An Unusual Hunting Accident: A Case Report

In Hungary, possessing certain weapons (e.g. firearms, bows, air pistols, and air guns mainly over 7.5 Joule muzzle velocity) is strictly regulated. In case of firearm deaths, in our country, we usually have to consider the role of military personnel or a hunter. Getting a game license for five years is a complex procedure. Class participation in weapon training, hunter ethics, and rules, first aid, manners of hunting, wild animals' knowledge, wildlife management, game laws, etc. is compulsory besides a prosperous exam at the Hunt Authority. A psychological license is also mandatory. Through permission from the police for a firearm license, buying weapons for hunting is possible. The storage of firearms and cartridges is rigidly controlled and checked. Some special types of hunting (e.g. with a bow, bird of prey) require additional licenses. The fact and the duration of the hunt and all shoots should be registered. The authors report an extraordinary fatal hunting accident because of non-regulation rifle (Blaser R8 338) use (unintentional shot), in which the travel distance of the projectile was more than 2000 m and the victim suffered fatal injuries at his daughter's homeyard. This was a non-target, extreme long-range shot. The ethical range in hunting is within 150 m, a practiced hunter with proper precision tools can shoot accurately within 300-400 m and in extremely rare cases within 700-800 m. Military snipers can operate over a 1000 m distance. Even if this was a targeted shot (with a 2161 m range), not many professionals would have been able to aim at the target. A sequence of accidents was necessary for this fatal case. With the application of X-ray examination and a special layer-by-layer method of forensic autopsy, the bullet, the entry wound, the primary shot channel, and lethal injuries have been revealed. With the help of the found projectile and the rigorous hunting regulations, the alleged perpetrator was identified within a short time.