The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recounts the importance of hunting safety after a man is shot by a hunter who mistook him for a deer.
Law enforcement officers responded to a shooting involving two hunters in Zachary, a town in East Baton Rouge Parish, on Dec. 23, the department said on Facebook.
The two hunters were unknowingly hunting deer on “the same small private property” when one hunter mistook the other for a deer and accidentally shot it.
Both men had permission to be in the area, according to the report local media.
TOMMY LAZZARO, 27, KILLS MICHIGAN QUARTERBACK'S HUNTING ACCIDENT.
A Louisiana hunter was cited with two felonies after accidentally shooting another hunter while they were in the same “small” area, according to the Department of Wildlife and Fish Country. (iStock)
He was hit with a 20-gauge shotgun, the department said. The shooter immediately called 911 for help when he realized he had shot a man and not a deer.
The injured hunter was taken to Our Lady of Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge with non-life threatening injuries. Law enforcement did not say where the man was shot.
A hunter accidentally shot a man with a 20 gauge shotgun. (iStock)
When the police investigated what happened, they found nothing the hunter was wearing orange or they had signs of deer. The shooter was cited for two counts.
LDWF said more charges are possible as the investigation is ongoing.
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The agency reminded all hunters to prioritize safety by always wearing orange, which is required by law, and identifying your target and surroundings before firing your weapon.
It is legal to wear orange or pink when hunting deer during gun season in Louisiana. (iStock)
“Let's work together to prevent incidents like this and keep everyone safe enjoy the outdoors safely,” LDWF said.