Man shot after being mistaken for a deer
A 56-year-old Baltimore County man was in critical condition at Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore on Saturday after being accidentally shot Friday afternoon while hunting with a friend in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Maryland Natural Resources police said Darryl James Patrylak of Bear Creek was shot by his companion, Gerald E. Merkle, 58, of Parkville, who was in a tree stand with a 30.06 rifle. Patrylak was wearing camouflage clothing, but not a reflective safety vest or cap, police said, and Merkle mistook him for a deer.
Read more about the Maryland man accidentally shot by his companion while deer hunting in the Baltimore Sun.
By
Washington Post editors
| December 6, 2010; 10:58 AM ET
Categories:
Crime and Public Safety, Maryland
Save & Share:
Previous: Two marshals hurt serving warrant in D.C.
Next: Baker sworn in as Pr. Geo.'s county exec
Posted by: Hlynchmaster | December 6, 2010 11:15 AM | Report abuse
Hlynchmaster,
The article states he wasn't wearing the required reflective clothing but was wearing camo. So, if I had to guess, he was shot for shear stupidity.
An orange vest, hat or coat isn't going to keep you from bagging a deer. Being shot will keep you from getting a deer.
Posted by: BigDaddy651 | December 6, 2010 11:29 AM | Report abuse
How the heck do you shoot your companion on
a hunting trip.
Flashback of the nations ex-Vice Pres.
Are these hunters drinking on the hunt? Seems that way to me. If not, maybe they need to get their vision checked. There is a big difference between a man and a deer.
Posted by: Hlynchmaster | December 6, 2010 11:39 AM | Report abuse
Can't summon up much sympathy for anyone who finds pleasure in killing animals for the fun of it. And save the "thinning the herd" excuses. If any species on this planet needs to be thinned out, it's humans.
Posted by: Nghbrhdwatch | December 6, 2010 11:50 AM | Report abuse
'Can't summon up much sympathy for anyone who finds pleasure in killing animals for the fun of it.'
How do you know they were pleasure hunters? Venision kept my family fed throughout the winter growing up.
Posted by: Greent | December 6, 2010 12:11 PM | Report abuse
*venison
Posted by: Greent | December 6, 2010 12:12 PM | Report abuse
>
If the WaPo elaborates further with a lengthy story about these two hunting for the local food bank or to feed their families during these tough economic times, I'll offer up a mea culpa.
Posted by: Nghbrhdwatch | December 6, 2010 12:39 PM | Report abuse
Stupidity and Guns, always a winning combination.
Posted by: DCFanatic | December 6, 2010 12:48 PM | Report abuse
Nghbrhdwatch - I agree, let's start with your stupid butt!
Posted by: madmike272 | December 6, 2010 1:12 PM | Report abuse
If it moves and doesn't wear orange, shoot it.
Posted by: blasmaic | December 6, 2010 1:53 PM | Report abuse
Can't summon up much sympathy for anyone who finds pleasure in killing animals for the fun of it.'
How do you know they were pleasure hunters? Venision kept my family fed throughout the winter growing up.
Posted by: Greent | December 6, 2010 12:11 PM | Report abuse
____________________________________
Well I have no problem with shooting deers I love venison, but "Venison kept my family fed throughout the winter growing up"? Where did you live little house on the prairie? Did you grow up in the 1800s? WTF? LOL LOL LOL
Posted by: wstclair | December 6, 2010 4:22 PM | Report abuse
I always thought a tree stand was UP IN A TREE not at ground level. If this is right Mr Merkle should be banned from deer hunting.
Posted by: Jimof1913 | December 6, 2010 5:45 PM | Report abuse
Why is this news? This stuff used to happen all the time in the south. Cops would shoot at black men and think they were deer walking in the midle of the street.
Posted by: PublicEnemy1 | December 6, 2010 5:57 PM | Report abuse
Why was this guy not wearing blaze orange? I thought that was a law.
Posted by: HappyArmyWife | December 7, 2010 7:45 AM | Report abuse
Why was this guy not wearing blaze orange? I thought that was a law.
Posted by: HappyArmyWife | December 7, 2010 7:46 AM | Report abuse
In the deep south where people distrust the government if they find out you work for the government, they say "Wanna go huntin'?"
Posted by: SusanMarie2 | December 7, 2010 7:57 AM | Report abuse
"...who was in a tree stand with a 30.06 rifle."
=========================================
The correct designation is .30-06, not 30.06.
Posted by: Hk45 | December 7, 2010 8:14 AM | Report abuse
Bad day to wear the antler hat.
What confuses me is that I see deer every day, and none of them are wearing camo. Does this mean that the guy was shooting at anything that moved?
Posted by: stepnRazr | December 7, 2010 8:26 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
How the heck do you shoot your companion on
a hunting trip.
Flashback of the nations ex-Vice Pres.
Are these hunters drinking on the hunt? Seems that way to me. If not, maybe they need to get their vision checked. There is a big difference between a man and a deer.