PA: Huntingdon County man charged in hunting-related shooting

https://www.pahomepage.com/news/huntingdon-county-man-charged-in-hunting-related-shooting/

03/05/2025

A Huntingdon County man is facing charges after he allegedly shot another hunter in the face and head, mistaking him for a turkey, according to a criminal complaint.

Scott Huber, 51, is charged with reckless endangerment and other offenses following the Nov. 9, 2024, shooting in Barree Township. Authorities said the victim, who was archery hunting at the time, survived the shooting and was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center.

According to the criminal complaint, Pennsylvania State Game Wardens and state police responded to the scene after a 911 call reported a hunter with a gunshot wound. Officers found Huber still at the scene speaking with state troopers.

Huber told investigators he had been hunting earlier that morning but left to fix his shotgun, which had misfired due to light primer strikes. After making repairs, he allegedly returned to the same location. He claimed he saw movement in the distance and believed he saw black and white feathers and a white neck, thinking it was a turkey.

According to the affidavit, Huber fired his shotgun, and seconds later, he heard someone yell, “You shot me.” He told investigators his heart began racing, and called a friend to tell him what had happened. Huber allegedly walked towards the direction of his shot and yelled out “call out,” hearing no response and seeing no sign of a turkey Huber admitted he was unsure if someone had played a joke on him.

Investigators used a K-9 unit to retrace the victim’s steps and reconstruct the scene. They determined that Huber was approximately 52 yards away when he fired the shot. Rope was used to align the trajectory of the shotgun pellets, which showed a direct line from Huber to the victim. The area was heavily wooded with fallen trees and thick brush, which could have obscured visibility, according to the complaint.

The victim, interviewed at the hospital, said he had been hunting from a tree saddle when he saw a hunter in blaze orange setting up at the base of a tree about 80 yards away. He said he later climbed down and moved locations, unaware of Huber’s position. He recalled hearing a gunshot before feeling intense pain in his head and face, the affidavit states.

Mount Nittany medical reported that the victim had 2 gunshot wounds to the right ear, 2 gunshot wounds to the right shoulder, 7 gunshot wounds to the upper right back, 1 gunshot wound to the right arm, and 3 gunshot wounds near the ear.

Based on the medical reports 5 bb’s were removed, and the remainder were left inside the victim due to the belief removing the pellets could cause more damage than leaving them inside.

Huber has been charged with reckless endangerment and violations of Pennsylvania’s hunting laws. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 16.