Press Releases

October 9, 2010

Hunter Hit by Birdshot on Friday

Augusta, Maine - A hunter was injured in both legs and thighs when he was hit by birdshot fired by another hunter in his party while grouse hunting on Friday in northern Maine.

Scott Dumont, 40, of Auburn suffered non life-threatening injuries when he was struck by birdshot fired by Stephen R. Cote, 43, of Auburn, when a grouse was flushed in the woods, according to statements given to the Maine Warden Service.

Dumont, Cote and another hunter were scouting moose for next week’s moose hunt and grouse hunting as well at approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, off Number Nine Lake Road in T8 R3 WELS.

When the men saw a grouse that had gone into the woods off of a dirt logging road, two of the men spread out at a distance of approximately 50 feet and followed it. According to statements given to wardens, the grouse flushed between the hunters and Cote fired one time with his 12-gauge shotgun. Dumont was struck in both legs and thighs.

Dumont drove himself to The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, where he was treated and released.

“Although these men were not required to wear one article of hunter orange clothing like they will have to next week, it is always a good idea to wear orange and to always know where other members of the party are located,” said Maine Warden Service Lt. Thomas Ward. “Neither men had orange on at the time of the incident.”

The incident is under investigation.

Lt. Ward, Sgt. Dan Menard, and Wardens Charles Brown, Eric Rudolph and Kevin Pelkey are working this incident.