NH Hunter Shot After Cousin Thought He Was Wild Turkey

NH (CBS) - Glenn Ranfos has a bandage on his head, one on his arm and several under his shirt.

The 57-year-old has 5 BB's stuck in his body including one in his spleen after a hunting accident over the weekend.

He was crouching in the woods in Dunbarton, New Hampshire, having just killed a turkey when the accident happened.

"And I had this eerie feeling," said Ranfos. "I turned around and the gun was pointing at me."

He was shot by his hunting partner of 40 years, his own cousin Kenneth Ranfos, who was about 30 yards away in some deep woods and armed with a shotgun.

He saw Glenn remove his hat, and the quick movement combined with Glenn's bald head, may have thrown Kenny off.

"I instantly started bleeding from the forehead," said Glenn. "And I could feel penetration on my side and I stood up and said to Kenny 'you shot me' and he was in disbelief. He really thought he shot a turkey."

New Hampshire Fish and Game officials say the lesson is clear.

"Identify your target," said Joshua Mackay from the department's Hunter Education unit. "Head to toe. Beak to tail. It really shouldn't happen. A human doesn't really look like a turkey in the woods."

Kenneth Ranfos could face criminal charges and his hunting license will likely be suspended according to Fish and Game officials.

"I feel lucky that Kenny wasn't a great shot," jokes Glenn. "He made an honest mistake."

Glenn says he knows it could have been a lot worse.

"Loss of sight, loss of hearing, maybe even death."

He says the two will remain hunting partners despite the frightening incident.

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