Half mile from my house

[armedandsafe]

While I was at work, Thursday, this took place on Lake Hiwatha about 1/2 mile from my house. I live at the intersection of what would be Road 2 and Road B. Road 2 is 1 mile south of Road 3. Road A is 1 mile West of Road B.

MOSES LAKE -- A Wenatchee man has died, following an incident Monday when he was accidentally shot by his hunting partner.

Mark L. Foland, 51, was pronounced dead at Samaritan Hospital after losing a large amount of blood from his right leg.

According to the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Foland was shot in the back of the leg by 38-year-old Randall A. O'Neel of Wenatchee. Reports indicate the two men were walking back to their vehicle when O'Neel noticed that the safety to his shotgun was off and tried to activate it.

The 12-gauge shotgun then fired, striking Foland in the back of the right leg.


The two men had been hunting waterfowl between two circles of harvested corn in an area near Road A NE, approximately 1.5 miles south of Road 3 NE. They were carrying duck decoys back to their vehicle when the incident occurred.

Dispatchers received a call at about 1:30 p.m. from O'Neel's cell phone. GCSO reports indicated that emergency dispatchers tried to help O'Neel control Foland's bleeding while first responders attempted to locate the two men.

Foland was later airlifted from the area and transported to Samaritan at about 3 p.m. Foland was stabilized in the emergency room and put on life support at the hospital. He was later pronounced dead from excessive blood loss.

Authorities from the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Moses Lake Police officer Jeff Turner also aided in the incident. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident, but the GCSO Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate the shooting.

The GCSO said in a press release that hunters should practice good safety techniques and know their location when hunting in remote areas.

Pops

[Marlin]

That just shows one how easily things can go wrong.

I always, and taught the kids, too, unload before walking AND be sure that the safety is on once the gun is unloaded for extra insurance. This type of accident can easily occur. The other very likely thing that can occur is accidental firing of the weapon, if special care is not taken, when one is trying to either scootch under or climb over a fence. It should NEVER be done with a loaded gun.

In my sixty plus years of hunting I have seen guns discharge in both those types of situations. Fortunately in those instances I have seen, no one was hurt, but any could easily have been killed!

The other likely trouble/danger spot is while getting in or out of a tree stand. It should NEVER be done with a any ammo in the gun, magazine or chamber. I have cringed seeing this rule ignored, too.

[SouthernMoss]

That's so sad, Pops, and I'm sure it will haunt Mr. O'Neel until the day he dies. My heart goes out to him as well as the family of Mr. Foland. May God be with them.

[pickenup]

You would think that applying a simple tourniquet would have saved his life.

That is pretty close to home.

[rosierita]

that's so sad!

[mameral]

The rules that can save ones life are often learned in hunters safety classes. Unfortunately, as we age we often ignore them. It is a tragedy for both men and foder for the anti-gun loby.

[woodsrunner]

I was always taught don't let your muzzle point at anything you are unwilling to shoot. I was also taught action open when traveling.

[Marlin]

Right on, Woodsy. I meant to include that in my comments but you know an ole man and his slipping memory.....

I always told the kids to think about the shows they saw on TV where the bird hunters were either going or coming, with their SxS over the shoulder, broken!!

[IShootBack]

That is so sad.

May God be with the survivor and the family that lost a loved one.

[juju]

Things like this occur and that is why I carry a very good first aid kit including IV Fluids and Quick Clot.

The military uses Quick Clot to stop severe bleeding from gunshots.

Like a boy scout "Be Prepared"

On my lease (and the folks I hunt with) the first aid kit is never more than a mile away from any of us hunters.

The closest hospital is 20 miles or more, maybe , if the worst occurs, my little kit can save a life.

JuJu(who says some people laugh at him for the things he carries in his kit)

[Texas_Shooter]

Originally Posted by mameral

The rules that can save ones life are often learned in hunters safety classes. Unfortunately, as we age we often ignore them. It is a tragedy for both men and foder for the anti-gun loby.

My thoughts exactly! People need to remember that ALL FIREARMS are LOADED, always. Safety can never be stressed too often when handling firearms.

[armedandsafe]

I haven't talked to the owner of the land (my landlord,) yet, but I know where they were hunting. Since they didn't know where they were well enough to give directions to EMS, they must have come in from the freeway. That means they were hunting on posted land. Carl posts his land very well, with both "No Hunting" and "No Trespassing" signs. If they were between the "between two circles of harvested corn" they had crossed a fence.

If the wound was high enough on the leg, it would be very difficult to get a tourniquet to hold and stop the bleeding from the femoral artery. A pressure pad, strapped tightly in place might have done the job. I have seen amateurs fail to apply pressure properly because they were afraid of causing the victim more pain. Then again, I saw a professional freeze one time when he saw what I was holding in place for a victim.

Pops