Shooting a Fellow Hunter

Another surprise during hunting season.

Two men were out in Albany, VT on October 20, 2011 hunting bear.  Their bear hounds tracked a sent and the two men, Conrad Masse and Wayne Goff,  were hot on the trail.

The GPS tracking devices that were attached to the hounds showed they were headed towards Urie Rd.  Masse and Goff started in that direction to trap the bear before it crossed the road.

Goff got out of the truck and Masse drove down the road about 541 feet where he proceeded to wait for the bear to cross.  The bear ended up crossing in between the two men.

Masse shot three rounds from his Remington .30-06 rifle towards the bear and Goff.  The bear was struck, a tree was struck and Goff was struck.

Goff was treated at North Country Hospital and later transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for gunshot wounds to the pelvic region.  He has been released and is in stable condition.

That is not the end though,  Masse has been charged with Aggravated Assault.  His is waiting for hearing on February 28, 2012.

We have heard these stories time and time again during hunting season.  Man shoots fellow hunter, fellow hunter is in hospital and shooter is charged. 

When will all these hunters learn?  Isn't it required to take a hunter safety course and have the proper documents?

People get too comfortable in things that they know and do every year, but you never know what will happen and mistakes are made.  I think as a reminder hunters need to take a refresher course every year before hunting season. 

There needs to be greater consequences for hunting without a license and not having the proper documents.  Men and women lose their lives every year due to hunting ACCIDENTS that could have been prevented with refresher courses on hunting safety.