Takeaways from a Turkey Hunter Shot by His Longtime Hunting Partner

Raymond Bunn of Sylva, North Carolina is a true “mountain” man, self-reliant, knowledgeable, and at home in the woods. Bunn is a skilled gunsmith whom I trust with family heirloom shotguns. He’s well-read and shares his knowledge in an unpretentious way. He’s also a kind and entertaining storyteller who always provides good food. Above all, Raymond Bunn is a dedicated turkey hunter.

Bunn is affectionately known as “the woodsiest man I know” by our mutual friend who introduced us. As Bunn recounts stories of his younger days when he would hunt his way back home 25 miles away, I am in awe of his hunting prowess.

When it comes to hunting gobblers, I eagerly listen to Bunn’s advice. He is always generous in sharing his experiences, especially the joy of calling in a first turkey for someone else. With his silver-white beard and crinkled eyes, Bunn has accumulated a wealth of knowledge over 62 years and 41 turkey seasons.

This year, Bunn planned to take me hunting at the eastern North Carolina camp he frequents with friends. Unfortunately, I received a text from him on April 12, sharing the news that he had been shot by his hunting partner that morning.

“Trying to work out a hunt for us but this happened,” his text read. “I’m fine. Just be careful out there.”

The attached photos reminded me of my experiences in Iraq, with Bunn lying on a hospital table, his pale skin marked by red stains. I wanted to understand how and why this incident occurred, but answers to the latter question are still unclear, even a month later.

A Gobbler and a Gun Blast

On the fateful morning, Bunn and his friend were sitting on the edge of a field surrounded by a mix of hardwoods and pine. They had been hunting in the eastern Carolina camp for several days and both had already killed a turkey. Bunn’s plan for the morning was to call in a bird for his hunting partner, who had over 65 seasons of experience. However, Bunn noticed that his partner appeared more tired and slower than usual during the half-mile walk to their hunting spot, where they had heard a gobbler the day before.

At around 6:20 a.m., Bunn helped his friend settle near the woodline facing a disked-up field. Due to his discomfort when sitting, Bunn’s hunting partner stood behind a large longleaf pine, while Bunn positioned himself 20 to 30 yards deeper in the woods, directly behind his partner. Bunn patiently waited, aware that the gobbler was close by. He began making tree calls, but the soft yelps may have confused his friend, leading to the tragic accident.

The tom gobbled in different directions for 10 minutes, possibly adding to his friend’s confusion about the turkey’s location and the number of toms present. At 6:30 a.m., Bunn’s partner turned partially away from the gobbler, facing Bunn instead. This was unusual since Bunn was usually the one setting up his partner, and it made Bunn feel safe around him. However, for the next nine minutes, his friend faced away from the field, directly toward Bunn, who became increasingly concerned and tried to call him on his cell phone. Unfortunately, there was no response, and his friend continued staring at him, unaware of the imminent danger.

With the muzzle of the Remington 1187 shotgun pointed at him, Bunn saw everything in slow motion. As the turkey gobbled, Bunn threw his hat and shouted at his friend, who was looking through the optic on his shotgun. Bunn rolled to his right, protecting his head and neck as the copper-plated No. 5 shot tore through his shirt and side.

Pain surged through Bunn as he screamed and realized he needed to escape. His left arm and side were drenched with blood, but he maintained his characteristic good nature when reflecting on the incident weeks later.

“You can’t write down everything I said. It was about every bad word I’ve heard in my life. A whole lot of them. But that got [his] attention. Thank God, he didn’t shoot me again, and thank God, it wasn’t TSS. We probably wouldn’t be talking.”

Aging Out of the Sport

Hunting safety is improving overall, but recent fatalities in the Carolinas, including Bunn’s accident, highlight the need for discussions about aging and cognition in the hunting community. With 38 percent of hunters over 55 years old, addressing issues such as “Subjective Cognitive Decline” (SCD) becomes crucial. SCD refers to the self-reported experience of worsening confusion or memory loss, affecting more than 22 percent of adults over 45. Recognizing the signs of SCD and having difficult conversations about when it’s time to retire from hunting is essential.

Having these discussions and confronting our own capabilities as hunters is necessary. Adjusting the way we hunt doesn’t mean we have to give up the sport entirely. We can still be responsible and take care of each other, just as some hunters have done by accompanying their relatives to the woods and helping them handle the firearm.

However, Bunn acknowledges that initiating such conversations is not easy, especially among hard-headed hunters who may resist admitting weakness. Yet, the risk we present to others as we age must be considered, and the well-being of our fellow hunters should remain a priority.

The Takeaway

Therefore, what can we learn from this incident? First and foremost, we owe it to our fellow hunters and their families to discuss when we believe someone is no longer capable of hunting safely. Equally important is honestly evaluating our own abilities and limitations. These discussions might be challenging, but they are necessary in order to prevent accidents.

Bunn’s relationship with the friend who shot him remains intact, but he has made a firm decision not to hunt with him again.

“No. You don’t have to shoot me but one time.”

Back in the Middle of It

Despite the incident, Bunn’s love for hunting remains unchanged. Less than an hour after being shot, Bunn was in the hospital having pellets removed from his left side and arm. A week later, another hunting buddy and surgeon extracted additional pellets from his arm.

Bunn shared his story on Facebook, emphasizing the seriousness of hunting and urging hunters to be vigilant about signs of fatigue and unusual behavior in their fellow hunters. The post went viral, resonating with thousands of people.

I had worried that the incident might deter Bunn from hunting, but he reassured me, saying, “Three weeks ago I got hauled to the hospital in an ambulance. Today I hauled a turkey out of the woods on public land. I’m right back in the middle of it.”

Bunn’s resilience and desire to return to hunting reflect his genuine passion for the sport, traits that make him a true hunter and a mountain of a man.