5 killed in shootout among deer hunters

[5SpeedBird]

5 killed in shootout among deer hunters


MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. - Five deer hunters died and three were injured on Sunday in an apparent shootout over who could occupy a hunting platform in a northwestern Wisconsin forest.

The exact circumstances of the deadly incident that occurred during the annual hunts opening weekend in southwestern Sawyer County remained unclear Monday morning. Police said a single male suspect was arrested Sunday afternoon.


Emergency personnel gather near the scene of a series of shootings near Hayward, Wisconsin. (AP photo)
Two hunters were returning to their rural cabin on private land, when they reportedly saw the suspect in one of their tree stands, County Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle said. A confrontation and shooting followed.

It's not known who shot first, Zeigle said.

Both men were wounded and one of them radioed to the cabin. Other hunters responded to the call and were shot, Zeigle said. Some of the victims may have shot back at the suspect, Zeigle said.

The suspect was "sniping" at the victims with a SKS semi-automatic rifle, Zeigle said. He was "chasing after them and killing them," he said.

Among the dead were four males – including a teenage boy – and a woman, Zeigle said. Some of the victims were reportedly shot more than once.

Authorities found two bodies near each other and three others scattered around the area, which is near the town of Meteor. Two people who hid in a cabin emerged safely after the shootings.

The suspect was arrested as he walked out of the woods. He was out of bullets at the time, Zeigle said.

One of the injured hunters was in critical condition at a local hospital. Another was listed in serious condition and the third was in fair condition.

Wisconsin's deer hunting season started Saturday and lasts for nine days.

[5SpeedBird]

Wow, But ya know even though this is very sad. Its supports the black comics statement about white people in scary or horror movies. We keep walking right into the path of evil. When someone you know is getting shot up. Even if they do call for help. ya don't go running into danger. Only two smart people hide in the cabin. Unless your some military Rambo. Hide and call the police. You can't help a loved one by getting killed.

Sure it wasn't right but only two people might of died, if they thought for a sec.

[5SpeedBird]

Still very sd but I like how the writer puts
"The suspect was "sniping" at the victims "

That's what all dear hunters do.
hide in a tree and snip things.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

:eek: :eek:

[12secondv6]

They should give guns to the deer!

[majeskyb]

Who goes hunting with Russian assault rifles anyway? It's sad what people will do to each other over the rights to kill an animal

[phoenix64]

That report doesn't mention that the shooter is hmong. I wonder if the language barrier might have at least contributed in someway.....

I'll think twice before I yell at someone about hunting on my property next time.

[ARTFART]

Originally posted by majeskyb:
Who goes hunting with Russian assault rifles anyway? It's sad what people will do to each other over the rights to kill an animal

It's really sad what someone will shoot a person(s) (persons) . Alot of times the reason(s)are so petty . :(

[5SpeedBird]

"Who goes hunting with Russian assault rifles anyway? "

why? they are cheap and reliable. They are pre AK47 guns [ak47 was made in 1947] made by many countries and yes including Russia. They are accurate for as far as you can see and the ammo is cheap. Its no different than any good rifle.

perfect for hunting.

Id use one if I was a hunter.

[95fbirdkid]

Originally posted by 5SpeedBird:
"Who goes hunting with Russian assault rifles anyway? "

why? they are cheap and reliable. They are pre AK47 guns [ak47 was made in 1947] made by many countries and yes including Russia. They are accurate for as far as you can see and the ammo is cheap. Its no different than any good rifle.

perfect for hunting.

Id use one if I was a hunter.

exactly, people hear the words "assault rifle" and automatically it cant be used for hunting

[LD]

this is another story, same incident, possibly a little more detailed

BIRCHWOOD, Wis. (Nov. 22) -- A deer hunter who apparently intruded on private property killed five other hunters who had been staying in a nearby cabin and wounded three more during the opening weekend of deer season, authorities said.

A 36-year-old man was arrested Sunday afternoon when he came out of the woods, sheriff's officials said. Two of the wounded were in critical condition Monday.

Deputy Jake Hodgkinson identified the suspect as Chai Vang but would give no details. Vang is from St. Paul, Minn., said Paul Schnell, a spokesman for the St. Paul police department.

The shooting started when two hunters returning to their rural cabin saw the suspect in one of their hunting platforms in a tree, Sawyer County Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle said. The platforms or ''tree stands'' allow hunters to see deer without being easily seen themselves.

Both of those hunters were wounded and one of them radioed friends at the cabin a quarter-mile away. Other members of their group responded and they also were shot, he said.

''It's absolutely nuts. Why? Over sitting in a tree stand?'' asked Zeigle.

Zeigle said the suspect was ''chasing after them and killing them,'' with a SKS 7.62 mm semiautomatic rifle, a common hunting weapon. Wisconsin's statewide deer gun hunting season started Saturday and lasts for nine days.

About 20 shots were fired but it was unclear if any of the hunters had fired at the suspect or who might have shot first, Zeigle said. There was just one gun among the eight people killed or wounded, he said.

The dead included a a teenage boy and a woman, and a father and son, Zeigle said. Some of the victims were shot more than once. All five were from the Rice Lake area, about 15 miles southwest of Birchwood in northwestern Wisconsin, he said.

Authorities found two bodies near each other and the others were scattered over 100 yards.

The suspect, who did not have a compass, got lost in the woods and two other hunters who didn't know about the shootings helped him find his way out, Zeigle said.

The man was arrested when he emerged from the woods and a Department of Natural Resources officer recognized the deer license on his back from a description given by one of the shooting victims, Zeigle said.

The man was out of ammunition, he said.

One of the injured hunters was in critical condition Monday at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. Another was in critical condition and a third in stable condition at Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake.

Hunter Bill Wagner, 72, of Oshkosh was about two miles away near Deer Lake with a party of about 20 other hunters when they heard sirens, planes and helicopters and discovered roads in the area had been barricaded.

''When you're hunting, you don't expect somebody to try to shoot you and murder you,'' Wagner said. ''You have no idea who is coming up to you.''

''We're all old, dyed-in-wool hunters,'' he said. ''We wouldn't go home because of this, but we will keep it in our minds. We're not forgetting it.''

[C.O.Jones]

Originally posted by 5SpeedBird:
"Who goes hunting with Russian assault rifles anyway? "

why? they are cheap and reliable. They are pre AK47 guns [ak47 was made in 1947] made by many countries and yes including Russia. They are accurate for as far as you can see and the ammo is cheap. Its no different than any good rifle.

perfect for hunting.

Id use one if I was a hunter.

That's why I'm for RPG's. One shot and the hunter would be gone. It also helps to make ground beef deer...

[phoenix64]

Originally posted by 5SpeedBird:
Wow, But ya know even though this is very sad. Its supports the black comics statement about white people in scary or horror movies. We keep walking right into the path of evil. When someone you know is getting shot up. Even if they do call for help. ya don't go running into danger. Only two smart people hide in the cabin. Unless your some military Rambo. Hide and call the police. You can't help a loved one by getting killed.

Sure it wasn't right but only two people might of died, if they thought for a sec.

The people that came later didn't know what was going on, they apparently thought it was an accident, None of them were armed. Of the 8 people shot, only one had a rifle. The guy was chasing down and shooting innocent people. He only stopped because he ran out of ammo, he was using a 20 round clip.
After the shootings, he was found by two other hunters and lead out of the woods, because he was lost.

BTW if my Dad or one of our hunting partners radioed that he was shot intentionaly, my first inplulse would be to run out the door. Any signifigant police force is a good hour away from us.

This is one of the things that is wrong with America today. Everyone wants to call 911 and have the government sort it out for them. Sometimes you have to think and act for your self.

Think if the people on the 3 other planes during 911 had all acted like they did on the 4th. We'd still have the two towers, but instead they used their cellphones to call 911.

[ November 22, 2004, 02:47 PM: Message edited by: phoenix64 ]

[staticpike]

thats sad. Gives a bad wrap for people to use against hunting.

And for the record, I would have gone to help if a friend called me. It's not being a rambo, it's being a friend. I probably would have gotten shot at too, but then again, better to be shot at while in someone else aid then to ask myself for the next 50 years why I didn't do anything. I don't think I have the constitution to do nothing.

[phoenix64]

Originally posted by staticpike:
thats sad. Gives a bad wrap for people to use against hunting.

And for the record, I would have gone to help if a friend called me. It's not being a rambo, it's being a friend. I probably would have gotten shot at too, but then again, better to be shot at while in someone else aid then to ask myself for the next 50 years why I didn't do anything. I don't think I have the constitution to do nothing.

Exactly