MO: Man shot in deer hunting accident

A Rogersville-area deer hunter was airlifted to a Springfield Hospital on
Monday following a freak accident involving his black-powder rifle.

Glenn Leask, 46, was hunting from a perch about 10 feet up a tree on his
property when the sling on his .50-caliber rifle apparently broke and the
gun fell to the ground, according to Brent Grey, chief deputy with the
Webster County Sheriff’s Department.

“The rifle fired and the bullet hit him in the knee and on into his
abdomen,” Grey said. “Some witnesses nearby heard him yelling and came to
help.”

Grey said the bullet appeared to have passed through Leask, but the hunter
was able to climb down on his own until help arrived.

Leask was airlifted to the new CoxHealth emergency room.

Hospital spokeswoman Yvette Mitchell said Monday night Leask declined to
allow information on his condition to be released based on federal privacy
rules.

The accident happened shortly before noon at 1748 Bobcat Road, a few miles
north of Rogersville.

With the opening of firearms deer season this weekend, Grey cautioned all
hunters to be particularly careful about safe gun handling practices.