Predator hunter killed in Lunenburg County Va. Monday night

1trkyhntr

1trkyhntr

Well-known member
I don't have all the specific details but there were two guys together hunting a farm and unknown to them there was another hunter on the same farm. The two, uncle and nephew, apparently saw the other hunter and misidentified him as an animal. They were both using high end thermal scopes and are experienced hunters. One or both shot him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. I know all three guys. I have never hunted with them but I have hunted on a farm or two that they hunt.
 
I also don't know how this is possible with good equipment and experienced hunters. A human moving isn't even remotely going to look like a canine and if stationary is going to present a much bigger signature and would require some real evaluation before sending a round down range which comes under Rule 1 of always know your target and any doubt you don't pull that trigger!
 
Yeah, there would have to be a very specific set of circumstances for this to make sense. If the dead guy was seated and howling with a diaphragm, maybe, but still pretty inexcusable. Don't mouth call coyote sounds at night. Don't know what happened, just speculation. If they have high end thermals, then it happened on video..
 
Again, I don't know the specific details, just that it did happen and the victim died at the scene. I have heard that the two people that were involved in the shooting do typically record their hunts but I have not heard that there is a recording of this incident. I'm sure that more details will emerge when the investigation is complete. This is a very small community here.
This is the same county where a bear hunter was killed this fall when the bear fell out of the tree and landed on him.
 
This is a terrible situation no matter what. As mentioned, prayers to all involved and impacted.

I’m of the mindset that thermals are probably the safest night hunting optics out there. You can see anything with a heat signature in the background, beyond your target. I know identifying what your shooting at may be tough at times, but you just don’t shoot in those situations. To mistake a human figure for anything else would really need special circumstances, but still it seems suspect. In any event, this is sad to hear.
 
hunt0168 said:
This is a terrible situation no matter what. As mentioned, prayers to all involved and impacted.

I’m of the mindset that thermals are probably the safest night hunting optics out there. You can see anything with a heat signature in the background, beyond your target. I know identifying what your shooting at may be tough at times, but you just don’t shoot in those situations. To mistake a human figure for anything else would really need special circumstances, but still it seems suspect. In any event, this is sad to hear.
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Yeah, I mean I'm not pulling the trigger until I've watched long enough to know that I'm not shooting someone's German Shepard, but there are a few scenarios I can imagine where something crazy could happen. It just shouldn't, but it could I guess.
 
Below is a paste of what is in a local newspaper. Not many details but everyone that I have talked to knows all the names.

Man dies in Lunenburg County hunting accident Monday night​


February 19, 2025

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A man was shot and killed while hunting in the Keysville area of Lunenburg County on Monday evening.
According to Shelby Crouch, Public Information Officer with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the incident occurred Feb. 17 around 10:38 p.m. Crouch said that local officials including Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office were notified of a fatal hunting accident and responded to the area along with DWR and Emergency Medical responders.
“The victim appeared to have died of a gunshot wound at the scene,” Crouch said. “The suspect and a witness remained on scene while responders were en route and are cooperating with the investigation.”
She went on to say that this incident remains under investigation and no further information can be released at this time, including the names of the victim, suspect or witness. More information will be reported as it is made available by DWR.
 
I’ve used higher end thermals and have very briefly mistook a deer for a coyote and a jackrabbit for a coyote. But those mis identifications were for a couple seconds with a scanner. I cannot fathom seeing a human through thermal and thinking it was a coyote. This doesn’t sound right.
 
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