Shot Taken at Running Deer Causes Sunday’s Hunting Fatality

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

DES MOINES – An Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) investigation into the Sunday death of a Marion County hunter has determined the incident to have been caused by a wayward shot fired at a running deer.

Christopher J. Durham, 41, of Harvey, was fatally injured by a gunshot wound late Sunday afternoon while hunting near Bussey in Mahaska County. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Durham was hunting in a group with seven other hunters when he was struck in the chest by a shot fired at a running deer by Brett Wayne Fee, 20, of Dallas, who was also a member of the hunting party that included Durham. Because of the topography and dense cover, Durham could not be seen by Fee when the shot was fired. Durham was wearing blaze orange at the time of the incident as were others in the hunting party.

DNR Recreational Safety Officer Allen Crouse is urging hunters taking to the field for the shotgun deer season during the next two weeks to use caution.

“Hunters need to make sure they are wearing blaze orange so they are visible and to know where everyone else is before taking a shot. Shooting at running deer continues to be one the main causes of hunting-related incidents during deer season so knowing where everyone is and having blaze orange on to be as visible as possible are important practices in avoiding potentially tragic incidents,” said Crouse.

Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources