Hunter narrowly misses woman on terrace after firing at roe deer in Austria

Police in Pongau, Austria, are investigating a hunter who allegedly fired a shot at a roe deer in mid-June, narrowly missing a woman relaxing on a nearby terrace. The incident, which occurred on June 15 in Altenmarkt im Pongau, has prompted a criminal investigation into endangering physical safety. Authorities confirmed that the bullet landed "not far from the woman" who was present on the terrace at the time of the shooting.

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The criminal investigations are running in the direction of endangering physical safety. The investigations are still ongoing.

Investigations are ongoing, involving the collection of evidence, forensic analysis, and further interviews. The police spokesperson stated that a report will be submitted to the public prosecutor's office upon completion of the investigation to determine the next steps. In the interim, a temporary weapons ban has been imposed on the hunter, a measure subsequently confirmed by the relevant district authority. This ban also affects his hunting license.

Parallel to the criminal proceedings, the district authority is conducting its own administrative and hunting law investigation. The local hunting association is also reviewing the incident. The Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf), which owns the hunting grounds where the incident occurred, has filed a complaint. Questions have been raised regarding whether the hunter was permitted to hunt so close to a residential building, citing the Salzburg Hunting Law which prohibits hunting in the immediate vicinity of inhabited houses.

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The projectile lay 'not far from the woman,' who was on the terrace at the time of the shot.

Local hunting officials have emphasized the paramount importance of safety in hunting practices. Johann Sulzberger, a district hunting master, stressed the necessity of a proper backstop for every shot to prevent ricochets or unintended trajectories. He condemned the accused hunter's actions, noting that a typical 7mm bullet can remain lethal up to 700 meters. The investigation aims to clarify the circumstances and ensure accountability for the potentially dangerous lapse in judgment.

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Safety is the most important thing in hunting. It is absolutely central that there must always be a backstop directly behind the animal being shot.