A hunting mishap on Monday in Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish, is currently under scrutiny by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). After the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office reported the incident around 5 p.m., LDWF agents descended on the scene.
The inquiry revealed two hunters, both with permission to be on the premises, were unwittingly hunting deer simultaneously on a confined stretch of private land. In the ill-fated twilight, one hunter mistook his counterpart for a deer, discharging his 20-gauge shotgun and hitting the other with buckshot. The shooter, recognizing the grievous error, hastened to call the authorities for assistance.
The injured party was swiftly airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge suffering from non-fatal wounds, as reported by LDWF's official news release. The LDWF has taken the helm of this ongoing investigation.
Initial findings have marked both hunters for failing to don the mandatory hunter's orange apparel, and for hunting without proper deer tags. Consequently, the shooter was cited on these violations. "Further charges could be possible depending on the investigation," the agency noted, flagging the potential for additional repercussions as details unfold.
The LDWF Enforcement Division took the incident as an opportunity to again stress the necessity for hunters to adhere to safety protocols. They urged deer hunters to comply with hunter orange requirements, and to "fully identify their target and background before pulling the trigger," hoping to prevent such mishaps in the future.
