Published: November 16, 2009 12:47 am         

13-year-old Owen County boy injures self in hunting accident

Deer season began Saturday with a shotgun start and one accident already on the books, state officials report.

According to a news release issued by Indiana Conservation Officer Max Winchell, a 13-year old Owen County boy was reported injured about 3:27 p.m. Saturday after accidentally shooting himself in the hand while hunting deer. The incident reportedly occurred around the 1200 block of Freeman Road in Spencer. The boy was transported to Bloomington Hospital. No condition was available Sunday, Winchell said, adding that conservation officers are investigating the accident.

Winchell said the accident victim was hunting on his family’s property, and as such did not require a license. There is no age requirement for hunting on one’s own property, he said.

“You should treat every firearm as if it’s loaded, that’s the number-one rule of firearm safety,” Winchell said, noting that that’s a general rule, not just applicable to Saturday’s accident. When handling firearms, one should remember to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times and that a safety is a mechanical device. “Never put your life on a safety.”

Also, November is the breeding season for deer, meaning more are out on the roads in search of mates. “So they’re out there all the time, everywhere,” Winchell cautioned drivers. Most deer-related accidents occur at dawn and dusk, and drivers are advised against swerving away from deer. Winchell said slowing down and striking a deer, if necessary, is probably better than running off the road and striking a utility pole or more solid object.