Maryland Natural Resources Police Remind Hunters to Follow Safety Guidelines
Four accidents over weekend included one fatality
ANNAPOLIS -- In the wake of four hunting accidents over the weekend, Natural Resources Police today reminded hunters to follow basic safety guidelines:
Be sure of your target and what is beyond it before you pull the trigger
Know identifying features of the game you hunt
Always use a climbing belt when climbing up or down a tree
Use a safety harness when hunting from elevated tree stands
Stamos Courpas, 35, of Fairfax, Va., was killed Saturday while turkey hunting in Green Ridge State Forest in Allegany County. Courpas was mistaken for a turkey and shot by Charles Lepovetski, of Ranson, WV. The accident remains under investigation, as is standard in all hunting accidents.
On Friday, Daniel P. Evans, 34, of North East, Md., fell 15’ from a tree while deer hunting in Elk Neck State Park. Evans was not in a tree stand and not using a safety harness. Evans was flown to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center with non-life threatening injuries.
On Saturday, Eddie C. Graham, 52, of Washington D.C. was shot while rabbit hunting near Brice Mill Road in Charles Co. Md. Robert Glaco, 69, of Prince George’s County mistakenly shot Graham. Graham was treated and released at Physicians Memorial Hospital in LaPlata for non-life threatening injuries. Graham was charged with negligent hunting has maximum penalty of $1,500 for a first offense and requires a court appearance.
On Sunday, Joseph R. Medell, 63, of Pasadena, Md, was shot while quail hunting on a regulated shooting area near Cambridge in Dorchester County. Medell was mistakenly shot by Charles D. Russell Jr. 60, of Chester, Md. Medell was flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital with serious injuries. Russell was charged with negligent hunting.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is an enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources. With an authorized strength of 214 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the Natural Resources Police provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to Maryland citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 435,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, as well as Maryland's wildlife and fishery species for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, the department manages natural, historic and cultural resources that attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.Maryland.gov
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to Maryland citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 435,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, as well as Maryland's wildlife and fishery species for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, the department manages natural, historic and cultural resources that attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov