NZGAC Hunter Education. Enabling better education and safer hunting practices.
NZ Hunter Education: Module 5:
Rule 4: Identify Your Target Continued
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Former Deerstalkers President charged over Easter Shooting
A man charged with the shooting death of a hunter in South Wairarapa on Easter Saturday (2014) is a former president of the Wellington Deerstalkers Association. xxxxxxx , was charged yesterday with careless use of a firearm, a Remington model 740 rifle, causing the death of self-employed Auckland builder Alexander Cameron McDonald.
Mr McDonald, 29, was killed by a single shot to the head on April 7 while hunting deer in an isolated area of Aorangi Forest Park. Mr McDonald's parents, Ranald and Cyndy, said yesterday they were pleased an arrest had been made and would continue to monitor the case closely. Mr McDonald's hunting companion, Doug Williams, said the charge would not bring his mate back.
"I miss my mate, everyone is a loser. . . . I don't think sending him [Dummer] away does a thing either. "I still haven't got my friend."
The charge of careless use of a firearm causing death carries a maximum penalty of three years' prison and a fine up to $4000.
Mr McDonald and Mr Williams, of Greytown, went hunting in Aorangi Forest Park at 5.30am on April 7.
Mr Williams shot a stag about 8.30am, with the men continuing to hunt until about 11.30am, when Mr Williams called in a stag near a place known locally as Williamson's Creek.
They separated so Mr McDonald could get a shot at the stag.
They had been apart for about 10 minutes when the fatal shot rang out. Mr Williams initially thought the shot was fired by his hunting partner firing at a stag.
The Dominion Post (edited)
Grateful thanks to Cyndy Mc Donald for permission to use the following material. We ask that as you read the information that you will make a renewed commitment to never fire at a target you cannot 100% identify as a game animal.
Hunter thought orange beanie was deer.
A former president of the Wellington Deerstalkers' Association has pleaded guilty to the fatal shooting of fellow hunter Cameron McDonald.
xxxxxxxxx says he thought he was shooting at the red shoulder of a deer, when in fact he shot at the orange beanie Mr McDonald was wearing for safety. As a mountain safety firearms instructor Dummer was approved by police to train and test new gun licence applicants.
Today he pleaded guilty to the careless use of a firearm causing death.
Mr McDonald was hunting in Aorangi forest park in the Wairarapa on Easter Saturday when he was killed. He was wearing a blaze orange beanie for safety. The court heard Dummer was at the same height as McDonald above a gully and shot him from just 16m away. Dummer claims he shot what he thought was the red shoulder of a deer. Instead the bullet hit the back of McDonald’s head.
His parents were disappointed Dummer has not been charged with manslaughter. “Sixteen metres with a high powered gun, with a scope, looking through a scope so it's a lot closer, he should have been able to identify that Cameron had his bright orange beanie on” his mother Cyndy McDonald says.
“Cameron was very safety conscious he used to always wear that hat” father Ranald McDonald says.
The Mountain Safety Council says hunters should wear clothing that contrasts with the environment, but it would never call for it to be mandatory because that removes the safety responsibility from the shooter. Firearms instructor Bryce Meredith says it can be difficult to know what your target is. “Blaze orange, at certain times of the day, with shadows, can look similar to the colour of a deer.” The council says Dummer broke rule four of the arms code.
“Rule 4 is ‘identify your target beyond all doubt” Mr Meredith says.
By Emma Jolliff - 3 News