Bay State man injured in hunting accident

MONROE – A Massachusetts man accidentally shot himself in the foot while hunting on Friday.

Maine Warden Service spokesman Mark Latti reported Saturday that Michael MacDonald, 41, of Danvers, Mass., was staying at a camp in Monroe and hunting in the area off Key Hill Road by himself on Friday.

Latti said MacDonald reported slipping, causing his .270 Remington rifle to discharge into his left foot.

The accident happened sometime between 11 a.m. and noon.

With a two-way radio, MacDonald was able to summon friends at the camp, and they drove him to Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast.

MacDonald was later transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Latti said the wound was not believed to be life-threatening.

Latti said two of this hunting season’s three injuries have been self-inflicted, and that historically, about half of hunting accidents are self-inflicted.

He said hunters should remember to “always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction.”

Warden Mark Thompson investigated the incident, and found that MacDonald had a valid hunting license. No charges are expected.