UPDATE
A New Hampshire man is recovering after a Wright County, Iowa hunting accident this week, in which a dog stepped on a shotgun, causing it to discharge. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Ken Lonneman tells WHO Radio News, he's 95-percent certain the safety was not on, when one of two hunting dogs stepped on the shotgun.
Lonneman says 36-year-old William Rancourt of Lebanon, New Hampshire was about 22-yards away, when the gun discharged, spraying pellets into his back. Lonneman says it's likely Rancourt was hit by more than 30-pellets between his waist and neck. Two members of the hunting party are EMTs and provided first aid at the scene, before Rancourt was then taken to an area hospital. Lonneman spoke with Rancourt on the phone before he was discharged from the hospital Wednesday night
Lonneman says one of the two dogs belonged to Rancourt, it's not certain which dog actually stepped on the firearm.
Lonneman says the incident serves as a reminder, hunters should always unload a firearm before setting it on the ground, and double check to make sure the safety is on. He also says no matter what species you're after, always identify your target and what's behind it.
(original story)
A man pheasant hunting in southwest Wright County, was shot in the back, Wednesday afternoon, when a fellow hunter's dog stepped on a 12-gauge shotgun. The dog's paw hit the trigger guard, causing the gun to discharge.
Thirty-six-year-old William Rancourt, of Lebanon, New Hampshire was pheasant hunting on the Boone River Greenbelt in Wright County with three others when he was hit by bird shot pellets. The DNR says he was 22-yards from the gun when it discharged.
He was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Trinity Hospital in Fort Dodge.
The DNR reminds hunters to unload your firearm and be sure the safety mechanism is in place before setting it down.