Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher(Update pg.6)
 

This type of stuff fires me up! A horrible, senseless tragedy.He great kid, who would have turned 19 today. It really saddens me to hear this type of news...

http://www.kansas.com/275/story/257424.html

Student killed while hunting
BY MICHAEL PEARCE
The Wichita Eagle

An 18-year-old college student was shot and killed while goose hunting Saturday morning in northern Lyon County.

The Lyon County Sheriff's Department identified the victim as Beau Arndt of Americus, a freshman at Emporia State University.

Arndt and two friends had placed several dozen goose decoys in a field and were lying in the snow dressed in white when a pickup stopped along a nearby road and fired a rifle shot into the decoys, striking Arndt.

Arndt was pronounced dead at the scene. His hunting companions said the truck left the scene slowly after the shot was fired.

The sheriff's department is asking for help locating a late-1970s model orange and red Ford pickup believed to have a Shawnee County license plate. Witnesses told authorities the pickup had four occupants.

Authorities speculate the shooter mistook the decoys for real geese. Shooting waterfowl with a rifle is illegal in Kansas. The shooter also broke the law by shooting from within a vehicle and shooting onto the property without the landowner's permission.

Wayne Doyle, of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, said Arndt's death is the first hunting fatality in Kansas since 2005. Annually, about 275,000 Kansas hunters log more than 3 million days afield. Doyle said they average less than one fatality a year.

"So far this year I think we've had 11 (non-fatal) accidents reported," Doyle said. "When you consider how much time's spent hunting, that's a very insignificant number, but it's certainly not insignificant to those involved. This is sad. It's tragic."

He said most of Kansas' hunting fatalities come from unsafe gun handling, like removing a loaded firearm from a gun case or vehicle while on a hunting trip. Two within the past 15 years involved unsupervised young children carrying firearms afield without parental permission.

Doyle said Arndt's death was the first fatality involving goose hunters and a passing vehicle he's heard of in Kansas, though the department receives frequent complaints of poachers driving back roads and illegally shooting at game from their vehicles.

Several years ago a South Dakota goose hunter was shot and killed while hiding amid goose decoys. The rifle shot was fired by the man who'd given him permission to hunt the property. The landowner said he mistook the decoys for live geese and fired the shot hoping to spook them from his grain field.

Randy Smith, a friend of Arndt's family, spoke highly of the young hunter.

"You couldn't ask for a better kid," Smith said. "He was big into waterfowl hunting, fishing, deer hunting. Outdoors is where he always wanted to be. He had a really bright future ahead of him."

Smith said word spread quickly around Americus, a small town near Emporia.

Condolences have also been posted on several online hunting sites. Smith said sportsmen are frustrated that Arndt was hunting legally and killed by an illegally fired bullet.

"It's being called a hunting accident but that bullet was fired by a poacher," Smith said. "Hunting had nothing to do with it. There's no way it should have happened."

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Hopefully someone can recognize the description of the truck.His memorial fund will be dedicated to programs to benefit hunting, be it Hunter's Safety Programs, Youth Hunting programs, KBA Youth programs or Scholarship benefits, anything to do with getting young kids into hunting and the outdoors sports. His father said that any kid that gets involved in hunting will be a good citizen, like all that have come to support the family.

Memorial Funds could be sent if anyone is interested in doing so
They can be sent to:
Beau Arndt Memorial Fund
C/O Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home
605 State Street
Emporia Kansas, 66801.

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Witnesses in the area described a truck they'd seen as a late 1970s model Ford pickup with a standard cab and Shawnee County license plate. Eichorn says that a witness now believes there were three men inside, not the four officials originally thought.

The cab and front end of the truck are red; the pickup bed is orange. The rear of the bed has an old Ford logo described as three blocks ; one large, one medium and one small.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lyon County Sheriff's Office at 342-5545, Lyon County Crimestoppers at 342-2273 or 1-800-KS CRIME.

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RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

That is HORRIBLE.

I cannot believe someone would ignorantly fire a rifle into a group of decoys...

I hope they catch this guys quickly and put them in prison where they belong!

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

My condolences to this family.

Hunting accident my butt! Hope they catch the nogoods who did this and penalize them to the max within what the law allows.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Man... That's a tough pill to swallow right there... Seems like a great kid too. Senseless...

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Oh man, thats just horrible and tragic. My heart goes out to his family and friends, so sad.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

:(

No words

As for as I am concearn the kid was murdered[>:] Lock him up, or fry the SOB

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Things like that really piss me off. Hopefully they will find the person responsible. If you hear of anything, keep us all updated. Thanks for sharing.

RE: Fellow Bow hunter Killed by Poacher
 

that is terrible senseless and stupid . That is to bad a good young kid has to pay the price because of a moron. I hope they catch him and give him a long sentence . people like that don't need to be in society

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

I agree..with the latter. This is just a senseless CRIME not a hunting accident or an accident at all, its a crime, this guy should be punished accordingly!

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

That is terrible....I sure hope they find this piece of &*#T!!!!!! People like that sure can do alot of damage in a short amount of time[:@].Truley a heart felt prayer is sent to this young man and his family!

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

The worst part is, there is no punishment to fit the crime.

Tom

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Exactly.

This is a truely disturbing event.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Someone's conscience will bother them enough to where they will come forward. Might take awhile, though.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Sadly, there were reportedly four occupants in the vehicle. It would have only taken one to say "don't do it". Also, why are they not stepping up now to say what happened? By remaining silent, they are all guilty.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Germ's got it right. MURDER!!!!! I hope they lock the dirtball's up forever.[:@]

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

horrible, just HORRIBLE!! Hopefully they will get what they deserve. My prayer has been sent for the family.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Very sad!

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

That is awful, i couldnt imagine going out doing waht i love and getting killed by someone's careless act of crime. [:@], Prayers sent out to the family and friends.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Eye for an Eye. Line them up and let the family have at them!

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

How stupid and irresponsible can you be! In addition to being illegal, it's not like it isn't easy to pick
out people dressed as goose decoys. It reminds me of the guy that shot at the deer decoy 7 times
from less than 100 yards and it didn't move. The shooter should be sterilized on account of stupidity.

Due to the illegality of his conduct at the time, in my state it could possibly be negligent homicide
and he could get a sentence of 3-5 years or so.

This is not a typical hunting accident. Although it is a "mistake" in that he didn't mean to kill
someone, it is one that was made recklessly, callously, and in violation of 3-4 different laws, so I think
there is probably a criminal charge for this similar to killing someone (unintentionally) while drunk driving.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

It shouldn't be a hunting accident, it should be considered a murder. Prison for life![:@]
Condolences to the family...:(

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Prayers sent to the family and friends[&o]

They need to find not just the guy that pulled the trigger, but all three of them and give 'em what they deserve[:@]

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Sad

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

first thing that runs through my head is this sounds like a smaller town(could be wrong) but if it is a small town how many trucks can have a red cab an orange bed???? i live in a small town an u pretty much no who drives what.... u would think for sure someone would know a old red an orange pickup??????????????????????

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Everybody calm down. Its not murder. It negligent homicide or possibly manslaughter. To be considered murder there must be intent. In other words the guy shooting the rifle had to know that there was a kid in there and decided to kill him. Not that it matters one iota.

For all of those who yelled to string them up.... Ask yourself this: "have you ever been tempted to shoot at something from a truck?" Have you ever been driving down the road and see a big buck, or monster tom turkey and thought about shooting it? Just remember that us humans are flawed, and we make mistakes. "judge not, less ye be judged"

I'm not condoneing what they done. Its horrible and senseless. I feel horrible for the family and my prayers go out to them. I certainly hope that the offender comes forward.

I'll tell you one thing after reading this story, The next time that I shoot at something I'll think twice about it. Remember folks, the first rule is: "to always be certain of your target and the background"

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

It is a small town, but supposevily the truck had license tags from Shawnee Co. (Topeka).... Which a lot of people live in.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

I'm speechless...
I could only hope their guilt will get the better of them and they'll turn themselves in.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

I can only thank God that no one was killed.....in all of the stupid things I did as a younger man.

I wish peace for theyoung man'sfamily.....and PROPER justice for the person who shot him.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Wow, Joey... I can't even begin to describe the roller coaster of emotions I'm riding after reading that press release... Anger, sadness, grief... amazing.

I hope the truck leaving the scene slowly means the shooter saw the result of his despicable actions and he has to live with himself now.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Horrible loss, what a shame.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Falling out of your tree stand is a hunting accident. Shooting someone else while hunting is not an accident. I don't care if you didn't mean to kill someone.

Such lack of care for someone else's life should carry a long prison term.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

I am sure they will find this truck or one of the people in it will come forward if they are not cowards. This is horrible and should have never happened. However people are people and we all make mistakes. Some mistakes are much more damaging than others such as in this case. Prayers for the family and friends.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Juat a horrible tragedy. Condolences to the family, and hopes that the authorities catch the scumbag. 4 people in the truck, they ain't all going to be able to keep that silent.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

That is a shame. It's the primary reason we have a law that statesyou should never shoot from a highway, vehicle etc. Goes back to the old hunter safety ethics of be sure of your target and what's beyond. There's no way you can drive down a road, see something, stop and take a whack at it and know what's going on. Many years ago in Georgia I had a similar thing happen. I was hunting private ground and was back off the road in some pines about 100 yards. There were a couple fields across the road where I couldn't hunt. The deer traveled a brushy hedgerow between the fields coming into my pines. I saw 4 does coming from across the road. There was a little rise about 50 yards in front of me half way to the road. These does were milling around munching mushrooms when this car comes down. I already am in a shooting mode thinking a buck may be tagging along. The car stops with the does directly between me and them. Out the window comes a gun. BLAM.....Having not too long before returned from my second tour in Vietnam of course the first thing and really only thing that registers is the bull whip SNAP of the bullet going by. I simply raised my gun barrell a little and responded somewhere over the truck. They were gone in a hail of gravel scratching and spinning of tires. I have no idea how close it came, but it was close enough for SNAP. Of course they never knew I was there until I returned fire. That's why we have the law. An absolute shame that a deer.... or in this case a darn goose is worth that much to someone to endanger a life and risk loosing the vehicle, weapons and freedom. A damn goose no less.[:@][:@]

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

Iread it already. People have no idea what a sensless act can cost. It took us eight and a half years to have my oldest daughter. Fewpeople can understand how much she means to me. This boy was someone's baby and he was taken for a ... goose. Just no words to express how sensless it all realy is.

My baby came close recently to being taken by a sensless semi driver. Very grateful the Good Lord spared me the pain.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

That's a terrible tragedy and my wife and I's thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends.

He looks like a good kid too.. what a shame..

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

That really sucks, i hope they find those responsable, sounds like he was a great young man.

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

That is the second one this year that this happened to! Damn poachers need to be hung for this BS!!!

RE: Fellow Bowhunter Killed by Poacher
 

We can only pray that they man that shot him will be found and the young man is saved. My prayers will be with the friends and family of this young man.