I know Beaver Hunting may sound like a joke but I’m deadly serious here. As long as we’ve been talking about hunting, I wanted to add this one.
Two older men. 70-ish decided to go beaver hunting about 2 months ago. They went to the river. One went on one side and the other went around to the other side.
One of them fell into the river and couldn’t swim. His friend on the other side heard the splash and not knowing it was his friend, started to shoot into the water.
Unfortunately for him and his friend, he shot him in the head and killed him.
So it brings me to question, should there be a limit as to what age you can use a gun?? Young people need to be a certain age and take hunters safety but what about older people who may have eye or hearing problems??
It was deemed an accident by the local RCMP but could they have avoided this horrible situation???
Us Girls..Our Views 
I don’t know. On one hand, I am sure it was an accident. On the other hand, aren’t there rules to the effect that you don’t shoot at something unless you are SURE what it is? So did this guy never learn this rule, or did he forget it? I feel that even though I’m sure he felt bad for his mistake, he should have been punished for causing harm by breaking a rule. Maybe that would make a few more people take the rule seriously.
I don’t think it’s an age-related issue, really. It’s a personality thing. Some people are like that throughout their lives. Acting without thinking. Feeling like life is going to pass them by if they stop to make sure they are doing the right thing. My dad (also a hunter/sportsman) is the type of person to really make sure before he acts. He’d rather miss an opportunity to prove his prowess than take a risk that someone could get hurt. He’s been like this since he was a fairly young man – which is to say that he learned from the mistakes of his youth. I am sure he’ll be reliable with a gun as long as he’s reliable with a car, and maybe longer.
First of all, I find the notion of beaver hunting horrid in and of itself – beavers are harmless to humans, why hunt the poor things?!
Second, I think the American gun control laws are horrible already, and I think you’re completely right – older people should have to renew their gun license, just like their driver’s license.
This story has NOTHING to do with age but rather hunter ethics.
This old man was so eager to “out hunt” his friend that he aimlesly discharged his fire arm in the direction of a SOUND!?
Any ETHICAL HUNTER knows that you ALWAYS KNOW what you are shooting at and just as importantly makes sure he/she has a “kill shot.”
You can’t just begin shooting at friggin noises!
Now this irresponsible person has changed (forever) the lives of BOTH families.
Idiot!!
Well put mssc54!
I think you hit the nail on the head too mssc.
Yea I can’t put it much better than mssc did. It is a sad story for sure!!
You should never shoot at what you hear only what you can see !!!Should be one of the rules you learn.
Yes, I think rather than age, there should be intelligence tests involved…
Of course I think the same sort of tests should be involved to become a parent….
I will admit I’m surprised they were shooting at the beaver…around here people typically trap them because I guess the pelts are worth money….My father has fought off trappers from his beaver pond for years. He likes the pond, but people keep sneaking in and trapping the beaver…
I just hate the thought of trapping Jen. Hunting doesn’t bother me as long as people eat what they hunt but trapping seems so cruel to me.
Yeah, the other thing about trapping is that it catches things other than the intended prey. Some years ago my sister’s beloved dog got lose on Christmas day and was missing for a few weeks. Every day, my dad and sister would go check the (illegally-set) traps up and down the stream behind my sister’s house. What an awful thought that an animal could be stuck in that situation for an extended time period, or end up with a broken leg. If you’re going to hunt, kill the animal and eat it, don’t torture it.
I agree with you SKL. Trapping only hurts the animal and it dies such a painful death. NO, hunting is one thing, trapping, completely another.
I think mssc said it best. Honestly, I kept waiting for the punch line b/c I still can’t believe this really happened!