Man shot while bird hunting

By Kathy McCarty 
Staff Writer
    T8 R3 WELLS — An Auburn man received minor injuries on Friday, Oct. 8, while hunting with friends in a remote wooded location between Monticello and Bridgewater.
    “A hunter, Scott Dumont, 40, of Auburn, was injured in both legs and thighs when he was hit by birdshot fired by another hunter in his party while grouse hunting on Friday in T8 R3, west of Route 1 between Bridgewater and Monticello,” said Lt. Tom Ward, Maine Wardens Service.
    Dumont reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries when he was struck by birdshot fired by Stephen R. Cote, 43, of Auburn, when a bird was flushed from the woods, according to statements given to the Warden Service.
    “Dumont, Cote and another hunter were scouting moose for next week’s moose hunt and grouse hunting as well at approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday, off Number Nine Lake Road in T8 R3 WELS,” said Ward.
    Ward said when the men saw a grouse that had gone into the woods off a dirt logging road, two of the men spread out at a distance of approximately 50 feet and followed it. According to statements given to wardens, the grouse flushed between the hunters and Cote fired one time with his 12-gauge shotgun. Dumont was struck in both legs and thighs.
    Dumont was able to drive himself to The Aroostook Medical Center where he was treated and released.
    “Although these men were not required to wear one article of hunter orange clothing like they will have to in the weeks ahead, it is always a good idea to wear orange and to always know where other members of the party are located,” said Ward. “Neither men had orange on at the time of the incident.”
    Wardens Charles Brown, Eric Rudolph and Kevin Pelkey are assisting Ward with the investigation, which is ongoing.