Hunter Allegedly Mistakes Woman for Deer, Kills Her

Deer hunting seasons are underway across the country, and tragedy has already struck. A hunter allegedly mistook a woman walking in a field for a deer and fatally shot her.

Deer Hunting Seasons Vary From State to State

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Michigan’s 2026 Liberty Hunt and Youth Deer Hunt took place September 12-13. The special season gives youth and disabled hunters the opportunity to hunt statewide using any legal bow, crossbow, or firearm.

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Archery season for all hunters begins October 1, 2026, followed by the start of firearm season on November 15. Deer hunting is a longstanding tradition for many Michigan families, but annual deer seasons are also held in states across the country.

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Deer hunting seasons in 2026 vary widely by state and hunting method, with some early archery seasons opening as soon as August or September, particularly in southern and eastern states. However, one common trend across much of the country is the opening of white-tailed deer firearm seasons in mid-to-late November.

Read More: Shocking Deer Virus Cases Confirmed in Michigan

Woman Killed After Hunter Mistakes Her for Deer

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According to WZZM 13, a 74-year-old Maryland man Walter Moorhead was deer hunting with a rifle in Ellendale, Delaware, on the evening of September 18, 2026, when he allegedly mistook a woman walking through a field for a deer and fatally shot her.

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Moorhead allegedly shot a 39-year-old woman who was walking through a field with a man and two children. He was taken into custody and later charged with manslaughter, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and three counts of first-degree reckless endangering.

Moorhead was released after posting a $43,000 cash bond.

👇BELOW: DNR Report: 10 Michigan Hunters Shot Themselves or Others👇