One of my cousins was killed in the 70’s before the orange vest laws. He was 14 at the time. Everyone was supposed to stay in the tree stand assigned to them until noon. he got bored, and decided to walk back to the trucks. working through a thicket in a brown jacket he was shot from about 100 yds away. My uncle, his dad, mistook him for a deer and shot his own son. Needless to say it devastated him, and his family. He won’t touch a firearm now. Always triple check before firing, let that buck get away if you’re not sure, and always wear safety gear. Me, I don’t hunt with others anymore.
So sorry to hear that. There was a similar incident in the news some years ago. A father thought he was shooting at a deer, but he had shot his young son by mistake. His son died in his arms. When someone else ran for help, a second shot was heard. The father had taken his own life. Tragic, but sadly, not so uncommon.