FL: Man and dog shot by hunter

Man and dog shot by hunter at Guana River Wildlife Management

January 8, 2011

A Jacksonville man is recovering at Shands Hospital and his dog is dead after both were shot by a hunter at the Guana River Wildlife Management area in St. Johns County Saturday morning, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report.

Stephen Rodgers, 52, was hunting in one of the waterfowl impoundments with his mixed breed dog Saturday morning around 7:30 a.m. when they were both struck by a shot from another hunter, the report said.

Rodgers was airlifted to the hospital and treated for gunshot wounds to his right knee, the report said. His dog was taken to the St. Johns Animal Clinic but did not survive the shooting. They were struck by a steel shot bullet from a 12-guage shotgun, the report said.

The shooter, Thang Lian, 19, from Jacksonville, told investigators he was hunting deer and shot at Rodger’s dog because he thought it was a deer. Lian was not wearing hunter orange clothing and had not taken the required hunter safety class, the report said.

It is also small game season at the Guana River WMA and not legal to shoot deer, the report said.

Charges are pending at this time.

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