petasux has it right. In an incident like this the only person to blame is the shooter. Period.

One of the most basic rules of gun safety was violated. The shooter should be charged to the full extent of the law. They should be made an example of.

Why? So people know what happens when you do make an incredibly reckless mistake like this.

Can there be rare exceptions to my way of thinking? Sure, but 99% of the stories I see are clear violations of knowing the target itself, or what is shortly behind it. The people who are that dangerous to be around should not be in the woods armed. I prefer to have everyone I know, and myself, to make it home after a days hunt.

You will have to forgive me for being angry though. I know someone who died in a deer drive when a fellow member of the party shot him in the leg. He bled out so fast they could not even attempt to save his life. At least the person who was shot survived. That's the only good thing about the story.