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One bird hunter accidentally shoots another
Star Ledger ^ | 12.03.06 | JOHN WIHBEY AND BRENDAN BERLS

Posted on 12/19/2006 6:59:13 PM PST by Coleus

A pheasant hunter was acciden tally peppered with bird shot by a shooter from another sportsmen's party yesterday morning in Oxford Township, authorities and witnesses said. Nabhan Elsamara, 47, of Landing was hit by bird shot pellets from the gun of Frederick Flake Jr., 41, of Denville while the two were hunting in a state game preserve, according to Oxford Police Lt. Charles Lilly.

Elsamara was airlifted to Morristown Memorial Hospital around 8 a.m. and released in the afternoon. He said in a phone interview he was "okay, so far," but still smarting from wounds all over: "My eyes, my face, my hands, my fingers." Both hunting parties had been moving among low shrubs and half- mowed cornfields -- where game birds are commonly found -- within the 4,000-acre Pequest Wildlife Management Area. The state land extends through much of central Warren County and is open for hunting, hiking, and other forms of recreation.

Elsamara's hunting partner, Ghassan Najem, 54, of Oxford, said they inadvertently ran into Flake and his hunting party, who were waiting in the brush to shoot a bird. The two groups did not know one another. "We stopped to see what was going to happen," said Najem, who estimated Elsamara was 20 yards away when Flake fired. "His shot was low. He should have waited until the bird went up a little more." Authorities said standard hunting safety practice is to wait for the bird to fly higher into the air to avoid hitting people on the ground. "Instead of shooting up in the air, he shot in the brush," Lilly said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: bang; banglist; birdhunter; cheney; dickcheney; hunter; hunters; hunting; huntingaccidnet; islam; morristown; muslims; oxfordtownship; sportsman

1 posted on 12/19/2006 6:59:15 PM PST by Coleus
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To: Coleus

Just curious, why did you think a minor hunting accident was worth it's whole thread? I don't see Dick Cheney's name involved.


2 posted on 12/19/2006 7:01:44 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Coleus
"His shot was low. He should have waited until the bird went up a little more."

Pheasants tend to fly low.

3 posted on 12/19/2006 7:01:54 PM PST by airborne (MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Jesus is the reason for the season!!)
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To: Coleus

Most regular bird hunters have stories of being shot by their party members. It happens.

I've been pinged a couple of times and still hunt birds. I just pay more attention to those around me.

Lucky me, I've never shot anyone.


4 posted on 12/19/2006 7:09:05 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo (Carry Daily. Apply Sparingly.)
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To: Coleus

And just Before Christmas - Oh!!! they dont Celebrate Christmas in Mexico!!!


5 posted on 12/19/2006 7:15:01 PM PST by Weep-o-crat Hunter
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Coleus

What did Cheney know and when did he know it?!?!?!?!


7 posted on 12/19/2006 8:04:39 PM PST by JRios1968 (Tagline wanted...inquire within)
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo
Most regular bird hunters have stories of being shot by their party members. It happens.

You're kidding, I hope.

I've hunted pheasant, woodcock, and grouse for many years and was never hit by stray pellets and neither were any of the many bird hunters I knew.

If most bird hunters you know have been shot by their party members is true, you may want to consider an NRA Hunter's Safety Course. That little thing about being certain of your target before pulling the trigger is good to know.

8 posted on 12/20/2006 3:58:24 AM PST by Cagey (Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the rock.))
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To: Coleus
The best protection you an have is a well trained, free ranging bird dog. I have trained several over the years and they always let me know when there was another hunter around. I studiously avoided other bird hunters.

Shannon and I rarely came home empty handed.

9 posted on 12/20/2006 3:25:28 PM PST by Candor7 (Into Liberal flatulance goes the best hope of the West, and who wants to be a smart feller?)
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To: Coleus

10 posted on 12/20/2006 3:27:40 PM PST by firebrand
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To: airborne

"His shot was low. He should have waited until the bird went up a little more."
Pheasants tend to fly low.

I think the reference was toward when the pheasant are going vertical before they go horizontal.


11 posted on 12/20/2006 6:56:46 PM PST by School of Rational Thought (Republican - The thinking people's party)
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To: School of Rational Thought

Pheasants really don't go vertical.

They won't get up more than head high, or right level with the cornfield.

Either the hunters weren't staying in line as they worked the field or this guy just wasn't paying attention to where the other hunters were.


12 posted on 12/20/2006 7:41:15 PM PST by airborne (MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Jesus is the reason for the season!!)
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To: Weep-o-crat Hunter
dont Celebrate Christmas in Mexico!!!

???? They don't?

Wonder what that decorated tree was in the photo that our first exchange student sent us of her little boy at Christmas time a few years ago?

Feliz Navidad, y'all. :)

13 posted on 12/20/2006 8:22:29 PM PST by El Gato
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To: Dog Gone

Dick has a mentee.


14 posted on 12/20/2006 8:23:22 PM PST by Silly (for my serious side, visit sarcasmoff.com)
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To: airborne
Either the hunters weren't staying in line as they worked the field or this guy just wasn't paying attention to where the other hunters were.

It was two separate groups, who apparently came upon each other with a brush line between them.

15 posted on 12/20/2006 8:24:11 PM PST by El Gato
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To: airborne
They won't get up more than head high, or right level with the cornfield.

Depends on the terrain. I've seen them tower up pretty high, at least as high as over the nearest hill. I've also seen them misjudge that, and have to beat up a bit higher as they approached that hill, and then set their wings and glide a half mile or more down into the next valley.

16 posted on 12/20/2006 8:28:07 PM PST by El Gato
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