Deer hunter faces $10k fine, jail time for shooting cousin

CLARK COUNTY, AR - A Little Rock man is recovering at UAMS after being shot while deer hunting this weekend. The Clark County sheriff's office says the shooting appears accidental.

But the hunter could face jail time under a recent rule change called "hunting endangerment."

A Clark County 911 dispatcher took the call from the woods north of Amity early Sunday morning.

Caller: "we've had a hunting accident. I shot my cousin." Dispatcher: "Ok, he's breathing?" Caller: "I don't know I haven’t walked over there."

Clark County sheriff Jason Watson says the 31-year old victim was shot in the leg. His 42-year old cousin cited for "hunting endangerment".

FOX16 News is not revealing the names of either men involved because no one has been charged with a crime.

Matt Flowers with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission tells FOX16 News a change in the last year to the AGFC code book created a tiered penalty system.

"I'm not sure if every hunter knows about it, but they should," Flowers says.

Sunday's shooting is the most severe, a class 4 offense which carries a possible $10,000 fine and up to 6 years in jail.

FOX16 News spoke with hunters Monday about the stepped up regulations at Kruse Meat Products in Alexander.

Reed Yates was dropping off deer for processing he shot over the weekend.

"I would actually agree with the regulations because the foremost thing we want to do in the woods is be safe," Yates says.

John Wallis was with a neighbor also dropping off deer to be processed.

"I don't have a problem with that. Anytime you carry a firearm it is serious business,” Wallis says. “So you should be careful. There are some people that don't learn any other way I guess."

One mistake on modern gun's opening weekend will likely land one hunter in front of a judge.

Watson says neither the shooter nor victim followed AGFC colored clothing requirements. The victim did have an orange vest on, but no hat.

The shooter says he mistook his cousin for a large antlered buck. The shooter was not wearing any orange.