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5 hunters wounded while shotgun deer hunting Sunday in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News, Sports

December 2nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

At least five hunters were wounded during separate shooting incidents during the second day of the shotgun deer hunting season, in Iowa. Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say a Red Oak man was injured at around 8:30-a.m. Sunday, while hunting deer west of Indianola. 58-year old Miles Sagen was hit in the shoulder/upper chest area by a deer slug fired at a running deer by some else in his nine-member hunting party. The slug traveled approximately 144 yards before striking Sagen. Dense fog in the area is believed to have played a role in the incident. Visibility at the time was limited to about 100-yards.

A Halbur woman was injured during another hunting accident in Crawford County. 32-year old Stacy Wiltfang, was hunting with one other person north of Arion at approximately 3 p.m.  While she was sitting, a bullet from a high-powered small caliber rifle penetrated her boot, but did not penetrate her foot. She was treated at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, and released.

A Cedar Rapids man was injured Sunday afternoon, after his gun discharged while deer hunting in Iowa County. 46-year-old Steven Thompson was hunting about two miles east of Victor, when his shotgun accidentally fired, striking one of his big toes. He was treated in Marengo before being transferred to the University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

A rural Mason City man was hospitalized Sunday after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the foot while deer hunting in Floyd County. 29-year old Jeffrey Esser was wounded around 4 p.m. Sunday while hunting in heavy brush southeast of Nora Springs.  The DNR says Esser’s 12-gauge shotgun accidentally fired, hitting him in the right foot. He was taken to North Iowa Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, where he underwent surgery Sunday evening.

And, 48-year-old Clint Morgan, of Saucier, Miss., was wounded around noon Sunday southwest of Blakesburg, in Monroe County. Morgan was struck in the elbow by a slug fired by another member of his seven-member hunting party. Morgan was taken to a Des Moines hospital for treatment.

Each of the incidents are under investigation. None of the injuries were believed to be life threatening. The DNR estimated more than 100,000 hunters took to the field in pursuit of deer this weekend. So far this year, there have been at least 11 personal injury hunting-related incidents reported to the DNR.