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Hunter Shot After Being Mistaken For Turkey

SHASTA COUNTY (CBS13) – A man out hunting is in critical condition after he was shot by another hunter who mistook him for a turkey.

The incident happened around 7 p.m. Sunday, Denise Barnhart with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office says. A man, 63-year-old Wilburn Shaver, was out hunting in the area of Round Mountain when he was shot. Shaver was taken to Montgomery Creek Fire Hall and deputies launched their investigation.

Deputies soon found that another hunter, 32-year-old Roy Davis, was also hunting in the area. Davis told deputies that he heard a turkey call and fired his gun, not knowing that the call had actually come from Shaver.

Shaver was later airlifted to Mercy Medical Center and is reportedly in critical condition.

Davis has been charged with negligent discharge of a firearm, Barnhart says.

Authorities believe that alcohol played a factor in the incident. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be taking over the investigation.

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