16-year-old injured in hunt incident

A 16-year-old male from Chadron was injured in a dove hunting incident at about 6:45 p.m. Mountain time Sept. 6 on private property southwest of Chadron in rural Dawes County.

The teenager was taken by his hunting party to Chadron Community Hospital with birdshot wounds to his face, torso, arm and hand. He was treated and released.

An initial review of the incident indicates he was unintentionally shot at close range by another member of his hunting party.

This is the second hunting incident reported in 2025.

Since the introduction of mandatory hunter education and hunter orange requirements in Nebraska in 1972, annual hunting incidents have decreased by over 70%.

Hunters are reminded to know their safe zone-of-fire and follow the four primary rules of firearm safety to greatly reduce the risk of causing a hunting incident:

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
• Always point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe direction.
• Be sure of your target, what is in front of it, and what is beyond it.
• Keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to fire.

The incident remains under investigation by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.