Tragic Accident
 

Guys, please be sure of your targets! This poor man shot his 9 year old son mistaking him for a turkey. He told the boy to stay put, but the boy was excited and didn't listen. He approached his father as his father attempted to stalk some birds. His father mistook him for a turkey and shot him in the chest with a 12 Gauge. I can't imagine the pain this man is going thru. This is so senseless.
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/17956264.html

RE: Tragic Accident
 

My God. I can only pray for this family. I simply could not imagine this gentlemen's life from hear on out. He will need a strong faith to keep him going. A tragic blow to our sport, but a grim reminder of just how important safety first is and always will be. My wife and I are expecting our first, I cannot stop the dreams and thoughts of getting that young one out in the woods with me as early and I can. Reading this story sent a strong chill down my spine.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

I dant imagine what the family is going through. I will have to bring this up with a coworker, he just took his son for the first time out with him on a turkey hunt.The bo and his fatherlook alot like them. thanks for posting this

RE: Tragic Accident
 

wow. thats all i can say is wow. i couldnt imagine how bad id feel after that. i couldnt live with myself. but that accident does bring hunting ethics to the table, for all hunters, not just turkey hunters. "always be 100% sure what your target is" has always been a top rule of mine and the people i hunt with. if it looks like a turkey moving through the bush but you dont see a head or body dont shoot. if your deer hunting and see a dark figure moving through the woods at dusk and cant tell its a deer, dont shoot. i was hunting with my best friend last deer season. he left the stand early anddid a grunt call along a side path at dusk by the area i was hunting to mess with me. i knew i could shoot exactly where the grunt came from but didnt want to risk anything. he called me to tell me not to shoot because he knew id be ready but not takin a shot without verification what i was shootin at

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How do you mistake a 9 year old child as a turkey...? The guy was either a slob hunter in the first place, or he was just careless. Dont shoot at movement.. shoot at a turkey.. i mean 9 year old kid... orrrr a tiny black turekey.... hmmmmmmm they look quite different..

RE: Tragic Accident
 

besides.. what was the idiot doing stalking a gobbler? Isnt that illegal/stupid in the first place??? Thats why you dont go after gobbler sounds---so you dont mistakenly shoot a goddamn human..

RE: Tragic Accident
 

thats very sad
what gets me how did he know it was a gobbler or a hen he was just planning on shooting whatever i guess

RE: Tragic Accident
 

Very sad, always a reminder to be careful and stay composed, and obviously to indentify your target 100% of the time. When my (13 month old) daughter is old enough to go with me hunting, i will never let her leave my side. This is so sad, couldnt imagine losing the most important thing in my life, while doing what i love the most.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

While it is sad and all my thoughts and prayers go out to the family, We can all take something from stories like this.
Make sure of your target.
Make sure of your target.
Make sure of your target!
Regardless of whether or not it was because of something stupid or "illeagl" which stalking is not,at least notin missouri I know, this should serve as a reminder that we need to do all we can to be a safe as possible in the woods. I know when I hunt with a partner and we seperate, if one of us moves we carry hunter orange to put on while we are moving through the woods.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

Well, another man who will probably never hunt again and it took the ultimate price paid to teach a lesson.
There isn't a substitute for safety,
There isn't a reason to hunt unethically,
Guns are dangerous, treat them with respect.
Keep in mind your basic hunters safety education always.
Kids get killed sometimes, old women get killed sometimes, its because people keep acting like fools is why it keeps happening

RE: Tragic Accident
 

This is heart breaking ... Thoughts & Prayers go out to the Family!

RE: Tragic Accident
 

I don't get it[:@]. I really do feel sorry for this family but how can this happen? This man will have to live with what he's done for the rest of his life but it was preventable guys. My 11 year old and I take the hunter safety course EVERY year. It's a reminder of what can happen when you lose focus. This is so sad, makes me sick, makes me angry[:o]. I just don't get it. We'll definately be praying for the family and friends of this little boy.

God Bless,

RE: Tragic Accident
 

I agree..... sometimes even those with alot of experience become lazy when it comes to safety. It sucks that things like this have to happen to remind people not to get lazy when it comes to firearms.

To those hunters out there that loose all composure when you see big game..... get some disipline about yourself before you handle a firearm. Getting excited is to be expected thats why we hunt, but loosing your mind, and taking pop shots at things in the bushes is unsatisfactory!

RE: Tragic Accident
 

that is awful.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

It shouldnt have happened but it did. Pray for the family I can't imagine how this guy feels.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

Very Tragic!! Prayers for the family!
Every one of you out there hunting should have been taught how to hunt safe. It is easy to get caught up in the chase of the hunt,
BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER TO ALWAYS "HUNT SAFE"! ALWAYS IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET BEFORE YOU SHOOT!!!

RE: Tragic Accident
 

I think all of you lambasting this poor ba$turd should be ashamed of yourselves. This man just lost his son! With a 7 yr old daughter, and a son that will turn 3 in June, I cannot think of a greater loss than what this man is now feeling.

And I'd just like to point something out...

According to the article, the man was out hunting, and then got up to stalk some turkeys. Perhaps he had a gobbler near, and was getting into range. To better his chances (and for his son's safety), he told his son to stay put.

I don't know (and neither do you), but he could have actually been shooting at a turkey! His son may have gotten between him and the bird. I don't know about you guys, but if my 7 year old was slinking through the woods in camoflauge, hunched over, I would not see her. A true accident.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

I agree, sad situation all the way around!

RE: Tragic Accident
 

I hunt public land and I think about idiots like this everytime I step foot in the turkey woods... The woods are FULL of F STICKS like this!!!!

RE: Tragic Accident
 

While I can't even imagine how this guy feels to have killed his son.....

YOU DO NOT SHOOT AT SOUNDS
YOU DO NOT SHOOT AT MOVEMENT

What part of SAFETY do we not seem to understand?! BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET! Basic, basic, basic hunter safety here.

This isn't the only story I've heard like this though, and I've heard similar accounts since I was old enough to hunt (nearly 30 years ago). So, it would seem that there ARE some hunters out there in the field with us that we should ALL beware of? Do we look at one of them in the mirror in the morning?

Folks, in all seriousness - Inexcusable. Completely preventable. Bad as I feel for this guy, he failed his ultimate hunter safety test. IMO - turn in your guns, you're done.

Edit: And for those of you who will inevitably curse me for my "lack of compassion", imagine this: A little boy, who's probably excited to do ANYTHING with his Dad. Goes hunting. Dadends his life in an "accidental" shooting.

- What about that little boy and his dreams?

- What about his mother and sisters, who probably said goodbye to him the night before, knowing he and Dad were going out early to hunt the next morning, but not knowing it'd be the last "goodbye"?

- Just what is "accidental" aboutany shooting, versus - say - slipping on a log while stepping over it? Shooting is, at its very core, aVERY deliberate action.

He's going to need a lot of help to get over this. His faith and his family for certain. They absolutely must muster up enough love to forgive him. And he'll have to muster the courage (in time) toforgive HIMSELF.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

That awfull. I'm praying for the family.

Like others said be sure of your target. But also be sure of what is behind your target.

I think many people forget the second part of this. If the guy was shooting at a turkey the kid may have been behind the turkey too. I'm not saying it happened here. I'm just saying a shot will travel a good distance and can kill someone you didn't see. Public land scares me in this way. I like a big tree at my back and orange when I move.

Everyone makes mistakes. Hopefully they don't end like this one did. Regardless, the Dad and the family need prayer big time.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

Sorry but he didn't loose his son he killed his son. No one to blame but him self.

Accident?

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My son is 9 and this is his second year with a gun thrird with me in the woods total. He never is more then 5 feet away from me. When we set up I have him in place and then I get into place. I would never think of leaving him in the woods to go after any game. It is very sad.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

You arent allowed to leave a 9 year old child to walk around in the first place. He was supposed to be right with the child never leaving his side. How can the kid get between the gobbler and the dad if the dad left the kid and went walking...??? If the dad left the kid at a spot and went stalking a turkey to the north, the kid would be sitting south of the dads position. If the turkey is north of the dad how did the kid get between the dad and the turkey...? that would have been quite a jaunt for the boy. Or did the dad senselessly turn around and stalk on his way back to his son and shot in the direction of his son...? either way the guy has noone to blame but himself.. shoot at turkeys.. not movement.. and this problem would never have occured.. simple as that..

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No doubt guys this man has noone to blame but himself. However, I believe he made a mistake and will pay for it for the rest of his life because his mistake cost his son's life. Stupid mistake ...sure... nothing discussing it can change what happened. He and his family need prayer... And we need to remind everyone to be carefull.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

You are right.. it cant change what has happened.. but us discussing this issue CAN prevent it from happening again... it can make some hunters use more caution and safety while hunting, and our discussions may spark some of the board members to instill that same precaution in the friends and other family members they hunt with as well..

RE: Tragic Accident
 

This poor ba$turd doesn't need excuses either... Pray for the family, pray for him... What's done is done. lesson learned, Be safe.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

all this is is ammo for the anti-hunters. my sons name is hunter also, and he would never be left alone under any, any surcumstance. matter of fact if it was a stalk he would have been right by my side learning how.I only hunt from ground blinds and tree stands to prevent such a tragedy. hunter saftey courses dont end when you leave the class... there a constant vigil of being carefull.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

brutal story all the way around... prayers go out to the young boyand his family

RE: Tragic Accident
 

There will be many versions of the story as time goes on. I based my comments on the initial report that "He mistook his Son for a Turkey". No, we don't know exactly how this tragedy played out but as I said, I feel for this man but this incident was avoidable. My son is 11 and he stays with me at all times. It's the law in most states. My son and I take the hunter's safety course every year. It's fun and keeps the rules of gun safety, sportsmanship, and ethics fresh in the mind of young hunters and adults alike. Again, what's done is done and we can't change the outcome but we can get on our knees and pray for this family.

God Bless,

RE: Tragic Accident
 

You are an ass - show some compassion you like most folks on this forum are getting your licks in while you can - you think your words or opinions can make it any worse

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Just giving my opinion don't like it I really don't care.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

Totaly Agree!

RE: Tragic Accident
 

X3

My take on all of this FWIW. I read about these "accidents" every year. "mistaken for game" is how the reports read. I truly believe that in the majority of cases, these things happen to good people who think they are safe hunters doing the right thing, but get caught up in the moment and lose their mental focus. Anyone who has taken a Psychology 101 course should be familiar with "premature closure". If you are a hunter, you should become familiar with what this term means. Basically EVERY ONE of our brains is wired to fill in information gaps as the need arises. So someone sees movement or a part of something that looks like a game animal and the brain fills in the rest. That makes the hunter truly believe he/she is seeing the game animal in question. ANYONE can be a victim of this.

So how do you guard against this? Know that it exists and when you think you see your target, look again, look harder, don't see individual parts, see the WHOLE target. Don't shoot into thick brush. Look, look and look some more before you take the shot. Might the hesitation to be sure of your target makeyou lose your shot opportunity? Sometimes, it might happen. No game animal is worth the risk if your brain makes a mistake.

Like fingerz42 said. Discussion like this is always good. It makes us all look inward to see what could happen and makes us all safer hunters. Too bad a young man had to lose his life to bring this about. My prayers are with the family. I can't even imagine what they must be going through.

Good luck to all out there and be safe!

RE: Tragic Accident
 

Update on the story:

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/18608114.html

RE: Tragic Accident
 

Wow, Hope they throw every charge they can at him.[:@][:'(]

RE: Tragic Accident
 

I hope they lock him away forever.......



StarTribune.com
Charges: Hunter who killed son had beer, pot in his system

By CHAO XIONG, Star Tribune

May 5, 2008

The Belle Plaine man who fatally shot his 8-year-old son in the chest last month while turkey hunting had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the time, according to a felony second-degree manslaughter charge filed Monday.

Anthony Klaseus, 39, told authorities that he told his son, Hunter, to stay put as he circled a field to approach turkeys sometime after 5 p.m. April 19 in a field east of Crahan Lane near County Road 6 in Sibley County, according to charges filed in Sibley County District Court.

Klaseus called to the turkeys. They called back and moved toward him.

"Then I heard something snap or break near me, and a large figure rose up," he told authorities. "I thought it was a turkey, and I shot and it went down. I thought I shot the turkey. Then my son jumped back up screaming and then fell back down."

Hunter, dressed in full camouflage and wearing a hood, looked like a "turkey fanning out," Klaseus told authorities. Department of Natural Resources regulations only allow hunters to shoot turkeys with visible beards, a feathered appendage on the breast.

Klaseus and paramedics performed CPR on Hunter, but he died at the scene.

Klaseus took a breath test at the scene that registered a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.06 percent, the charges said. A urine test taken three hours after the shooting showed an ethyl alcohol concentration of 0.05 grams per 67 milliliters. It also showed that he had marijuana in his system, although the exact concentration won't be known for a few weeks.

Authorities said it's unclear exactly when he consumed the alcohol and marijuana.

Two 12-packs of beer, three six-packs of beer, an empty 24-pack of beer and a marijuana pipe were found in Klaseus' truck at the scene, the charges say. The packs of beer contained empty and full cans.

"That's just one side of the story," said Klaseus' attorney, Patrick Flanagan. "The family is distraught. They're trying to work through the loss of their son. They were hoping the county attorney would come up with a different conclusion."

Flanagan declined to address details revealed in the charges. The family did not want to comment, said Hunter's grandmother.

Hunter's death was the first turkey hunting fatality since turkey hunting began here in 1978. Last year, two people were fatally shot in hunting accidents in Minnesota. All told, in 2007, there were 23 incidents of hunters being shot at in the state.

"One of the 10 safety rules of hunting, besides being sure of your target, is not to consume ... alcohol or be on any kinds of drugs," said Al Thomas, executive director of Turn in Poachers, a nonprofit that promotes safe and ethical sportsmanship. "By following the rules of safe shooting, maybe it could've been prevented."

Klaseus is also charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm and two misdemeanor charges: trespassing and hunting turkeys without a license. He was drawn to buy a license, but never made the $18 purchase.

Klaseus is scheduled to make his first court appearance May 22. He will not be arrested in connection with the charges.

He was cited by a DNR official for marijuana possession in 1996.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

He deserves everything he gets.So senseless and stupid.My god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Tragic Accident
 

First off, my prayers go to the family and to the little boy.

Second, the father should rot in hell. Taking a 8 year old boy hunting after you've been drinking and smoking dope. Why was he even in the woods in the first place? Unreal.

RE: Tragic Accident
 

and without a license to hunt... and trespassing on property he wasnt supposed to hunt on in the first place...

Very sad story... sickening to think about..