http://allafrica.com/stories/201412081545.html


South Africa: Hunter Accidentally Killed During Hunting


On Saturday, 6 December 2014 at approximately 8:40 the victim, Rainer Carl Wellman (23) and his friends were hunting wild pigs at Boshoek farm at Mthonjaneni in Melmoth area. One of his friends shot and killed a wild pig.

The bullet accidentally went through and hit the victim. Wellman was injured and rushed to hospital where he was certified dead on arrival. A case of murder was opened at Melmoth police station for further investigation and a shotgun, allegedly used during the shooting, was confiscated. It will be sent for ballistic tests to establish if it was used in the commission of an offence. No arrest made at this stage pending further investigation.

I have been reading Terry Irwin's book, Memoirs of an African Hunter. In his book he tells the most amazing story. As I recall it took place in Tanzania in the 1970's. A hunter and his daughter were hunting leopard with a PH. The leopard came in and the hunter shot it right at dark. The PH left the hunter and the daughter in the blind and went to check to see if he could find the leopard. Apparently his flashlight gave out during his search. Mean while in the blind the hunter decided to smoke a cigarette. He lit the cigarette and after it was lit the PH saw the glow of the cigarette ember, mistakenly thought it was the glimpse of the leopard's eye and shot. The bullet struck the daughter and killed her and seriously wounded the hunter. The PH discovered what had happened and thought both had been killed. He left them in the blind and proceeded to an area parks office. They returned the next morning and discovered that the father was still alive. Terry does not name names in his book, nor do I have any way of knowing whether it is true, but if true what an incredible tragedy.

How would one verify a shotgun "bullet" was responsible for the fatal injury? After passing through a pig, are discernable markings left on the slug still intact as with bullets and rifling? Would have anticipated a mashed piece of metal.
Terrible accident, and gives one pause. We all must be vigilant in the field, thinking at all times "what if?"

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:
... One of his friends shot and killed a wild pig.

The bullet accidentally went through and hit the victim. Wellman was injured and rushed to hospital where he was certified dead on arrival. ...

I guess the shooter forgot about gun safety Rule #4.

quote:

One of his friends shot and killed a wild pig....The bullet accidentally went through and hit the victim.

So at shotgun range the hunter did not see his adult friend behind the targeted wild hog?

Seems like basic human carelessness and ineptness played a major role for something like that to happen.

Its REAL hard to do ballistics tests on a shotgun----------

Scary what some "cops" come up with.

Very sad story.

But, I have seen bullets change directions drastically after exciting an animal, not sure if a shotgun slug will do the same.

Whatever may have happened, I am sure "carelessness" was a major factor in this tragedy.

Very sad story.

Just incidentally, a bullet does not " accidentally go through" a pig, it, and the choice of firearm to fire the bullet, is designed and chosen to [at least or just] go through the target animal. The change of direction on exiting a target animal is "normally" expected to be less than 45, but with a probable maximum of 90 degrees, but really scary things happens!

I really do hope that the final verdict is "an unfortunate accident".

It will be interesting if the South Africans differentiate beteween a pig, that is moving, and a door, that does not. Given their implications with a door, I suspect the shooter in this case is just fine, from a legal standpoint.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
It will be interesting if the South Africans differentiate beteween a pig, that is moving, and a door, that does not. Given their implications with a door, I suspect the shooter in this case is just fine, from a legal standpoint.

Now, now! Steady on there, generalising is never as good thing. Let it be known that I choose my doors with extreme care and consideration of all facts before engaging.

A girl who has locked herself in the bathroom, with her mobile phone, in the early hrs of the morning,
on valentines night, in her boyfriends apartment,.... would seem to me, to be a person acting in fear
of a threat to her well being, or life.

When police searched Oscars apartment they found a substance called 'Testis Compositum'
made up from;... pigs testis,pigs adrenal gland,pigs embryo and pigs heart....commonly used for
muscle recovery and sexual performance...

quote:

One of his friends shot and killed a wild pig....The bullet accidentally went through and hit the victim. So at shotgun range the hunter did not see his adult friend behind the targeted wild hog?Seems like basic human carelessness and ineptness played a major role for something like that to happen.

Precisely !!

Apparently it was a hound hunt for bushpigs on a sugarcane farm. The second such accidental death in 3 years in the same area on the same type of hunt. The first was a ricochet from a slug fired out of a 12 gauge shotgun that caught the guy in the femoral artery, this time apparently SSG and the guy lived for quite a while.

The growing bushpig population has seen a huge increase in the numbers of packs that run to keep the numbers under control. A pack of hounds and more than 3 hunters on the ground is a recipe for tragedy, you cannot accurately communicate and pinpoint where the others are. Sometimes there are as many as 8 guys following the dogs, all armed and keen to get a chance at a pig. It is surprising that there are not more of these "accidental" shootings

quote:

Originally posted by Manyathelo:
Apparently it was a hound hunt for bushpigs on a sugarcane farm. The second such accidental death in 3 years in the same area on the same type of hunt. The first was a ricochet from a slug fired out of a 12 gauge shotgun that caught the guy in the femoral artery, this time apparently SSG and the guy lived for quite a while.

The growing bushpig population has seen a huge increase in the numbers of packs that run to keep the numbers under control. A pack of hounds and more than 3 hunters on the ground is a recipe for tragedy, you cannot accurately communicate and pinpoint where the others are. Sometimes there are as many as 8 guys following the dogs, all armed and keen to get a chance at a pig. It is surprising that there are not more of these "accidental" shootings

I'm curious, but what is the appropriate method? We would never hunt too many guys going for quail with dogs. People would sit out. Bush pigs are different, but what is the appropriate method? Safely, of course.

Many of the guys in different countries that regularly go pigging with good lugging dogs, use a knife.

If using dogs and a firearm, I prefer to have dogs that bail rather than lug.

Hound hunting is perfectly appropriate as are either shotguns or rifles as weapons of choice

The number of hunters and their conduct regarding safety of dogs and people is the issue

You need to be extremely situationally aware, and have the ability to keep a cool head in the midst of chaos. For the sake of the dogs you need to go into the bush and get the pig, it often ends in multiple shots at close range with dogs and people in very close vicinity. Situational awareness is the key issue and unfortunately some guys let the excitement or fear override that. Happens not just in pig hunting but in many other forms as well

SSG would do it. OO buckshot to me. Scary!

quote:

Originally posted by Manyathelo:

Apparently it was a hound hunt for bushpigs on a sugarcane farm. The second such accidental death in 3 years in the same area on the same type of hunt. The first was a ricochet from a slug fired out of a 12 gauge shotgun that caught the guy in the femoral artery, this time apparently SSG and the guy lived for quite a while.

The growing bushpig population has seen a huge increase in the numbers of packs that run to keep the numbers under control. A pack of hounds and more than 3 hunters on the ground is a recipe for tragedy, you cannot accurately communicate and pinpoint where the others are. Sometimes there are as many as 8 guys following the dogs, all armed and keen to get a chance at a pig. It is surprising that there are not more of these "accidental" shootings

Bush pig hunting with dogs as well as spot and stalk has become a huge deal in SA. Everyone is getting into it and it is surprising that more boneheads are not getting shot.

quote:

Originally posted by Manyathelo:
The first was a ricochet from a slug fired out of a 12 gauge shotgun that caught the guy in the femoral artery, this time apparently SSG and the guy lived for quite a while.

The first was in fact a blind shot at a noise running through the sugarcane. So the shooter wasn't sure of the target and proceeded to fire. This group of hunters has a reputation as being cowboys. The shooter in this second instance was the Boy looking after the hounds. If he has his competency or a even a licence for the shotgun is still another issue. A pellet struck the young hunter in the lungs, who was behind the Pig.

Hunting with Hounds is a very busy affair, with dogs, pigs and hunters everywhere. Safety rules should always apply, namely make sure of your target and backstop. Reflective gear also helps. Where pig populations explode, it is the most effective means of controlling the populations, as a large sounder can be shot in one morning, versus one or two pigs when hunting them at night on bait or walk and stalk.

Honestly it is an unfortunate thing to happen however I stay far away from most pig hunters in SA. I say this because they really are WILD forest cowboys! That is, the chaps I know...