Details are released in Putnam hunting accident

November 11, 2008

http://news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/11/11/details-are-rel eased-in-putnam-hunting-accident/

Posted: Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

A Palatka man has been identified as the victim shot by a hunter Monday afternoon at a private hunt club in Putnam County .

Eric D. Altman, 43, was shot in the side of his head at the White Hill Hunting Club off County Road 214 and Old Bostwick Road , according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Altman was airlifted to Shands at the University of Florida hospital in Gainesville in serious condition.

Gregory Cutrer, 50, also of Palatka, and his wife were hunting deer with dogs in the hunting club when the shooting happened, the wildlife agency said.

Cutrer was parked on Old Bostwick Road alongside a clear cut when he saw a deer running across. He got out of his truck with his 308-caliber scoped rifle and took a shot at the deer as it approached the dirt road, the agency said. Altman was apparently getting out of his truck about 220 yards away when he was hit.

The investigation of the accident is ongoing, according to Fish and Wildlife officials.