Hunting Shooting Ruled an Accident

State environmental police last week released new details on the state forest deer hunting shooting from December. 

The Massachusetts Environmental Police wrapped up its investigation into the shooting in May and decided to not file charges after they determined that the hunters involved did not act negligently or without care.  

Several different law enforcement agencies were called to the Edgartown side of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest off Barnes Road on December 12 for a report of a hunter being shot in the abdomen during a deer drive. 

The victim, who was not identified by police and had his name redacted in a police report obtained by the Gazette last week, was taken to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and later flown to an off-Island hospital.

The incident took place around 4 p.m. near Ben Luce Path, according to police. A total of 14 hunters were conducting a deer drive in the forest. All were reported as wearing blaze orange vests and caps, according to the report. 

Two hunters fired in the direction of the victim in pursuit of a deer. Police spoke to the man who was believed to have shot the victim. He told them the type of shotgun ammunition he used, which matched the shot that struck the victim, according to the report. 

The man told police that where the men were hunting, they couldn’t see the victim, who was part of their party and was covered by dense trees and bushes.

The man who fired the shot had his Remington 870 and license to carry seized during the investigation. 

Officers returned to the forest the day after the shooting with a police dog to search for any shotgun shells. Police found three shells that matched the shells that were submitted by the two hunters, as well as a blood trail, gut pile and a plastic water bottle, according to the police report.

Police then recreated the shooting scene and found it was consistent with the statements from the hunters. When police stationed themselves where the hunter who fired the shot and the victim were, neither could see each other, according to the report. 

“As a result of my investigation, and due to the totality of the circumstances, I do not believe Massachusetts Environmental Police the hunters involved acted negligently and without care,” wrote officer Peter Bourgault.

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs said the victim is now at home and is recovering from the wound. 

This article appears in June 12, 2026.