Hunter Accidentally Shoots Himself

On the afternoon of November 4th, rangers received a report of a possible hunting accident that had just occurred in the Lower Buffalo Wilderness.  They responded to the Buffalo City public boat launch to investigate and learned that Jason C. McFall, 31, of Norfork, Arkansas, had been hunting from his johnboat on the Buffalo River about eight miles upstream from its confluence with the White River when he accidentally discharged his high-powered .300 magnum rifle while attempting to remove it from its case while he was standing in his boat.  The round entered McFall’s right leg near his knee and caused major traumatic injury to the surrounding tissue.  McFall fashioned a makeshift tourniquet from a bungee cord and was able to pilot his boat to the take-out on his own.  Prior to the rangers’ arrival on scene, McFall had been transported via air ambulance to the trauma center at St. Johns Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, but deputies from Baxter County Sheriff’s Department, McFall’s brother, and several bystanders were still at the take-out.  While investigating the boat, the deputies and rangers determined that the bullet had lodged in the fiberglass hull of the boat at the transom.  Rangers seized the boat, rifle, spent casing, McFall’s clothing, and several other items as evidence.  While inventorying the boat, rangers also located and seized 11 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.  Rangers Rob Newman and Noel Mays conducted a follow-up interview with McFall the next day, during which time he admitted to possessing a loaded firearm on his boat, his intent to shoot a wild pig from the boat, and possessing marijuana in the park.  They issued McFall a violation notice for possession of a controlled substance, but only a warning for the loaded firearm on a boat, agreeing that his injury was enough of deterrent from committing the same violation in the future.  The surgeons who operated on McFall believe he’ll be able to keep his leg, and should be able to walk on it again after extensive physical therapy.