Hunter from Noblesville shot by brother during turkey hunt

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - It took emergency crews several hours Wednesday to reach a hunter shot by his brother, officials said, deep within an Indiana forest. Another hunter was also shot Wednesday, the first day of wild turkey hunting season.

The hunter, Brian Irion, 35, Noblesville, was injured in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest sometime shortly after 9 a.m., DNR said in a news release. He and his brother, David Irion, 55, Cicero, had been hunting turkey since sunrise. The pair had split up to target a single wild turkey, DNR said, when David apparently mistook Brian for the turkey and fired a single shot at him. Brian was struck in the head and chest with multiple shotgun pellets.

Emergency responders reached the pair hours later and transported Brian out of the forest by hand and off-road vehicle. He was then flown via helicopter to Methodist Hospital at 2 p.m.

“It actually took the effort of the helicopter - the Lifeline helicopter - to spot them in the woods and to get our agency to them so that we could get him out,” DNR officer Angela Goldman said.

Officials said Brian was conscious and in stable condition.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and findings will be turned over to the Monroe County prosecutor's office for consideration of criminal charges, DNR said.

Brian Irion was one of two hunters shot Wednesday, the first day of wild turkey season in Indiana.

Jesse Boyle, 26, Eberfield, was shot near Mitchell in the face, shoulder and neck by his father-in-law, Gerald Walton, 49, also of Eberfield, Lawrence County Sheriff's Department officials told The Associated Press. He was flown to Louisville Hospital.