Texas Parks & Wildlife: Primary Cause of Hunting Accidents

[sandnsea]

This was a preventable shooting and this Texas Parks and Wildlife article does not include "not announcing yourself" as a cause of accidents. This was clearly Cheney's fault and because it is so common, is something he should have known better than to do.

"The primary reason for Texas hunting accidents remains swinging on game outside a safe zone of fire. This happens when a person points a firearm at another hunter while following a moving target, such as a flying game bird...."

"Most of the people involved had more than 10 years of hunting experience. Most were in light to open cover with clear visibility in good weather.

Other findings verify what might be expected. Most people involved did not attend a hunter education course or wear any type of hunter orange clothing. Most accidents violated a cardinal rule of hunter safety, were situated in or around a vehicle or stand, and occurred toward dusk and involved fatigue as a factor..."


http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20050314c

[flamin lib]

1. I was willing to give Cheney the benefit of a doubt until

I found out that he was within 30 yards and the poor fellow had injuries to his face and upper torso. Hunters correct me if I'm wrong, but 12 gauge #7 or #8 birdshot at 30 yards should throw a pattern about 3 feet across. From top of head to belly button is about 2 feet. The gun would have to be pointed just about at the face--5 feet off the ground. Not likely a spooked quail would fly that low although they aren't a high flying bird.

Sounds to me like Cheney's gun discharged accidentally with no bird involved. So if it's an accidental discharge why not just say so.

Oh, never mind. I forgot for a moment who I was talking about . . .

[napi21]

3. He was shooting a 28 ga. not a 12, and using 7 1/2 bird shot.

I doubt Harry was 30 ft. away, more likely 15 to 20 ft.

I read that info from the Tx. Parks & Wildlife dept, and all I can say is, the hunters in TX must be dumber than the rest of the country!

I've lived in Pa, SC, Tx, and Ga. and this sure wasn't a common thing anywhere I've been! Maybe it's a buddy of Cheney's who works for the Wildlife Dept in Tx????

[flamin lib]

6. 28 ga? What a wimpy little gun! Oh, I forgot who I was talking about . .

[napi21]

8. Well, he was shooting whimpy birds too. n/t

[McKenzie]

4. the "pattern" depends upon the "choke" of the muzzle

I suspect that a quail gun would be lightly choked to allow maximum spread of fine shot. Other factors affecting the force of the hit are the shot load, its size (as you mention) and the powder charge.

I don't know what happened but my guess is that Dickhead just swung past the line at a horizontal plane.

[sandnsea]

5. It wasn't a 12 guage

It was a .410, which I understand to be 28 guage. The point to me is swinging around behind you when you didn't know where one of your hunting partners is at, which is the most common hunting accident according to this article. That's what makes it negligent, hunters ought to know this and guard against it.

[McKenzie]

7. a .410 or "four ten" is rarely used

I can't remember the conversion factor but a 28 guage is probably very close to .410. In effect, a 28 guage means 28 equal balls from a pound of lead; a 12 guage is 12 balls of lead from the same weight so it's a bigger guage.

We rarely see .410's over here - they are the smallest guage of any shotgun and are usually used for poaching.

And you are spot on...never swing behind the line.

edit: spelling

[sandnsea]

11. That was what was reported

Or what I saw reported last anyway. I can't figure out how such small pellets at 30 yards would put somebody in ICU though. Can you enlighten me there?

[McKenzie]

2. The golden rule is "never ever let your gun, pointed be at anyone"

something that kids over here get taught when first handling a shotgun.

Elementary stuff.

[Ksec]

9. The first thing youre taught in hunter safety courses

is to never, never point the muzzle toward another human being. NEVER.
The second thing they stress is using the safety and keeping the gun with the safety on until right before the shot.

IMO Cheney broke both rules. He shot the guy because he didnt have his safety on and the muzzle was pointed at the guy. I dont believe the reports of him spinning around and such.

[sandnsea]

10. I'm beginning not to too

There's another piece in CommonDreams that reminds us that quail tend to fly away when they hear a noise, like the first gun shot. There shouldn't have been any quail for Cheney to swing around and shoot. And this was a BAD gunshot wound, it's beginning to sound more like some other kind of weapons discharge at close range.

[Ksec]

12. I believe he was cradling the gun in his arm ,

and he had the safety off. So many things could pull that trigger, brush, tree branches etc. The man was obviously shot at pretty close range to have the pellets so concentrated because they spread out pretty quickly .

The injuries are consistent with my opinion.

[sandnsea]

13. Or maybe

Getting back in the vehicle. It for sure doesn't add up though.