Hunter Accidentally Shoots Hiker After Mistaking Him For Turkey
on May 14, 2021 • Updated Jan 25, 2023
An active investigation is underway after a hiker was shot by a hunter who reportedly mistook him for a turkey.
The incident happened just before around noon on May 8, 2021, on the Lewis Clark Trail, in St Charles, Missouri. The man was shot in the chest and airlifted to a local hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. Crews had to use a utility task vehicle to get to the victim in the wooded terrain. His condition is still unknown at this time.
The Missouri Department of Conservation said that they’re reviewing the incident, but don’t have any immediate plans to make safety improvements, as these incidents rarely happen.
Perry Gabbard, who hikes in the area frequently, shared his thoughts on the shooting.
“I think it would be appropriate to keep heavily trafficked areas like this just open for hikers. There’s children and older people, I see a lot of age groups. Over time it just decreases the probability of it happening.”
Luke Niemeyer, a hunter, and hiker shared his thoughts as well,
“That’s pretty alarming, it’s a pretty large mistake and it’s not easy to do. I don’t know what else you could do. A turkey is only two feet tall, a human is what, five feet? And there’s two different sounds and it just should have never happened.”
Watch the story in the video below.
