6 hunters mistakenly shot as deer hunting season begins
Ontario Provincial Police are reminding hunters about the importance of firearm safety after six accidental shootings involving hunters less than a week into deer hunting season.
Central Hastings OPP said the first incident happened around 8:40 a.m. Monday, when a 42-year-old man was accidentally shot in the arm while hunting with a group in Tudor and Cashel Township, near Bancroft.
They said he was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.
The second happened on Maple Road in Odessa, where a 55-year-old man was accidentally shot, according to police.
The third happened on Weedmark Road in Montague, northeast of Smiths Falls, when police said they were called to a 59-year-old man's accidental shooting around 6:45 p.m.
In all of the cases, no charges are going to be laid.
There was another accidental shooting Tuesday near Peterborough. OPP said a 17-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the shoulder by someone else in their hunting party.
He was taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. Again, no charges will be laid.
Then, on Thursday, OPP sent out releases about two accidental shootings involving hunters that day.
The first happened just before noon at a property on County Road 34 in North Glengarry Township.
A 75-year-old man from the township was hunting when his firearm accidentally discharged, injuring him.
He was taken to hospital in serious but non-life-threatening condition.
The second happened after 2:30 p.m. the same day at 1935 County Rd. 43 in North Grenville.
A 23-year-old man was found in the bush with a shoulder wound, and was airlifted to The Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus with a non-life-threatening injury.
In both cases, foul play isn't suspected and the investigations are ongoing.
OPP said to visit Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources or Hunter Education Program websites for more safety information.
These incidents come just over a year after an Ottawa hunter was accidentally shot and killed south of Ottawa.
