[dawn53]

We definitely need a picture of Al Gore and his gun on this thread.

[CWW]

At least Whittington would have earned a Purple Heat, unlike Senator Kerry (Mr. Bandaid)!

[steelcurtain]

One would think the first rule of hunting would be not to walk where hunters are likely to shoot, without warning them you're there. Okay, maybe the second.

[cripplecreek]

Blame goes to both shooter and shootee.

[opinionator]

Remember when Vince Foster went hunting?

[Willie Green]

but the question will linger on: how does an accident like this happen among hunters with so much experience?

My guess is that, at age 78, Whittington simply can't get outta the way as fast as the quail.

[dfwgator]

I thought the number one rule is you have to shout, "it's coming right for us" before you shoot.

[VeniVidiVici]

Wow! In the coming weeks we are going to get schooled by the left about guns and hunting!

Should be fun!

[randog]

My dad and I were shot at years ago while chukar hunting. High brush, the shooter was uphill from us, etc. We ducked behind some rocks until the danger was past, then dad found the hunter later and chewed him out.

Then there was the time I almost shot the antenna off my dad's buddy's truck...

[Redbob]

Anyone here see the supreme irony of being lectured on firearms safety by the Brady Bunch of Time, Inc?

[CWOJackson]

"The cardinal rule of hunting could not be more simple: Don’t shoot the people (or the dogs)."

I'm not sure a lawyer falls into either category.

[rightinthemiddle]

I just want to know one thing:

Did he hit the quail?

[johnny7]

1.) Don't run out of beer.

[subterfuge]

You just know there will be some lame skit on Saturday Night LIve about this. I predict it will be something along the lines of Cheney shooting anything that moves while his mobile medical team scrambles to "fix" everyone and everything.

Of course we'll never know because no one will see that stupid show.

[Ben Mugged]

I have been shot under very similar circumstances. Fortunately I followed the rising bird and saw my friends gun following the flight of the bird and threw up my arm to shield my face from the birdshot. I had on a canvas jacket and some of the shot stung me but did not break the skin.

It happens. Target fixation is a problem in all shooting sports. We participate in a dangerous sport while accepting the risk and despite the risk.

[darth]

One of my hunting partners witnessed a trajic accident and became a safety fanatic. Unfortunately, he could not see me for the thick brush and I got a load of #7 1/2 shot in the butt. My mistake was in wandering out of sight so he did not know where I was.

[edcoil]

Written by someone that never hunted.

[darth]

One of my hunting partners witnessed a trajic accident and became a safety fanatic. Unfortunately, he could not see me for the thick brush and I got a load of #7 1/2 shot in the butt. My mistake was in wandering out of sight so he did not know where I was.

[geopyg]

The owner of the property said that Whittington was heading out to join up with the hunting party (so wasn't "with" the hunting party). She also said he was hit from a range of about 30 yards. In tall grass and brush that's quite a ways to be seen and heard.

Of course as a shooter you need to always be aware of what's around you, so perhaps this is no excuse. But, it does change my perception of the accident quite a bit.

[airborne]

He got too comfortble and got careless. It happens all the time.

I think the technical name for it is "accident"!!