Deer hunters' dispute ends with five people dead

ChiefsCountry · 11-22-2004, 09:11 AM

http://www.news-leader.com/today/112...er-231874.html

Deer hunters' dispute ends with five people dead

By Joshua Freed
The Associated Press

Birchwood, Wis. — A dispute among deer hunters over a tree stand in northwestern Wisconsin erupted Sunday in a series of shootings that left five people dead and three others injured, officials said.
Jake Hodgkinson, a deputy at the county jail, identified the suspect as Chai Vang but would give no additional details. Several news organizations in Minneapolis-St. Paul reported the suspect was 36-years-old and from St. Paul.

The incident happened when two hunters were returning to their rural cabin on private land in Sawyer County and saw the suspect in one of their tree stands, County Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle said. A confrontation and shooting followed.

It's not known who shot first, Zeigle said.

Both men were wounded and one of them radioed back to the cabin. Other hunters responded and were shot, he said. Some of the victims may have shot back at the suspect, Zeigle said.

The suspect was "sniping" at the victims with a SKS assault-style rifle, Zeigle said. He was "chasing after them and killing them," he said.

The dead included four males, including a teenage boy, and a woman, Zeigle said. The man who radioed for help was not fatally wounded. Some of the victims were shot more than once.

All five were dead when officers arrived, he said.

Authorities found two bodies near each other and the other three were scattered around the area, which is near Town of Meteor in southwestern Sawyer County. Two people who stayed in the cabin emerged safely after the shootings.

The suspect, who did not have a compass, got lost in the woods and two other hunters, not knowing the man was being sought in the shootings, helped him find his way out, Zeigle said. When he emerged from the woods, a Department of Natural Resources officer recognized the deer license on his back, given to police by a victim, Zeigle said.

The man was out of bullets when they arrested him, Zeigle said.

One of the injured hunters was in critical condition at St. Joseph's Hospital. Another was listed in serious condition and the third was in fair condition, both at Lakeview Medical Center.

Wisconsin's statewide deer gun hunting season started Saturday and lasts for nine days.

Bill Wagner, 72, of Oshkosh, was about two miles away near Deer Lake with a party of about 20 other hunters. He said the incident was "very upsetting."

After they got word of a shooting, he and others went to round up the rest of the party. He said they heard sirens, planes and helicopters and noticed the surrounding roads blocked off.

"When you're hunting you don't expect somebody to try to shoot you and murder you," he said. "You have no idea who is coming up to you."

The incident won't stop their hunt, he said.

"We're all old, dyed-in-wool hunters," he said. "We wouldn't go home because of this but we will keep it in our minds. We're not forgetting it."

**Rain Man** · 11-22-2004, 09:13 AM

He probably just thought they were deer.

jiveturkey · 11-22-2004, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

He probably just thought they were deer.

More like evil deer.

**ChiTown** · 11-22-2004, 09:22 AM

Man, that's sad....pathetic, but sad.

Are we sure the shooter wasn't really a deer dressed up as a hunter that was seeking revenge?

Eleazar · 11-22-2004, 09:23 AM

Well, what did he think, that he could just roll onto someone else's land and sit in their tree stand and they wouldn't care?

**Rain Man** · 11-22-2004, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Man, that's sad....pathetic, but sad.

Are we sure the shooter wasn't really a deer dressed up as a hunter that was seeking revenge?

I think you could be on to something there.

And couldn't he just plead self-defense if that was the case?

jspchief · 11-22-2004, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

Well, what did he think, that he could just roll onto someone else's land and sit in their tree stand and they wouldn't care?

Even if you did get caught on someone else's land, what kind of psycho solves the dispute by going on a killing spree?

It's actually really sad. A father and son were killed. More than once I've approached people that were trespassing during hunting season, and I've never considered myself to be in danger. This will always be in the back of my mind now.

MOhillbilly · 11-22-2004, 09:37 AM

Its all because he used an assault style weapon that he shot those people,with any other rifle he just wouldnt of had the confidence to take them out.
The 10 rnd clip did it.

seclark · 11-22-2004, 10:01 AM

scoreboard deer.
sec

DenverChief · 11-22-2004, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

Even if you did get caught on someone else's land, what kind of psycho solves the dispute by going on a killing spree?

It's actually really sad. A father and son were killed. More than once I've approached people that were trespassing during hunting season, and I've never considered myself to be in danger. This will always be in the back of my mind now.

Confronting someone who is breaking the law that has a firearm....caution should always be word of the day

Megbert · 11-22-2004, 10:03 AM

I bet it was Ron Artest.

memyselfI · 11-22-2004, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

He probably just thought they were deer.

The deer probably would appreciate the irony, if they could.

Raiderhater · 11-22-2004, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverChief

Confronting someone who is breaking the law that has a firearm....caution should always be word of the day

I understand what you are saying, but we are talking trespassing here, not bank robbing. One would not naturally feel in danger in that circumstance.

ChiefsCountry · 11-22-2004, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

Even if you did get caught on someone else's land, what kind of psycho solves the dispute by going on a killing spree?

It's actually really sad. A father and son were killed. More than once I've approached people that were trespassing during hunting season, and I've never considered myself to be in danger. This will always be in the back of my mind now.

Its always has been in the back of my mind, just bc the person is holding a deer rifle. I think it sad that people trespass and then always have some rotten excuse why they are doing it and most of the time they know they are wrong in the first place.

**Bwana** · 11-22-2004, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverChief

Confronting someone who is breaking the law that has a firearm....caution should always be word of the day

Without question. Better to be safe than to take a dirt nap.

11-22-2004, 09:11 AM
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $2358752	Deer hunters' dispute ends with five people dead http://www.news-leader.com/today/112...er-231874.html Deer hunters' dispute ends with five people dead By Joshua Freed The Associated Press Birchwood, Wis. — A dispute among deer hunters over a tree stand in northwestern Wisconsin erupted Sunday in a series of shootings that left five people dead and three others injured, officials said. Jake Hodgkinson, a deputy at the county jail, identified the suspect as Chai Vang but would give no additional details. Several news organizations in Minneapolis-St. Paul reported the suspect was 36-years-old and from St. Paul. The incident happened when two hunters were returning to their rural cabin on private land in Sawyer County and saw the suspect in one of their tree stands, County Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle said. A confrontation and shooting followed. It's not known who shot first, Zeigle said. Both men were wounded and one of them radioed back to the cabin. Other hunters responded and were shot, he said. Some of the victims may have shot back at the suspect, Zeigle said. The suspect was "sniping" at the victims with a SKS assault-style rifle, Zeigle said. He was "chasing after them and killing them," he said. The dead included four males, including a teenage boy, and a woman, Zeigle said. The man who radioed for help was not fatally wounded. Some of the victims were shot more than once. All five were dead when officers arrived, he said. Authorities found two bodies near each other and the other three were scattered around the area, which is near Town of Meteor in southwestern Sawyer County. Two people who stayed in the cabin emerged safely after the shootings. The suspect, who did not have a compass, got lost in the woods and two other hunters, not knowing the man was being sought in the shootings, helped him find his way out, Zeigle said. When he emerged from the woods, a Department of Natural Resources officer recognized the deer license on his back, given to police by a victim, Zeigle said. The man was out of bullets when they arrested him, Zeigle said. One of the injured hunters was in critical condition at St. Joseph's Hospital. Another was listed in serious condition and the third was in fair condition, both at Lakeview Medical Center. Wisconsin's statewide deer gun hunting season started Saturday and lasts for nine days. Bill Wagner, 72, of Oshkosh, was about two miles away near Deer Lake with a party of about 20 other hunters. He said the incident was "very upsetting." After they got word of a shooting, he and others went to round up the rest of the party. He said they heard sirens, planes and helicopters and noticed the surrounding roads blocked off. "When you're hunting you don't expect somebody to try to shoot you and murder you," he said. "You have no idea who is coming up to you." The incident won't stop their hunt, he said. "We're all old, dyed-in-wool hunters," he said. "We wouldn't go home because of this but we will keep it in our minds. We're not forgetting it."
Posts: 49,569

11-22-2004, 09:13 AM	#2
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3358491 VARSITY	He probably just thought they were deer. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,249

11-22-2004, 09:22 AM	#4
ChiTown Stroking to the SB Champs! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Flatlands of Kansas Casino cash: $3333962	Man, that's sad....pathetic, but sad. Are we sure the shooter wasn't really a deer dressed up as a hunter that was seeking revenge? __________________
Posts: 39,319

11-22-2004, 09:23 AM	#5
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	Well, what did he think, that he could just roll onto someone else's land and sit in their tree stand and they wouldn't care?
Posts: 80,659

11-22-2004, 09:37 AM	#8
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	Its all because he used an assault style weapon that he shot those people,with any other rifle he just wouldnt of had the confidence to take them out. The 10 rnd clip did it.
Posts: 23,371

11-22-2004, 10:01 AM	#9
seclark MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: nemo Casino cash: $1729900	scoreboard deer. sec
Posts: 13,399

11-22-2004, 10:03 AM	#11
Megbert New and shiny. Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: KC KS Casino cash: $9270260	I bet it was Ron Artest.
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