LANSING, Mich. (WLKI)- A hunter was hospitalized after being struck in the chest by an errant round fired by a nearby target shooter, raising renewed safety concerns during Michigan's bow hunting season.
The hunter was inside a hunting blind when the shooting occurred over the weekend.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said it will not classify the incident as a hunting casualty because the shot was fired by someone target shooting, rather than another hunter.
Michigan law generally requires hunters to wear blaze orange, though bow hunters are among the exceptions. State officials say that exception exists because bow hunting usually involves fewer people in the woods and arrows do not travel as far as bullets.
However, officials said bow hunters can still wear blaze orange if they are concerned about being visible to others near their hunting location.
Hunters are also encouraged to make blinds easier to see by placing blaze orange clothing or material on the exterior, such as a hat on top of the blind.
The Department of Natural Resources said the incident is not expected to lead to a rule change requiring all bow hunters to wear orange.
State officials stressed that all shooters are responsible for where their rounds travel and where they end up. A person who recklessly fires a weapon or causes damage could face criminal consequences.