Monday, December 3, 2007 5:02 AM CST
3 injured in separate deer hunting incidents
DES MOINES --- Three deer hunters were injured in separate
incidents in Osceola, Fayette and Delaware counties on Saturday
evening and Sunday morning.
Luke Sietstra, 29, of Sheldon, was deer hunting with others in
Osceola County north of Melvin when a shot was fired at a deer running
between him and others striking him in the arm and shoulder at
approximately 5 p.m. Saturday. He was taken to a hospital in Sheldon
and later transferred to a hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Derek Kleitsch, 19, of Sumner, was deer hunting in a group north of
Fairbank in Fayette County when he was hit in the leg near the knee
when a shot was fired at a moving deer between him and other hunters
in his party at approximately 9:45 a.m. Sunday. He was treated and
released from a hospital in Sumner.
A 38-year-old Winterset man received minor injuries while hunting
deer in Delaware County on Sunday afternoon.
Shane Pashek was hunting in a group of a dozen hunters south of
Manchester when he was struck in the left shoulder by a deer slug. It
is estimated the slug was fired from approximately 100 yards, glancing
off his shoulder to the ground, having lost most of its velocity by
the time it struck him.
Pashek was taken to Regional Medical Center in Manchester where he
was treated for a bruise to his shoulder and released.
All three incidents are continuing to be investigated by the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources.
Deer hunters were challenged by a variety of weather and lighting
conditions during the opening weekend of deer shotgun season, said Rod
Slings, supervisor of the DNR's recreational safety section of the law
enforcement bureau.
"We have encountered everything from rain, sleet and snow on
Saturday to sunny conditions over southern Iowa by Sunday afternoon.
These changing light conditions make it that much more difficult ---
and important --- to make sure you know what is in your line of fire
when taking a shot," said Slings.
Slings said the latest two hunting incidents also underscore the
potential dangers involved with party hunting of deer.
"Shooting at running deer while hunting in a group is the number
one cause of people getting hurt by firearms while deer hunting. It is
vitally important that you know where everyone is and only take shots
that will ensure the safety of everyone involved," said Slings.
