Opening Day Disaster: Michigan Hunter Shot to Death by a Fellow Hunter
OutdoorHub Reporters 11.17.18
There is sad news coming out of Michigan today as the Detroit Free Press is reporting that a Northern Michigan man has been shot in what appears to be a hunting accident. November 15th marked the the Michigan rifle opener for whitetail and undoubtedly saw a flood of hunters head in to the field. 38 year old Justin Beutal was one of those hunters, setting up on private land for his hunt. At some point in the course of Beutal’s outing, he was struck by a round and pronounced dead on the scene by local authorities. Here is more from Detroit Free Press:
“A 38-year-old hunter was shot and killed by another hunter in the northern Lower Peninsula on Thursday, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Justin Beutel of Sanford, Michigan, was hunting in Helena Township, about 20 miles northeast of Traverse City, when he was shot by a 45-year-old Gaylord man on the opening day of firearm deer hunting season.
First responders found Beutel unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that Mr. Beutel was deer hunting on private property and was apparently shot by another subject hunting nearby,” said Lt. James Gorno, a district law supervisor with the DNR.
Gorno said the two men were not hunting together and it is believed that they do not know each other.
The Antrim County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and the DNR are investigating. “
This is a great reminder that while most hunters take every precaution possible to keep themselves and other hunters safe, accidents can certainly do happen.
Stay safe out there!
