A hunter is facing charges after calling 911 regarding a shooting. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from a “frantic hunter” on November 16.
He was requesting assistance because he shot himself in the foot with a crossbow. The subject was unable to give officers his exact location, so first responders initiated a small search maneuver. Luckily, they were able to locate the hunter quickly.
First responders did in fact locate a male subject who was injured with a crossbow arrow lodged in his calf and foot area. The first responders jumped to the subject’s aid and began rendering first aid. The officers requested a medical helicopter to transport the subject to a hospital in McKinney, Texas.
During the investigation, the MCSO and the Oklahoma Game Department of Wildlife Conversation discovered that the subject was trespassing on the land, did not have a hunting license or deer tags. The OGDWC is still investigating the wildlife violations.
The identity of the subject has not been released since it is an ongoing investigation. Once charges have been filed, the identity will be available. Marshall County Donald Yow said he appreciates the first responders who arrived on scene and helped locate and triage the subject.
The property owner, Dustin Watkins said this wasn’t the first time the subject was on his land.
“I have had trouble in the past,” Watkins said. “I knew [who] this guy was, just couldn’t catch him.”
Some residents said the subject was not trespassing because there are no posted signs on the property. Prior to November 2021, that would have been a valid argument.
However, House Bill 1135 went into effect on November 1, 2021. The bill changed the wording in the trespassing statute. The new law took out the requirement for posting signage. Now, trespassing is if anybody is expressly forbidden to enter to the property or if they simply enter the property without permission, even if there are no signs.
Of course, if an individual has business on the property, then there is an exception. Senator Zack Taylor, R-Seminole authored the bill as a reply to individuals hunting on private property.
“Trespassing on private land for hunting, fishing, or other activities is fairly common in our state,” Taylor said. “While those who trespass wouldn’t dare go in someone’s backyard in the city, they don’t realize that they’re essentially doing the same thing when they go onto people’s private land in the country. Often trespassers tear up fences allowing livestock to escape, mistakenly shoot or scare livestock, or cause other property damages that can be extremely costly for the property owner. Property owners work hard to afford their land, animals, and other property. We need to do all we can to protect these Oklahomans’ investments and private property. Hopefully, these two bills will help people take trespassing more seriously and stop doing it.”