DNR: 6 Accidents 1st Weekend Of Deer Rifle Hunting
HANLEY FALLS, Minn. (WCCO) -- The first weekend of the deer rifle season was a busy one for hunters, but it was also a busy weekend for hunting-related shooting accidents. The DNR reported six over the weekend. Some were self-inflicted, while others involved another party.
Thankfully, none of the shootings were deadly.
On Saturday, 24-year-old Brian Bresson was hunting along the Yellow Medicine River near Hanley Falls when a deer got between him and another group of hunters. Despite his blaze orange, they either didn't see or didn't care that Brian Bresson was on the other side.
"He was hit by a slug in his rib area, under his arm. He said it was like three shots, just -- boom, boom, boom. If he wouldn't have fallen with the first shot, the second one would have hit him because it hit a tree," said Brian Bresson's mom, Barb Bresson.
The DNR said the shot that hit Brian Bresson was a ricochet, but was still strong enough to leave him with bruised ribs. Not the tragedy it could have been, but also not the way a deer hunt should go.
"The slugs nowadays or the rifle shells can go a long ways. You just have to know what's beyond your target," said Jon Dahlvang of DJ's Sporting Goods in Montevideo.
Dahlvang said the excitement that comes with this time of year can inadvertently lead to carelessness. He encourages hunters to leave their weapon's safety on until they see a deer, and when the hunt is over, it's over for the rifle too. That means the gun should be unloaded.
"If you are hunting with people that aren't familiar with the sport, you've got to watch those people and make sure that they are doing it right," said Dahlvang.
The hunters that shot Brian Bresson were not found. If caught, they could be charged with reckless use of a firearm.
Minnesota did have one deer-hunting related fatality last year.
