up with a logical argument to respond with on another post?
Care to search for an intelligent explanation for that statement, or do you prefer looking like a fucking idiot?
DeleteYour group includes idiots like the other Minnesota guy and the finger idiot. I'm sure you worship at the feet of Cheney, the idiot who shot his buddy proving he is nothing but a gun loon that should not be given a gun. I just laugh when you call me names knowing you belong to this group of idiots. NRA gun loon idiots.
DeleteSteve's got a point, Greg. I've mentioned it before that you keep some shabby company.
DeleteSteve has a point? In citing various incidents of other people's malfeasance with guns to back up his slander of Greg?
DeleteI thought you considered it wild, jumping to conclusions to hold people responsible for what was said by people they actually associated with and held up as reasonable individuals, but now it is making a good point to hold people responsible for the "company they keep" only by both owning guns.
Oh, wait, I see! It's another of those gun control double standards ... I mean, Paradoxes!