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Yeah, right. I was dove hunting with a shotgun when I was ten years old and I knew to be sure that no one or no building was downrange from where I was shooting."
Your naivety is showing.
Unless you are hunting a treeless prairie, it is impossible to see many ground objects when aiming at a flying object. Hills, gullys, trees all come into a general view.
Unrelated hunting parties may not be aware of other hunters presence, due to their location and terrain.
Whittington announced he was leaving the "line". Upon his return, from the rear, he made no such announcement.
No need to make this accident into a rifle & pistol range type incident.
But hey, don't let this stop you. Vent away.
Unless you are hunting a treeless prairie, it is impossible to see many ground objects when aiming at a flying object. Hills, gullys, trees all come into a general view. Uh, I am not talking about worrying about a house a half-mile away when I am shooting 8-shot.
HOWEVER, if you are shooting into a line of trees, and am not sure if there are houses just behind the line, that is negligent.
Whittington announced he was leaving the "line". Upon his return, from the rear, he made no such announcement.
See post #101. The other hunters should not have progressed to get the next covey until Whittington came back to the line.