Goose hunter killed by poachers.


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Teen goose hunter killed by shot fired from passing vehicle

The Associated Press

EMPORIA, Kan. | An Emporia State University freshman died after being shot by someone in a passing vehicle while he was hunting for geese.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Department said Beau Arndt, 18, of Americus and two friends had placed several dozen goose decoys in a farm field Saturday and were lying in the snow waiting for incoming birds.

Arndt’s companions said a pickup truck stopped along a nearby road and someone fired a rifle shot into the decoys, but hit Arndt instead. The truck left the scene slowly after the shot was fired, Arndt’s friends told authorities.

Arndt was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Sheriff’s Department is looking for a late 1970s orange and red Ford pickup that is believed to have Shawnee County plates.

Shooting waterfowl with a rifle is illegal in Kansas, and it’s also against the law to shoot from inside a vehicle and or onto someone’s property without permission.

Though there typically are gunshot accidents each year during hunting season, Arndt is the first person killed in a hunting accident in Kansas since 2005, said Wayne Doyle of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

“So far this year I think we’ve had 11 (nonfatal) accidents reported,” Doyle said. “When you consider how much time’s spent hunting, that’s a very insignificant number, but it’s certainly not insignificant to those involved. This is sad. It’s tragic.”

Word of Arndt’s death spread quickly around Americus, a small town near Emporia. Randy Smith, a friend of Arndt’s family, said hunters are upset that Arndt was killed by an illegally fired bullet.

“It’s being called a hunting accident, but that bullet was fired by a poacher,” Smith said. “Hunting had nothing to do with it. There’s no way it should have happened.”

Doyle said most of the state’s hunting fatalities are the result of careless gun handling, though two in the past 15 years involved unsupervised children carrying firearms without permission.

He said the Department of Wildlife frequently gets complaints about poachers who drive back roads and illegally fire at animals from their vehicles.

Smith described Arndt as an avid hunter.

“You couldn’t ask for a better kid,” he said. “He was big into waterfowl hunting, fishing, deer hunting. Outdoors is where he always wanted to be. He had a really bright future ahead of him.”

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Really sad story.

“It’s being called a hunting accident, but that bullet was fired by a poacher,” Smith said. “Hunting had nothing to do with it. There’s no way it should have happened.”

That is the truth, and those responsible should be dealt with in a manner that they are charged at the very least with murder.

May sound redundant, but again I say these pieces of garbage need to be made examples of when they are caught.

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“It’s being called a hunting accident, but that bullet was fired by a poacher,” Smith said. “Hunting had nothing to do with it. There’s no way it should have happened.”

Man, It really irks me when I here Poachers called hunters in any way, shape or form :mad:

Here you have a case of poaching, that turns to manslaughter.

Yes manslaughter. There is no excuse for this, and it was no accident. :mad::mad:

My heart goes out to the family of the victim :(

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Yea it really saddens me that accidents like this happen all the time. I figure if I posted this on as many sites as possible and make more hunters aware and band together then maybe we can help stop some of the senseless shootings and stuff. I may be dreaming but you never know what might help. My prayers are to this kids family and friends.

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My initial reaction is to hang-em-high. after thinking a bit , I can only remember some of the incredibly stupid things I have done when I was younger that could have sure resulted in someone else being hurt or killed , & I sure dont see myself as a murderer. I am only thankful for the h and of grace that was extended me by God that I wasnt in a situation like that.Lane

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Guest swmnk9training

That is so sad! This is how Josh Leger from Avery Outdoors passed away a short time ago also! It saddens me that there are people out there that would do such a thing!

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Guest realtrhunter

That is sad. This is why I have only hunted once in SE Mossouri. I saw one too many kids driving by and shooting into snow geese flocks with rifles. Prayers go out to the family. Hopefully the person is caught and they give them the death penalty.

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My initial reaction is to hang-em-high. after thinking a bit , I can only remember some of the incredibly stupid things I have done when I was younger that could have sure resulted in someone else being hurt or killed , & I sure dont see myself as a murderer. I am only thankful for the h and of grace that was extended me by God that I wasnt in a situation like that.Lane

Can see your point, but at the same time, we all have to own up to our actions. If you kill someone through negligence or intentionally, that person is still dead. Sure there is a difference with intent, but we all should know what our targets are, and what is beyond them. That one rule is pretty simple and would eliminate these stories that we read that sadden us all.

If you or anyone else takes a shot and you do not know what is behind the target or do not know for sure what the target is, you are very much so taking a chance, and that chance should have serious consequences in the event it destroys a human life. You have to assume that responsibility. The consequences of your actions should always be a consideration when dealing with an instrument that has the capacity to destroy a life whether it be a car and driving under the influence or it be a firearm and firing at unknown targets.

My first thoughts were actually that negligent homicide or manslaughter should fit for charges, but after thinking about it under the circumstances explained, I personally think that too many in these types of situations are getting off with slap on the wrist charges which may make some kids or shooters not take it so seriously. Shooters like this need to be held accountable and dealt with in a manner that would deter them and others from making these poor judgements jeopardizing others. Obviously with all the sad stories we all read each and every year, for some the value of life and or using good judgement is not taken into consideration before shooting, maybe facing more serious penalties for the actions that they take would make some think a little more before they do.

I also agree that those responsible for these types stories of shootings in most cases are not hunters at all, and they really dent the image of hunters in the non hunting community. Really very sad all the way around.

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