Jasonville mushroom hunter struck by stray bullet

Friday, April 8, 2011

COALMONT -- A 42-year-old mushroom hunter suffered a broken leg Sunday afternoon when he was struck by an apparent stray bullet.

Charles Bickel, Jasonville, was hunting mushrooms on family-owned property near Coalmont in Sullivan County when the apparently accidental shooting occurred. The original 911 call was received at 4:20 p.m.

Indiana Conservation Officers responded to the scene and located a bullet by the aid of a metal detector.

A 9mm handgun was also seized from an 18-year-old man, who reportedly had been target shooting in the area. The man, whose identity was not released by authorities, had been target shooting more than 2,000 feet away from where Bickel was struck.

Conservation Officer Matt Landis is conducting a criminal investigation regarding the incident.

Bickel was transported to Sullivan Community Hospital by family members.

Indiana Conservation Officers would like to remind firearms owners:

-- When shooting a firearm you should always shoot into an area that has a suitable backstop. A suitable backstop could be a large mound of dirt or a hill. Never shoot into a hard, flat surface or water.

-- Always be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

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  • they wouldn't have to hunt for News,if They would just report it when it happens. If their reporters were on the street. instead of on the computer.tell me how two papers published by the same company can be so different. I always thought Brazil was a smaller town than Greencastle. Their Paper always seems to have more in it than the banner. WHY??? example, look at the Police scanner,most weeks it is only in the paper one or two days,sometimes the things in it are more than a week old.

    -- Posted by sierrabloom on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 9:12 AM
  • Benedict, sorry I didn't see where "the gun" did this of it's own accord... Now I'm afraid mine may wander out and get into mischief while I'm asleep...

    -- Posted by Pointman on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 12:56 PM
  • Benedick, I'm not blaming the gun... I'm blaming the gun owner who fired his weapon irresponsibly. The same people who don't appreciate the responsibility of gun ownership are the same ones who are irresponsible with their other deadly weapons, namely automobiles.

    -- Posted by Clovertucky on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 3:13 PM
  • haha good luck throwing a knife 2000ft. wow.

    -- Posted by aberrant on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 8:34 PM
  • Exactly clovertucky, by his own demented logic, automobiles should be restricted like guns, as they have the same deadly POTENTIAL. Cars don't kill people, people driving kill people.

    -- Posted by stranded67 on Sat, Apr 9, 2011, at 12:10 AM
  • automobiles do have restrictions... you have to take a test (and have insurance). Is there a test required to own a gun, or just a form to fill out?

    -- Posted by worldtraveler on Sat, Apr 9, 2011, at 10:58 AM
  • Law abiding citizens take the test and have insurance. Not so much with illegals. Dealt with it first hand.

    -- Posted by stranded67 on Sat, Apr 9, 2011, at 7:43 PM
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