May 2, 2010
Hunter shot in Valley New Berlin man in critical condition
NEW BERLIN — A hunter was critically injured after being shot early Saturday on the first day of spring turkey hunting season.
Sources said the injured man is Michael Hobbins, of New Berlin, and that he was shot in the upper body.
He was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where a nursing supervisor Saturday evening said he was in critical condition.
Wildlife Conservation Officer Dirk Remensnyder said he was investigating the 8:45 a.m. shooting of one hunter by another shotgun-wielding hunter.
They were hunting separately on state game land in Limestone Township, just outside New Berlin.
Remensnyder said he was still investigating and would not immediately release the victim’s or shooter’s names, but said the injury was not life-threatening.
More information will be available Monday from the state Game Commission press office.
State police at Milton are assisting Remensnyder with the investigation and once the report is complete, he said, they will confer with Union County District Attorney D. Peter Johnson.
The final determination will “depend a lot on the outcome of the victim’s condition,” Remensnyder said.
He and three other state officers were patrolling throughout Union County Saturday because many hunters were expected to be out on the first day of the season, which runs through the end of May in Pennsylvania.
“Spring gobbler season is actually very popular here and on the first day you never know where another hunter may be,” Remensnyder said.
Turkey hunters are allowed to use only shotguns.