Red Oak man injured in hunting accident

A Red Oak man was injured during the weekend while hunting deer in an incident that appears to have been fog related.

Miles Sagen, 58, was hit in the shoulder/upper chest area by a deer slug shot at a running deer by another member of his nine-member hunting party early Sunday morning in Indianola.

While still under investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, a preliminary investigation by DNR recreational safety officer Allen Crouse revealed the slug traveled 144 yards before striking Sagen.

Because of the dense fog, it was impossible to see someone more than 100 yards away, even if a person was wearing blaze orange, according to Crouse.

“I would strongly urge hunters to reconsider hunting in these conditions with such dense fog. It just isn’t safe,” said Crouse.

Sagen was transported by ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and is in serious condition.

Iowa DNR Communications Bureau Chief Kevin Baskins said there were five hunting accidents in the state during the weekend, which was the opening of shotgun season. While he did not have specific updates on Sagen’s condition, he said it was likely the most severe of the accidents. Sagen’s was the only incident that was fog related.

“When hunting in a party, we encourage hunters to have a plan to know where everyone is,” Baskins said. “When visibility becomes diminished, the plan becomes that much more important. Everyone is out there to harvest deer, but there should be no shortcuts to safety.”