Man shot in apparent hunting accident

LITTLETON — A local hunter was hospitalized Friday with multiple gunshot wounds after his hunting partner lost sight of him and fired at a deer running between them, according to authorities.

Miles Brown III, 50, was hunting with a friend near Amos Jones Road, six-tenths of a mile west of Summit Road near Littleton. According to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Sgt. Carl Hatcher, Brown and his hunting partner became separated in the dense brush.

When a deer ran between the pair, Brown suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and right hip when his companion fired at the animal and struck him.

Deputies Merritt and Sealy of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office were first on the scene, according to Hatcher. The Wildlife Resources Commission is still investigating the incident and is not releasing the name of the alleged shooter at this time.

Hatcher reported Brown’s condition was serious but did not appear to be life-threatening.

The weapon used in the incident was a 12-gauge shotgun. Two pellets of shot struck Brown, four pellets struck the deer, according to investigators. Authorities located the animal not far from where Brown fell, neither of the hunting dogs accompanying the pair were injured.

Brown was airlifted for medical treatment and no condition report was available at presstime.