Northern Minnesota hunter shoots, kills another hunter after mistaking him for deer

A hunter fired at what he thought was a deer in northern Minnesota and killed another hunter who was not wearing blaze orange or other high-visibility clothing, authorities said Monday.

The shooting involving the two men who were not hunting together occurred as dusk settled in Wednesday near Puposky, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office said.

The Sheriff's Office identified the victim as Lukas R. Dudley, 28, of Bemidji.

Dudley had been released from jail Nov. 5 and was under court order not to possess a firearm.

The other hunter, a 33-year-old man from Redby, Minn., told authorities that "he observed movement of what he thought was a deer and fired one round from his rifle," a Sheriff's Office statement read. "Dudley was found not to be wearing typical blaze orange or other high-visibility clothing."

When he discovered he had shot Dudley, the hunter immediately called 911 and has been cooperating with investigators.

A decision on whether to file charges in the case has yet to be made. The Star Tribune generally does not identify suspects before they are charged.

Sheriff Ernie Beitel said the shooting occurred after deer hunting season had ended and just off Red Lake land, where the season was still underway.

https://www.startribune.com/northern-minnesota-hunter-shoots-kills-another-hunter-after-mistaking-him-for-deer/573241141/