Hunting Related Shooting Fatality in Beltrami County

On Saturday, November 3, 2012, at approximately 9:01 AM, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office 911 Dispatch Center received a report of a deer hunter being shot by another hunter in Section 16 of Turtle River Township in rural Bemidji, MN. The location of the shooting is approximately 9 miles northeast of Bemidji near Concordia Language Village.

A male victim, identified as 64 year old, Donald Zane Bixby was located and found deceased at the scene by Beltrami County Deputies, MN DNR Enforcement Officers and Bemidji Ambulance personnel.

The hunter who fatally shot Bixby has been identified as 48 year old, Phillip Bruce Nyland. The two individuals were acquaintances of each other, but were not hunting together. The location of this incident is on public land. Both individuals are Bemidji area residents.

This incident continues to be under investigation by the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office. An autopsy is pending with the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, in Ramsey, MN. The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene of the shooting by the MN DNR, MN State Patrol and Bemidji Ambulance Service.

Sgt. Robert M. Carlson

Beltrami County Sheriff's Office