Hunter Killed in Rankin county - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Hunter Killed in Rankin county

A hunter, killed in a shooting accident Sunday, becomes the state's fifth such fatality this year.

Major Stephen Adcock, with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, says it happened around 5:30 off Lone Pine Church Road in Rankin county.

Adcock says two men were hunting when one left the woods earlier and was shot.

According to investigators both men knew each other.

The name of the deceased hunter is not being released pending notification of family members.

Investigators say the victim was wearing an orange hunting vest at the time of the shooting.

So far in 2003, a total of five hunters have died since the start of hunting season on July first.

Two hunters were killed in separate accidents in Yazoo county.

One each have died in Lincoln, Rankin and Simpson counties.

Last year two people were fatally shot in hunting accidents.

There were 28 incidents investigated by Wildlife Fisheries and Parks.

Adcock says last years hunting fatalities and incidents were a record low.

He says thus far, this year's reported incidents are well below last year's numbers.