Press Releases

Contact: Edie Smith, Spokesperson
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Media representatives can receive press releases via e-mail.

Telephone: work (207) 592-4348

Fax: (207) 287-6395

Oct. 11, 2009

Mapleton Man Out Duck Hunting Hit by Bird Shot

Augusta, Maine - A Mapleton man in his 20s was hit by bird shot when duck hunting with his friend, a man in his 20s from Mapleton, on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The men were hunting along Realty Road in remote T11 R15 when the man was struck with bird shot is his lower leg and foot. The men immediately drove to The Aroostook Medical Center, where the injured man was treated for his non-life threatening injuries.

Sgt. Brian Gray and Game Warden Kevin Pelkey are investigating the incident. The names are unavailable at this time.

This is the third incident in which a hunter has been hit with bird shot since Oct. 1. On Thursday, October 8, a Great Falls, Virginia man was hit in the cheek while hunting with a friend in Long Pond Township.

John F. Burke, 45, of Great Falls, Virginia, was walking along a road when a pellet apparently ricocheted off a tree and hit him in the cheek. His friend, Tim Wright, 44, of Lexington, Mass., had just flushed out a woodcock in the vicinity of the road when he fired. Both men were on a guided tour with Paul King of Winthrop.

The men drove to C.A. Dean Hospital in Greenville, where Mr. Burke was treated and released.

Sgt. Bill Chandler and Game Warden Troy Dauphinee investigated the incident.

On Oct. 1, a pheasant hunter was hit by bird shot in the chest area while hunting on Chebeague Island. He was treated at a Portland hospital and released.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

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