Dade City hunter shot after dog bumps high-powered rifle

tampabay.com ^ | 10 Dec 2011 | Danny Valentine

[smokingfrog]

WESLEY CHAPEL — A 78-year-old man was shot in a bizarre accident early Saturday when a dog bumped a rifle and caused it to fire, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Billy E. Brown of Dade City, a friend and a bulldog set out before dawn to hunt deer, which has been a tradition of theirs for more than 25 years.

They were traveling down a bumpy, rocky road in a pickup truck to their hunting stands when the dog got excited and bumped a high-powered Browning .308-caliber rifle. The bullet struck in the right thigh as he was driving. The dog, named Eli, was between Brown and a passenger, but it was not immediately clear how the rifles were positioned or if the safety was engaged.

[driftdiver]

Hunting with dogs is very popular here in Florida. People train the dogs to go into the heavy brush and chase the deer out to the road.

[smokingfrog]

But the real question is what the heck is he doing hunting deer in Florida with a .308!!

What's wrong with hunting with a .308?

[calex59]

Loaded rifle in vehicle? - check Rifle not secured? - check Safety not engaged? - check Bumpy road? - check Excited dog? - check Let's go hunting!!

Hard to believe they had the guns loaded and safety off in a crowded pickup cab. While I have carried loaded rifles in my pickup while driving in the woods, the safety was always on and I was always alone in the cab. More likely the guys friend shot him by accident and they made the "dog did it" story up to keep from having the friend arrested.

[OHelix]

“What’s wrong with hunting with a .308?”

Nothing, but did the dog have a license?

[Covenantor]

Prolly forgot to play Three Dog Night’s “Eli’s Coming”
Or at least pay attention to the lyrics.

Eli’s comin’ (hide it, hide it, hide it)
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s a-comin’, you better hide
Girl, Eli’s comin’, hide your heart, girl (hide it)
You better, better hide your gun
Eli’s comin’, better walk

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Iron Munro]

Did they say Bump with a B?

[TheOldLady]

Oh, NO! Not another VEGAN dog shooting its owner! What is this? Four stories these past few weeks? What's the world coming to?

Remember the dire warning, folks! Never force your dog to eat VEGAN, or you might get shot. Just sayin'. It happens.

[PowderMonkey]

[Farmer Dean]

Yes,the dog is 25.He’s been dead for 12 years,but Billy is too old and stupid to notice that.

[driftdiver]

Nothings wrong with hunting with a .308. This happened about 30 miles from my house. The average deer down here is pretty darn small. Not to mention the maximum range here is about 100 yds because of the thick brush.

[blam]

How come no-one is ever shot by a low powered rifle?

[Zman516]

Being that stupid, I’m amazed this moron made it to 78.

Want to bet he voted for Ozippy?

[Last Dakotan]

Did the dog ‘bump’ or ‘hump’ the gun?

Dog isn't saying.

[blastdad51]

Darn dogs! if they’re not eatin your homework then they’re bumping your huntin rifles...

[momtothree]

For the love of all that is holy... we aren’t going to have the old “should have aimed higher VEGAN” stuff again, are we?! I’m exhausted from the last one. LOL!

[antisocial]

I was wondering if they make a low powered Browning rifle on .308

[CowboyJay]

When your own dog shoots you... you’ve got issues.

[Still Thinking]

Oh, sure, the dog CLAIMS it was an accident....is he willing to take a lie detector??

[Still Thinking]

So suddenly my .308 is a high-powered rifle? Who knew?

That's nuthin'...it's also a sniper rifle, and if you got the black plastic stock, it's an assault rifle besides!