Man thought dad was elk, fatally shoots him

[Champ]

Associated Press
Dec. 7, 2004 07:10 AM

TUCSON - A man was killed when his son mistook him for an elk on a hunting trip on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, authorities said.

William Delma, 44, and his 24-year-old son Brian Delma, of Peridot, were part of a four-member hunting party that were in the Malay Gap area on the northern part of the reservation near Globe on Sunday.

The four hunters had split up to ambush a herd of elk they expected to come through the brushy, wooded area.

"My understanding is the father and son obviously had split, and the son mistook his father as an elk moving in the brush," said Warren Youngman, a Phoenix-based assistant special agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/1207HuntingAccident07-ON.html

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Not to put too fine a point on it, but....

If you can't see your target well enough to distinguish between a man and fucking ELK, perhaps you should not take the shot?

[J-Lo Biafra]

2. Heeeheee!

Reminds me of that cartoon where the hunter yells "I got one!" and his buddy asked him what it looks like and he puts his hand up to his head like antlers and the guy gets shot!

[MrBenchley]

3. Reminds me that I once saw a sporting goods catalog

that featured a camouflage hunting jacket with a picture of a deer embroidered on its back....

[hlthe2b]

4. Hunters, a question.... Why can one not see the mandatory orange

vests when you are out, although it is not clear whether they were wearing them? This is happening more and more-- I recall the poor woman in NJ shot as she hung out her laundry not long ago. I would not think hunting for elk would make one so trigger happy as one in combat, fearing for their life. What gives?

[Liberal Veteran]

6. Unfortunately too many hunters are of the amateur "shoot anything that...

...moves" ilk and it leads to this kind of thing every year.

They are so eager to prove their "manhood" by shooting some prey they get all stupid and start shooting at anything because they lack the required tracking/stalking/outdoor skills needed to hunt anyway.

[hlthe2b]

8. So, are you not fearful to go out and hunt, given there are these

inexperienced and testosterone-hyped (and possibly alcohol-primed) "hunters" out there? I would certainly be.

[Liberal Veteran]

10. I think I would be, yes...

Fortunately I feel no keen desire to hunt, but it's sad that I used to love to walk through the woods when I was growing up, but these days I would I fear to because of idiots who have no business touching a gun.

[Dirty Hippie]

5. Conversation overheard in a Georgia convenience store

The cashier obviously knew the patron who approached the counter in full hunting regalia. She asked if he shot any deer that morning. He replied no, but he had shot at three noises.

I kid you not.

I grew up in a southern hunting family. As a child I would go hunting with my dad and his brothers. One memory I clearly have is the milk jug full of Jim Beam they would pass around before setting off into the woods.

Needless to say, I have little sympathy for hunters who shoot each other.

[bowens43]

7. I certainly believe it.

When I was teenager a kid down the street from me was shot by a hunter who supposedly mistook him for a squirrel. This was a big kid too.

[slestak]

9. That's why I bowhunt.

You gotta get pretty close and have a clear line of sight of your target. You don't just fire willy-nilly into a bunch of trees or brush.

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

11. Gee, Pop, I thought you had antlers...

Guess this won't make up for Father's Day, huh?