STRABAN TOWNSHIP, ADAMS COUNTY, Pa — The Pennsylvania Game Commission is asking for help to find the person who fired multiple shots at two hunters in Straban Township.
It happened on private property off Brickcrafter Road around 9:30 p.m. on January 31st. The property owner, Kenneth Leatherman, told FOX43 he had given the hunters permission to hunt on his land and that he was 'very surprised' when he heard what happened to them.
"They started hearing bullets whiz by their heads," said Leatherman. "The Game Commission came out and they actually found where the bullets went into the trees and stuff, broke off branches."
The PA Game Commission told FOX43 the gunfire started with one shot followed by a succession of three or four rapid fire shots.
"They (the hunters) took it very hard. The guy that was actually being shot at the most, he's expecting a baby, his wife, and I think it hit him pretty hard," said Leatherman.
The hunters were not hurt. But, right now the Game Commission doesn't have a suspect. Leatherman also said he is not sure who fired the shots, but he said someone may be aiming at the red light that the coyote hunters use.
"I think it's just like, maybe kids driving around and they see the red light for the fox and coyote hunters and maybe they're taking a shot just to see if they hit anything," said Leatherman. He added, "It's a pretty dangerous game if you're just shooting at a red light because you know it's not an animal or anything. It's somebody standing there by that light. So, they're taking their own life in their hands if they ever get caught."
Leatherman said he's confident the Game Commission will find out who fired the shots. Several neighbors told FOX43 investigators were at their homes to search for clues.
Neighbor Stan Shrader said it's typical to see coyotes in the area, and that many hunters look for the animals at night time.
"In the daylight you very seldom see them (coyotes). They're out at night," said Shrader. "The coyotes are basically a nighttime predator."
"The first time I think just the game warden came down. The second time it was the game warden with the K-9 dog that came down," said Shrader.
If anyone has information about this incident, please contact the Game Commission’s Southcentral Region Headquarters at 814-643-1831.