Hunting accidents happen. A twisted ankle in rough country. A close call with a falling branch. Even the occasional misplaced step on slick ground. But sometimes, the unexpected comes not from the wilderness itself—but from a split second during the work that follows a successful hunt.
In the video snippet below, a story is told about two brothers, one elk, and the process of field dressing after a harvest in Idaho. In the middle of gutting the animal, one small knife slip turned into a life-threatening injury. What should have been routine became critical in an instant when one of the brothers was knicked in the hand, which led to another brother getting stabbed in rear end and another in liver, causing severe internal damage. Doctors later said the one was just ten minutes from dying. Even after the shot is taken and the animal is down, the hunt isn’t necessarily over.
The story underscores an important lesson for hunters everywhere: safety doesn’t stop when the trigger is pulled. Take your time. Communicate clearly with your partners. Keep blades sharp—but controlled.
Photo via 6381380 from Getty Images
