Without delving into great degrees of subjectivity, each case need to be evaluated on an individual basis, and prosecuted accordingly. Varying levels of negligence or malice, as the case may be, deserve varying severities of punishment. The state should prosecute on criminal grounds only if applicable. Civil charges are another story, and wrongful death suits should be allowed~ even an honest mistake will not bring back the value and role a person plays in the supporting of their families, and some retribution should be alowable.
I think the right thing was done with the case of the father/son. He probably doesn't need any jail time- his remorse is likely more than he can bear.

seems like they are weighing circumstances pretty heavy. One guy got the book thrown at him for shooting a farmer, I think that's understandable

As I commented earlier in another post,

I agree with the outcome of the trial, no jail time. The Father paid the most ultimate price, the loss of a lifelong friend and Son. Even to look in the Mothers eyes is beyond words and comprehension. What harsher punishment can be, even Capital Punishment to some would be welcome to end the heart and soul sheering pain of the loss of a love one yet alone another life.
Hunter Safety is always paramount and we can never be complacent and must be vigilant at all times.

My heart and prayers go out to the Father and Mother and Family, and Friends and to the community

I hope someone learns something from this tragedy!

As for Caledonia County prosecutor Lisa Warren, I find her pathetic trying to score points and add notches to her resume. I find no glory in what she tried to do!!

Now saying that, I can see how someone can pull the trigger by mistaking the target. The anxiety and Adrenaline Rush which overwhelms or mind and senses overpowering logic and reason.

I do know my skills of shooting are different from others. When the safety goes off, my finger still remains solidly out of the trigger guard and high parallel to the bolt or as if pointing towards the target until proper target acquisitioning is obtained and then in my mind a series of fail safes are instantly made and calculated to shoot? Don’t Shoot? Pass? INSTANT ABORT BARREL STRAIGHT UP!

I’m human too,
I pray to God it never happens to me!

Sorry Clay, can't say as I agree with this.

"Now saying that, I can see how someone can pull the trigger by mistaking the target. The anxiety and Adrenaline Rush which overwhelms or mind and senses overpowering logic and reason."

Dick Cheney would probably agree with that, but if you don't know, don't pull the trigger, period. Also, if you doin't know, don't use the scope to look, that's what field glasses are for.

I would say
always be sure of your target and what lies behind it.
keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are on target and ready to shoot.

that said all hunting accidents are tragic.

Shooting another human being in the woods is ALWAYS criminally negligent unless the victim is in camo. Earth to dumbasses: Don't Shoot At Motion. Don't shoot at a frigging 'flash of white.' Don't shoot at sound.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have a clear view of your target. I don't give a rat's hind end if you're Shotgun Dick Cheney, Prince Albert, or the Lord High Emperor of the Universe Himself. If you shoot someone because you were quick on the trigger and quicker still on STUPID, you deserve five years of prison time at minimum.

If you're not patient enough to wait for a clear view and a positive ID on your target you don't belong in the woods EVER. If your eyesight is so cruddy that you can have a full on view of a human and mistake him or her for a deer or bear, you should not even drive a car, much less hunt.

There is no excuse for mistaking a hunter for game, not knowing what's beyond your target, or shooting at movement/sound. A trip and fall type accident is a whole different ball game. Even if you're on private land and just saw a buck walk into some brush...you don't shoot into that brush without those fur covered vitals in your crosshairs! That's just safety and sportmanship so as to not just wound an animal.

WVOtter

WELCOME TO F&S and a +1 for you!

Clay, I hear ya, and I do agree that not all hunting accidents are the same and each has their own circumstances. But to say that someone mistook their target and pulled the trigger out of anxiety and adrenaline, that's someone who is plain out of control.

Koldkut I cannot agree with you any more about someone who is plain out of control. I have seen this in someones home, on the line and in the field and there is no excuse!

The most dangerous person hunting with was the Chief of Ground Safety. He can talk the best of safety, but when comes to handling firearms there was a disconnect! I almost had to shoot him for self protection. We were about 50-70 yards apart and a jackrabbit was in the center of us and he drew down on it with his 30-06 and I was in directly in line of fire/ricochet etc

I know how the accident mechanism works ,

“The anxiety and Adrenaline Rush which overwhelms the mind and senses overpowering logic and reason”

these were some good posts i likes mr coopers the most +1 to you a bunch of times
i do agree there is no excuss for wounding or even killing an animal or human (animal that wasnt supposed to be killed) you should automatically loose your hunting license for good along with all your firearms even if you do not hunt with them. if you cant use them saftely you dont deserve to have them you being armed isnt worth someones life a gun wont just fire someone needs to pull the trigger if your sights are on something but your not exactly sure what it is dont put your finger on the trigger if i see something i think is the game i am hunting i look around to make sure theres a safe backstop if i miss as i raise my gun and take the saftey off my hand stays on the gun (just above the trigger guard its more comfortable for me) and if i know where whatever i saw was i point my gun a little to the left of it so if i was stupid and pulled the trigger whatever it was wouldnt get hit.
whoever shoots at noise is an idiot they deserved to fail their course if i shot at everything i heard and thought might be game my dad would be shot about a dozen hunters like 20 dogs plus a ton more animals

There is no excuse for shooting another person while hunting. Everyone needs to take a hunter safety course at least once. The first rule they teach you about firearms is to ALWAYS make sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction, so even if the gun accidentally discharges no one will be hurt. They also teach you to ALWAYS be sure of the identity of your target and what is beyond it. I'm not saying that shooting someone else while you are hunting is the same as murder, but I am saying that there is no reason for it to happen.

Guys, time to set the record straight on the Father/Son incident. They were hunting on the first day of turkey season so they were NOT wearing orange and were in full cammo including face mask, so give the father a break. His lawyers do not want him to give the details, but there were reasons why this happened. He will be released to describe what happened after certain legal procedures are fulfilled. When you read the details 6 or 7 weeks from now, if you don't understand, you'll be completely stupid.

This case is not anything like the other one in VT so please do not even think about lumping them in the same boat.

Signed, someone who REALLY knows what happened.

Thank Mr. Hammer
Knowing the mechanics how accidents happen help us to understand and how to prevent them I the future. Hate and discontent is not the answer her but the understanding what happened and how it happened and the conditions involved are the some of the keys for future prevention of another accidents! We can hammer every shooter in an accident, we especially the media start pushing both hunter and fishermen’s safety perhaps can prevent and drastically reduce future occurrences and near mishaps. Watch the sporting shows and watch only the shooter wearing hunter orange while the guide and rest of the crew walking around in full camo. Is this stupid or what! Even 2 years ago when my Grandson Alex was 8 was pointing this out to me. An 8 year old, YES AN 8 YEAR OLD! GET REAL OUTDOOR AND VS CHANNEL!

Stupid is what stupid does!
Forest Gump!

I sorry ranger2, a +1 for you evidence before rhetoric, its a good policy!

We can react to every incident by yelling and waving our arms, but until we properly respond is the only way to fix this problem!

One person is reacting by yelling.
While the other is responding with the tool box.

Which person would you chose to fix the problem?

Here’s your sign!

I'm saddened every time I hear of a young person losing their life in a hunting accident.
I'm not going to condemn anyone involved in the forementioned accidents because I don't have all the information. I will make this statement and it starts with me. We as hunting peers often skip so many steps to get in the field 2 seconds faster to hopefully get the edge on the next great trophy. Slow down. THE TROPHY IS THE HUNT. Hunting is the polar opposite of the Mcdonalds drive-thru.
As for VIP's and accidents with I'll give my take. I have seen this scenario play out so many times. VIP goes hunting, takes entourage. More people tag along, drawn by well, whatever. Guide feels pressured to oblige everyone and makes assumption(s) that said VIP and hangers-on have their heads on straight. Pretty soon the safest living creature in this scenario is the _____________(fill in game species here). Result: Too many amped-up people in one area (it only takes one) to be safe no matter how many are experienced hunters. Do you think anyone ever stopped him and asked,"Mr. VIP, do you know your basic gun handling and hunter safety skills???"

For those whose knees jerk and mouths run at the same time, not every hunting accident is someone shooting at a sound in the bushes, nor at a target they haven't identified. In my opinion, that IS criminal.

But we can only know what happened when we have the facts. Other things can happen when you're in the field with a tool as inherently dangerous as a firearm or bow.

A neighbor once came across me in the woods while i was bowhunting deer. He made some stupid comment about please not shooting him when i'm hunting. I responded that unless he dresses as a deer and walks on all fours with a decent set of horns on his head, there is zero chance I'll shoot him. Now i'm not perfect, but even if he did as described above, i would still not shoot him as it would be obvious to me that he was a stupid man in a deer suit and not my inteded target. These accidents are tragic, and the shooter must live with the consequence of his/her carelessness. Let them be a lesson to all of us!

Hunter Education!
Identify and verify your target
Only take a shot if you have identified and verified your target.

The basics.