Hunter falls, shoots himself accidentally

By Christine Pizzuti
Poughkeepsie Journal








KERHONKSON - An Ellenville man got off to a rough start in the deer hunting season Saturday morning when he slipped on wet rocks and moss, and accidentally shot himself with a rifle at Minnewaska State Park, state police said.








At about 7:20 a.m., state police in Ellenville, state Department of Environmental Conservation officers and state forest rangers found the injured man who had reported to Ulster County 911 he had accidentally shot himself while hunting.








With the assistance of the state police aviation unit, state police in Ellenville found the man had been injured about a half mile into the woods off the Old Minnewaska Trail in Kerhonkson.








Investigation found Joseph Bermo, 36, was walking along a trail with another hunter when he slipped on wet moss-covered rocks. As he fell, he accidentally discharged the rifle into the rock below and the bullet ricocheted into him, police said.








Bermo was transported via Stat Flight Helicopter to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla for treatment of injuries to his right arm and torso, which were later found to be minor and superficial.








Police said he was so deep in the woods, it took about three hours to lift him out of the park.








State police were assisted at the scene by Kerhonkson/ Accord Rescue Squad, Mobile Life, Accord Fire Department, state Department of Environmental Conservation, state forest rangers and state park police.