With that article being barely 50 words, it's hard to form an opinion. From what is given, there should definitely be a background investigation on these two. Either the first shot was an accident and the shooter was not stable enough to take responsibility for it, or it was no accident and he saved us the cost of prosecution.

i hope they got the deer.

129 words

It's not a video game, it's your friend. Emotions are bad enough when there is self defense involved but when it is your friend I can completely understand the guilt and remorse and emotional upheaval.

Mike....you are a pathetic person that should not be permitted out of your room without supervision.

@ Hannibal: Unlikely, I do believe there's still a warrant for Cheney's arrest in Vermont, regarding his activities as VP.

TVAR - Mike....you are a pathetic person that should not be permitted out of your room without supervision.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions on this posting. I think Mike means that the deer needed to be tracked down because it was injured and not killed right away. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. An apology is in order.

TJ says he's surprised, but not surprised. That explains everything, including the fact he knows nothing about hunting, yet wants to make a comment on a subject he knows nothing about... Hmmm, must be a liberal.

Duphas says......meh....who cares what he says....after all he is a Duphas.

so so so sad about a few things.

1. a man shot his friend, then shot himself.

2. a third man has to live with the "what ifs" the rest of his life.

3. some of the people who post on newsvine are jacka$$es.

im sorry for the families and friends of the victims.

The article doesn't give much detail, yet, I wonder if the one who accidentally shot the other man accidentally committed suicide? Wonder how the deer is faring.

It is TRULY AMAZING how some people can just jump to their own conclusions and sick remarks from a very short blurb on the AWFUL tragedy that this was!! I am both sickened by some of this remarks and feel sad for those who make themselves feel better by making such. To the person that said "there must have been an issue between the two of them".. WOW, you know everything about it all just from this short and not even concise reporting!! Same to many others of you... GET A LIFE and SHUT YOUR MOUTHS unless you know everything!

Let me tell you, Tim (his legal name is NOT Timothy, it is just plain Tim) is my brother-in-law, my husband's brother. The man he accidentally shot, Ben, was his very good friend and they have hunted together for years. There were more than 3 out on the hunt, but just the three of them in that particular spot. All were trying to track and bring down the deer that was wounded.. the would NEVER leave a wounded animal in the woods to slowly die, they are all long time hunters and very careful and conscientious about their hunting ethics. We will never know what circumstances caused Tim to take the shot without actually visually seeing the deer, and when he realized he had shot his good friend, he held Ben in his arms. Mark was there with them. Tim was totally distraught, he got up, walked away and when Mark realized what his intent was, he tried to stop him but did not make it to him in time.

One thing we are all sure of is that this had to be the breaking straw for a man already saddened by the loss of his 19 yr. old daughter a little over a year ago to a freak snow mobile accident when she was out with her friends. He and his wife had to deal with their grief and stood behind their daughter's friends who were beyond distraught as they held her in their arms as she passed away. It is possible the thought of being on the other side of the issue, to have to face the fact he killed his good friend, to have to face the family, was beyond him at that moment. IF he had been able to be pulled aside and given time to truly think and not just react, we know he would have realized that what he did he would not do. But, we don't have the luxery of going back in time and changing anything! Mark, who now has to deal with watching his buddies die in front of him will always wonder if he could have done something to stop Tim, IF IF IF IF.. the BIG word that we use but never changes anything!

SO before you people open your ugly mouths with horrid remarks and insensitivity, MAYBE you would want to know more. WHO THE HELL MADE YOU GOD, JUDGE AND JURY??? Two families and a whole small town of less than 800 people are reeling from this. A wife lost her husband and son lost his father after loosing their daughter/sister shortly ago. A girl friend lost her best friend and son lost his father. Two mothers lost their sons. A father lost his son. Brothers and sisters lost their brothers. Friends and family lost a beloved family member. It is a tragedy that will never be understood and will leave a hole in many lives. Your snide, ugly remarks are hurtful and disgusting to all these people.

I pray to God that you folks who have stupid, ugly remarks to make NEVER have to deal with anything so horrible and sad as this in your lives. BUT, if you do... I hope that people are kind and understanding to your loss and reserve their remarks to words of sympathy and love.

Dbolog: I'm sorry for your loss. Just don't read some of the garbage.

tj40220-2724268, sorry, my post was not meant directed towards you. I meant to post this directly on this whole posting section, not as a reply on your post but have never posted on these before so put it in the wrong place.

Dbolog I am so sorry for your loss.The despicable comments here by the self rightous extremists animal rights creeps make me want to vomit especially that creep judi.They care very little about human life but to say something so callous and uncaring in such a tragic situation just makes my blood boil.I am no stranger to death. I have seen it many times on the battlefield and I know by experience it NEVER gets easier especially with someone you care for.Just rest assured you have freinds out here and we do care about your loss.May God be with you in your sorrow.

Well, if I used a prehistoric killing machine on an animal, is that not a deadly combo too? I do not see why I should give up my meat, we are the top of the food chain, it is only natural(don't believe me, ask yourself why lions haven't given up meat.)

I don't hunt. I doubt that I could pull the trigger. However I am logical enough to know what would happen if herds were never culled. What would you suggest to stop roadkill? On my 20 mile drive to work it is not unusual to see a new kill or two every morning. Do I have to walk?

In Michigan if there wasn't hunting season there would be a lot more people hitting them with cars.... Which still happens quite often even with hunting season... Wonder which is more painful... A bullet or a car, or slow starvation when there isn't enough food to forage for all of them in the winter.

Wasn't Cheney around?????

Nature is a brutal bitch. Something is going to eat that dear, whether it be a human, a coyote, a vulture, or maggots. That dear, like everything else, is going to get eaten.

Christine8, did you wake up on the wrong side of your HolyBed or something? FWalsh is correct. Take away hunting and you will increase 2 things for sure: More vehicle kills and a boatload of starving deer. That isn't opinion either.

@ Alumette: Unless you grow your own vegetables and are 100% self-sustaining, your remarks are ignorant and naive. More small animals are killed in combines every year, harvesting products such as Soy than all hunting combined.

Go ahead and eat your vegetables, I like them too, but I love being an omnivore, nothing will ever change that.

I guess you never hit a deer with your car, huh?

Oh jeez another animal rights retard.Come on folks stop looking at these wackjobs as mere irritants and look at them for what they are: terrorism supporting human filth.It is time to wipe these weirdoos off this planet.There are so many groups now dedicated to destroying radical animal rights groups like PETA, ALF and HSUS.Donate and support groups like HumaneWatch, the NRA, ConsumerFreedomGroup,PETAkills etc.There are so many coming on line it's hard to list them all.America has had it with these urban idiots most who have not been outside a city park and yet want to shove their "Disneyland" mentality down the rest of our throats.This is war.Their numbers are actually very small ( PETA the largest barely musters 750,000 compared to the NRA at 4 and a half million) but PETA and their ilk are supported by the deep pockets of celebrity morons who live so far removed from the rest of us that they don't know what reality is.Like politicians we pay their salaries Time to refuse to support them and boycott their concerts and shows.Let these celebrities know it is not cool to support radical animal rights terrorism.Wayne Pacelle HSUS leader rips off millions of unknowing Americans makinn himself and his cronies filthy rich.Ingrid Newkirk PETAs nuutjob leader asked the PLO and HAMAs to refrain from harming animals while murdering Jews and then has the audacity to compare the American chicken and cattle industry to the Holocaust.These extremist groups have nothing to do with animal welfare just their own selfish self interests.Do you fish, hunt, use service animal or benefit from modern medicine? Well folks these animal rights retards are your ENEMIES.Time to fight back.I want them out of my refrigerator, out of my community and off my planet.

Jim: It's not a fair fight.

Hunter: Animal rights groups are not going away any time soon - in fact, not ever. I can see that you are very scared, and rightfully so. I am happy about that.

Mozzie WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG Do your research radical animal rights groups have been rapidly losing ground thank God as evidenced by the incredibly large number of counter groups arising to fight them.Seems as if mainstream America has had it with these wackos.More anti-animal rights extremism laws have been enacted in state legislatures in the past decade then ever seen before.In my state you will be arrested and go to prison for interfering with lawful hunting.Obviously you must live in a shell if you have not noticed the losses the radical animal rights nutjobs have incurred concerning the ESA and the wolf issue.Lastly PETA and HSUS income has plummeted and inconvenient fact that PETA and HSUS keep quiet and when asked they blame it on the economy.Sorry but you are factually on the losing side Too bad.

The "ugly truth" is some people will roam the earth looking for some green leaves to eat, while HUMANS roam the earth KILLING what they want to eat. It may amaze some but humans ate meat from the very beginning of time. PLANTS were used for bedding, and fire, and shelter, NOT FOR FOOD. As for these two fools, EXPERIENCE is something NEITHER HAD, AND NEVER WILL!

Mozzie (or rather PETArd) I feel sorry for you because you are debate deficient and stupid but worse yet you have no soul.Two people lost their lives and you could care less. Sorry but I don't side with human stupidity far less human insensitivity when it comes to human life.

Hunter OMG good debater.Sounds like you definately put some of these losers in their place.Very nice to see this "mozzie" run off with his/her tail between his/her legs. Animal rights extremists hate facts especially when presented by a biologist.Kudos.

yep, better to let the whole herd of deer starve to death during winter then cull them down so most will survive.

Good post and well stated Hunter4604366.

Alumette you're an idiot and mozzie so are you but at least you have some caring ability in you.

Alumette or is that Imanut? Oh urban idiots.

Sensitivity chip? Someone died here you thoughtless @%^#@!le.

I really can not believe you can post "lack of sensitivity chip" and yet show complete disregard that two young men lost their lives.Worse yet I can not believe the callous remarks of some of the animal rights radicals here.

How true

Tell that to Romeo.....or was it Juliet......been too long since I seen the movie.

"the movie"....ugh.

Ha....that was just a 'wink and a nod' statement about the movie. I know it's more well known for being printed in Readers Digest first.

Got me...I dig the sense of humor dude(tte)

David : Brain and intellect =0

and PETA is for guys like nutblock, pretty sure most of them like that peta alot more than there wifes even like it

WOW David...lot of PETA members are hoping your karma theory is hogwash....

"But now Peta - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - is itself on the receiving end of angry words over its own treatment of animals after it emerged that the organisation put down 96 per cent of the animals handed into its American headquarters. Of 2,216 animals taken to its premises in Norfolk, Virginia, last year, 2,124 were put to sleep - almost six per day. Homes were found for just seven."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/5106600/Peta-under-fire-over-claim-that-it-kills-most-animals-left-at-its-US-headquarters.html

Hunters have nothing on PETA when it comes to killing animals.

David S.... YOU ARE SICK! I hope you NEVER find yourself in a situation where you loss someone you love to a tragedy then have a sick SOB like you make such inane remarks!

Nutblock? Shouldn't it be Nutjob?

David S.....when were you released from your cell? They need to put you back in your straight jacket and put you back in the psych ward.

My heart is sick with all the insensitive remarks emanating from pure stupidity here.

Is there really this much inhumanity in our world that a man would applaud the death of two other human beings through the most tragic means, that could be happy about the shattered lives of the wives, children, mothers, brother, sisters and friends left behind without a care?

You had better pray that you meet a better end and that no one cares enough about you by then to be distraught to the point of wishing they were dead too. While you're at it, spend some time asking for forgiveness for being so unkind to these people.

nutblock or is that nut with with a mental and ethical block?

Finally, someone with a conscience.

Thank you, MrTwigg! I am so sickened by all these awful, insensitive remarks. This was my husband's brother who accidentally killed his good friend and then shot himself. I am so sick of people taking a short bit of info and thinking they know all that happened and why. I already wrote a long post on what had happened on here, but wanted to thank you myself.

Yeah, I was thinking that too. But I think that way.

Exactly. We never leave a wounded deer in the woods. We have been known stop a hunt to spend days looking for a wounded deer. It is the right and ethical thing to do. The hunting party gets together, makes a plan then goes after the wounded animal.

This deer was wounded and it was being tracked to be taken down and avoid any more suffering. There was no duplicity here. These men were best friends. There was a plan, and the plan went wrong resulting in a tragic accident.

There is no rhyme nor reason to what happened. Sometimes, things just happen and we never know why.

There is also no rhyme nor reason to the amount of hate and insensitivity that has been posted here and on other news sites to further crush the already broken families, friends and community.

If I didn't already have a very strong support group in our little Readsboro community like so many others do, I would be completely soured on the spirit of people by now.

I have a tendency to wonder if the third person had issues with them both, but I guess a ballistics investigation will cover that possibility.

Put down that McDonalds Big Mac Ben. You're eating your words.

@ C.Moakler Don't think Benson said a word about not eating meat..he did say a mouthful of truth when he pointed out that the majority of office workers and city folk have no business out in the woods with guns. Once a year is not enough to be a safe or expert hunter and unless you are at least a safe one and in the company of an expert one you should keep the kill to the video hunt. It's safer.

Innocent deer? How do you know? Maybe that deer was a jerk. Maybe all deer are jerks.

Joking aside, this is a terrible story. Even worse for the man hunting with them.

Are you really that stupid or do you work at it Ben? Hunter is right there is a cultural war going on with these freaks and we will win it.Most normal people hate radical animal idiots.

and I repeat, better to let the whole herd starve to death slowly over winter than cull a few so there is enough food for the rest.

Where are all these "oh those poor deer" folks when there's 3 ft of snow on the ground with an inch of ice on top? I never see them out in the woods with a bag of deer snacks.

@Benson- consider that these men were hunting to feed their families. Not EVERYONE has a high paying job, or even a job at all. One does what is necessary. I grew up in Vermont - everyone I knew hunted every year- to feed their families. These men weren't out to prove their manhood - they were out providing for their families. You need to stop commenting on that which you know nothing about.

Benson - are you really that ignorant of hunting practices? Most, if not all, hunters that I know use hunting as a means to provide food for their families. I'm talking about men who are factory workers and farmers - they aren't making 6 figure incomes. The animals they hunt aren't for trophies - they make steaks, burgers, jerky, sausage, etc. for people who may not be able to afford to stock their freezers with beef and pork.

And honestly, how is hunting more cruel than cattle, chicken, pig farming/slaughter?

I'm a meat eater and I would much rather eat game that got to live its whole life in freedom than animals that were confined to a box and fattened up for slaughter.

One was a builder, the other an outdoorsman who worked with his hands. Wrong there.

The deer are neither innocent nor guilty of anything. They are deer; one of the many animals that humans consume every day. Wrong there.

They were professional hunters with 30+ years of experience in hunting in all seasons. Wrong there.

The life of a deer or bear is not needlessly taken. We take them to feed ourselves and our families. We have the courage to go out and take our own clean, un-innoculated, poisoned animals for consumption; much more healthy for us than what you consume. In taking a few each year, we keep their numbers from exploding, thus helping to keep their herds healthier by preventing starvation and disease. Wrong again!

No ignorance here. They were very well educated and experienced; hence the wording of 'tragic accident'; an accident that you have absolutely no knowledge of first hand as I do. Wrong yet again.

These men were in no need of 'regaining their manhood.' These were men of the best type. They were well educated, active members and well loved in their community, loving and dotting fathers, good husbands, strong and ethical workmen and so many other good qualities that I can think of. They were strong men who could walk mountain sides all day. They were good men with good hearts. They were the quintessential meaning of real men. Wrong yet again.

Are you embarrassed by your total lack of knowledge about these men? You should be. And you should be more than embarrassed to post such remarks regarding the horrific tragedy that we, the people of Readsboro are dealing with. You're total lack of concern or sympathy for the surviving members of their families and all of the people here who loved them speaks volumes about the type of 'man?' you are.

Benson grow up.Let me quess you were the bespeckled nerd in the back of the class that got beat up all the time.The final laugh is on you.Hey PETARDS, HSUS wackos and animal rights activists with the extremist agendas have you not been paying attention? Your side has done nothing but lose battle after battle in court lately and rumor has it that PETA is about to go bankrupt.I quess those rich deep pockets in Hollywood are seeing some tough times.AND as if you haven't a clue hunting is still LEGAL in this country and you've done little to stop it.It is about time to shut PETA, ALF and HSUS down forever.

"By shooting an innocent deer" I am sure you have your peta dues paid up.Please stay in the city.Wouldn't want you to get hurt in the woods.

Spoken like a true idiot.Hows city life?

@Ray - Rule number one of gun safety is "Don't don't your weapon at anything you don't intend to kill". Rule number one of hunting safety is "positively identify your target". Are you disagreeing?

I have an idea will you please put some antlers on your head and come out to my neck of the woods.Thinking of it maybe put a big "L" tattoed on your forehead not a bad idea either.

I quess you don't get out from behind a computer much.Why don't you go with me on my next tour to Afghanistanland? You need to do some growing up.

Another thoughtless cold hearted jerk.

Thank you, dbott, all condolences are much appreciated. I hate to say how remarks like some of these know-it-all sick people have made family members really upset.

I fully agree not one of these animal rights losers have any empathy, respect or sympathy.

If he was smart he was running...

I agree, 802. I used to live in Vermont, and I know how tight-knit Vermonters are, especially in the small towns and villages. Vermont is a beautiful place, and the people there are warm-hearted and in touch with their land. Hunting is a tradition there, like in many rural areas of the US. Most hunt to be in touch with nature, to truly understand where their meat comes from (no, it doesn't just appear on store shelves). Very few hunt for the "thrill of the kill".

I now live in Nevada, and when the recent fire here destroyed 30+ homes, the comments on here were sickening. Unfortunately, the haters use these opportunities to create division, and spew partisan nonsense, instead of to send their good will towards their fellow Americans who have been touched by tragedy. So I will change it up and say that I hope the families of these hunters can take some consolation in the fact that they died doing something they loved, and may their spirits be forever tied to the beautiful Green Mountains, to watch the seasons change and the Earth provide its bounty, until the end of time.

My sincere condolences to you and the familys.I am a wildlife biologist and I have been fighting this American Taliban AR human scum for a long time.They are insensitive creeps who do far more damage to animals and wildlife then they ever do good.I care about human life and animal life.I have noticed not a one of these creeps had anything to say to you.What low lifes.Again my heart felt sympathy.

My condolences.Sorry!

I am so sorry for your loss dear.

I`m sorry for the loss of deer.

Hey Rea Tarded I'm sorry you were born you callous creep.

Sorry if I made you cry, Ronny;)

Hey tarded seeing as ronny is a recent vet why don't you call him out to a fight? Come on I dare ya? What a coward? You don't want to be seen in public crying? Don't want your skinny vegan butt kicked?

Mary Mary such harsh words dear.Please we don't want to see the tard get scared and wet his pants.

My dear Ms Peckerson, Ronny was suspended for a day due to multiple violations of the Newsvine CoH.

Whose ass he kisses or kissed for a living means nothing to me. Whose ass you kiss for a living means nothing as well. I EMPLOY others, never kissed another ass for my living.

I eat a great deal of meat as well as venison when available. Currently 5 to 7 thousand calories per day depending on training.

The last vet to enter the octagon was Brian Stann. His ass was summarily handed to him by a professional fighter named Shael Sonnen.

Advocating violence on Newsvine is a violation but I do enjoy a good fight. Just attended one Sunday and am scheduled in January for my own next fight. Picking on the mentally unstable is not something I`d get any joy from.

BTW, were you on Custer`s side or CrazyHorse?

More on point, these 2 are dead due to a major @!$%#up in hunting protocol. Too bad for them and whoever gave a @!$%#. I don`t.

Don`t sound much like a native american to me.

Always been chicken@!$%#s hiding behind screens on the i-net.

Tea Tarded My apologies.I think many took your posts wrong.Had no idea you were a hunter.This thread is just infested with peta sympathizers and anti-hunters.I used to be a peta member but after what I have read lately I changed my mind.