The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is emphasizing the significance of hunting safety in response to an incident where a hunter was mistakenly shot by another hunter who thought he was a deer.
According to the department’s Facebook post, law enforcement officials were called to the scene of a shooting involving two hunters in Zachary, a city located in East Baton Rouge Parish, on December 23rd.
The unfortunate incident occurred when both hunters were hunting deer on the same restricted private property, leading to one of them mistakenly taking the other for a deer and firing his weapon accidentally.
Both men had permission to be on the property, according to local media.
When law enforcement investigated what took place, they discovered neither hunter was wearing orange or had deer tags in their possession. The shooter was cited for both violations.
LDWF said additional charges are possible as the investigation remains active.
The agency reminded all hunters to prioritize safety by always wearing orange, which is required by law, and positively identifying your target and surroundings before firing your weapon.
It is required by law to wear orange or pink when hunting deer during gun season in Louisiana. (iStock)
“Let’s work together to prevent incidents like this and ensure everyone enjoys the outdoors safely,” LDWF said.
