Hunting Accident in Sibley County

[eric29]

The news said tonite that the sheriff was looking into charges for the dad.

I wonder what the kid was wearing to make him look like a 20 lb bird that had a beard draging on the ground. No excuses for that.

[123fish]

There's not a thing in the world that the judicial system is going to do that is going to make the dad feel any worse than he does right now. Definitely did not identify his target as a bearded turkey and is paying the ultimate price for it. Prayers go out to the family.

[paceman]

Wow I am tearing up reading this.....What a terrible mistake, tragedy.... I am angry and sad at the same time....Pretty much speechless..... I can't imagine the night the father and family had.

[Hoyt4]

I also heard today that they where not suppose to be there.I did not get the full story I was just pulling into work.They where talking to another hunter on that was there hunting and was suppose to be the only one out there.I know my father and many do turkey classes and never can express safety first through the entire class he will say you need to know your target and he will say it so much people I think get sick of it but this is why he does.The kid should never of left his side.Also you better of not stalking a turkey be cause the the safety issue.

[polarsusd81]

When I saw the story on the news last night I had a hard time just listening to it. What a tragic accident. I know a lot of people will be quick to criticize, but please guys let just keep the family in our thoughts and prayers if you do that sort of thing. They are coping with a tragic loss right now and as a father, I don't know if I would be able to walk out of the woods if I were to do something like that. I am getting choked up just thinking about it. On the news last night, they had footage of the father talking to police and other emergency service personel at the edge of the woods and you could clearly see that he was distraught. There probably isn't much we as a community can do for the family, but if there is we should at least make an attempt. I feel very sorry for this family. Never take for granted what you have and always be sure to let your kids know how much you love them.

[Powerstroke]

I know I was a little worked up about it, but I spent the weekend on a youth turkey hunt and the things that we preach to our kids about safe gun use and safe hunting should be the same rules we follow as adults.

I don't want to criticize the father as much as I criticize the decisions and the circumstances. Those are the things that can be learned from.

[tealitup]

The news story I heard was that the father and son were sitting together on a woodline. They saw a group of turkeys on the other side of the open field. The father told his son to stay where he was and he (father) was going to try and stalk them. His son would have a nice vantage point to watch the action.

The father went after the birds and the son moved to a different direction (as told not to do). Then the child was taken from this world from a tragic accident.

We have no idea if the father shot at a moving turkey, standing turkey or at movement. Fact, the child is dead from an accident and we do not know any other facts. God Bless

[brittman]

Seems the vast majority of hunting accidents in MN occur within the same hunting party. Deer, upland, waterfowl, now turkey...

 Quote:

The father went after the birds and the son moved to a different direction (as told not to do).

I am having trouble with that comment in quotes, the only person that made any mistake(s) was the father. Why would you EVER, EVER leave a 9 year old alone in the woods?

Hope everyone can learn from this...

[Farley]

I cant imagine what it would be like to have to deal with something like that. My heart goes out to Tony and his family. He is a good guy.

[BigGrassBass]

There seems to be quite a few different stories people are posting on here. This is a copy of the article in the Strib this morning. Hopefully this clears a few things up for us. It's a tragic accident that could have been avoided, but still tragic none the less. My heart goes out to all affected.

Here's the article from the Strib 4-21-08

Anthony Klaseus had no reason to think that his hunting companion -- his 8-year-old son -- was nearby as he waited for wild turkeys to come within range Saturday evening in Sibley County.

The 39-year-old Belle Plaine man had told the boy, Hunter, to stay where he was -- well out of range -- as he stalked the wildfowl near County Road 6 in Faxon Township, about 3 miles west of Belle Plaine.

But Hunter, caught up in the excitement of the chase and eager to catch up with his dad, headed toward him.

Hunter, dressed in camouflage, was 20 to 30 yards away, in a grassy area near the woods where his father stood, when his father mistook him for a turkey and fired his 12-gauge shotgun, said Sibley County Sheriff Bruce Ponath.

Hunter was hit in the chest.

"To say that he was distraught would be an understatement," the sheriff said of the father.

Klaseus called 911 from his cell phone at 6:25 p.m.

Klaseus then carried his wounded son about a quarter-mile to where emergency personnel could get to him, Ponath said.

But efforts to revive the boy failed and Hunter was pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting remains under investigation, but the sheriff characterized it as a tragic accident.

Last year, two people died in hunting accidents in Minnesota, according to a report released this month by the state Department of Natural Resources. There were 23 incidents of hunters being shot at, either by themselves, others in their hunting party, strangers or, in one case, a dog.

Hunter's family did not return calls Sunday.

Pat Pribyl, principal at Raven Stream Elementary School in New Prague, where Hunter was a third-grader, echoed the feelings of many when he said, "A lot of people are in shock. It just doesn't seem possible."

Hunter was an active, eager student who wrestled in a children's league and loved the outdoors, Pribyl said. He recently had written and illustrated a book about hunting with his father for a class.

"He was an intelligent little boy," he said. "Fun-loving, full of energy."

On Sunday, Raven Stream's faculty members were informed of Hunter's death. They will meet this morning before school to talk about how to help his fellow students cope with his death.

Teachers will talk to their classes about the accident and counselors will be available, Pribyl said. Counselors also will ride the school bus Hunter took each morning.

Pribyl said that he spoke with Hunter's mother Sunday and that funeral plans are pending. "She was very shook up and for lack of a better word, devastated," he said.

In addition to his parents, Hunter is survived by two sisters, Alison, 11, and Ashley, 12.

[keith schultz]

I feel for the man BUT!!!!!!!!!! YOU SHOULD NEVER SHOOT UNLESS YOU ARE SURE OF WHAT IS THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! did he the father ever take a hunting class????????????? if not he should have it & never would have happened!! If not SURE of what it is DON"T SHOOT!!!!!!!!!! poor guy will never go hunting again , i know i wouldn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! god will watch over the famly and the boy!!!!!!!!

[brittman]

I stayed for 80% of the hunter safety classes my son took last spring and it was worth it. Great way to reinforce what was taught to your son or daughter.

The deputies and warden running the class said over and over "there is no such thing as an accident in hunting".

You can tell from the boy's first name that his father loved hunting. The time spent with my son hunting now shadows my previous 30+ years of hunting and all the game I have taken. This is now taken away from this father.

Remind yourself that it is the overall experience that your after not just the kill. Everyone has a different level of training and experience. Be the leader in your hunting party (family or friends) to demand everyone understand that safety comes first.

[Shoot2Kill]

 Originally Posted By: keith schultz

I feel for the man BUT!!!!!!!!!! YOU SHOULD NEVER SHOOT UNLESS YOU ARE SURE OF WHAT IS THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! did he the father ever take a hunting class????????????? if not he should have it & never would have happened!! If not SURE of what it is DON"T SHOOT!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously. Just everyone go easy here and don't be judging or assuming anything about the guy. It's a very tragic and horrible mistake and everyone knows it - don't everyone be jumping on the guy - it does nothing. Think what life will be like for that dad for the rest of his life.

Keep that family in your prayers...

[woody1975]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family!

Truly the most tragic of situations

DL

[brittman]

Repectfully disagree Shoot2kill. Certainly leave his name out of the discussion (he has and will suffer enough).

But for the rest of us - focus on the incident that unfolded that day.

Whether it is a young mother leaving a child in hot car, a guy driving DUI & killing another or a hunting accident, it is a bigger tragedy if this incident is repeated again in another family.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

On a side note, Why do reporters feel the need to intrude on the family at this time?

Quote from the article " Hunter's family did not return calls Sunday."

My God...... leave them alone.

I see this on the nightly news. Someone gets hurt or God forbid killed and the reporters are at the house interviewing the victims family that day. GRRRRrrr

Sorry for the rant.

Mike

[Hammer Handle]

I have thought about hunting on and off for years...the danger of it...I mean.

How many times have you heard of game popping up in a unexpected place and everyone blasts at it? Then, someone (who got cold, was walking) on the other side of the game gets shot?

Sad sad story.

I was nearly shot by a tresspassers twice. Once, the BBS hit all around me...and I only got one BB in my cheek. The other time, the rifle bullet hit in the tree right next to me. Man, did I hit the dirt!

People walk around in the woods while other people hunt and are not in the place they are supposed to be. Hunting does not always go as planned.

[paceman]

I for one am going to be wearing a piece of Blaze Orange whenever I am on the move while hunting. Especially Turkey hunting. I will switch hats when I am set up. I am also going to buy an orange game bag for carrying my turkey out. There is no such thing as being to safe.......

[tealitup]

Well reading the other posts; we have no idea if he found a Tom and was stalking it around the same place his child was located. Wow, I feel for this guy. How many of us could have made a mistake where someone could have gotten hurt.

[Powerstroke]

 Originally Posted By: tealitup

Well reading the other posts; we have no idea if he found a Tom and was stalking it around the same place his child was located. Wow, I feel for this guy. How many of us could have made a mistake where someone could have gotten hurt.

"could have" made a mistake. I can think of plenty of times that I have passed on shots because I saw something and didn't know what it was. Was it the dog, someone else, maybe a hen, not the right species? Have I made mistakes, sure. I've never made a mistake with my gun. The consequences are too great.

People act as if it could've happened to anybody. Not if you follow the rules. Have you ever seen a person that looked like an animal? DO you know of any camo patterns that have red heads and long beards?

[PierBridge]

 Originally Posted By: Hammer Handle

I have thought about hunting on and off for years...the danger of it...I mean.

How many times have you heard of game popping up in a unexpected place and everyone blasts at it? Then, someone (who got cold, was walking) on the other side of the game gets shot?

Almost NEVER! you're a lot safer hunting then doing just about anything else!

[sticknstring]

Very sad. Takes a lot out of you after hearing a story such as this. It happens all too often (mistaken identity) - there's absolutely no excuse for it. Thoughts & prayers are off to the family. I know Missouri requires a small bright sticker to be placed on your shotgun saying something like "know your target" or "be safe" or something to that extent, and I tell you what when you raise your gun on a target that sticker pops out at you. Should be required in every state IMO.

[goblueM]

Exactly Powerstroke - if you notice ANYthing slightly off, just pass on the shot. Some people just get way too caught up in the moment, or greedy, or something. I don't know what it is. I've passed on countless pheasants just because I didn't know exactly where the rest of the hunting party was, or a car was driving down the road, or a house was in the area. There'll be other birds. There won't be another best friend, son, someone's eyesight, etc.

[Powerstroke]

I've passed on more roosters than I think I've shot cause I couldn't identify the colors. It was the light or the angle of the bird or whatever. The dirty looks I get from my dog are priceless.

I think its important that hunters look at this as a teaching moment for themselves, for the young hunters and the non-hunters. We all need to realize the mistakes made and try to use them to be better hunters and better advocates for our sport. It is a very safe sport. It continues to be safer than some non-contact sports according to OSHA statistics.

This is not the place to assign blame, speculate or judge the decisions of the father. Law Enforcement will do that. Media reports what they are given and it has proven to be wrong. We should try to ignore the facts and and find the lessons.

[Dave S]

 Originally Posted By: Powerstroke

This is not the place to assign blame, speculate or judge the decisions of the father. Law Enforcement will do that. Media reports what they are given and it has proven to be wrong. We should try to ignore the facts and and find the lessons.

Great point Powerstroke.