Injured Hunter Blames the Bullet

[Guest I'm That Damn Zzzzz]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/3828803.html

 

Injured big-game hunter takes aim at bullet manufacturers

Howie Padilla, Star Tribune

 

Published April 16, 2003

 

 

When a professional big-game hunter on safari in Africa shot a charging lion from about 30 yards away, he expected that the cat would die, or at least be stopped.

 

Instead, the lion mauled the marksman.

 

It wasn't bad aim, but bad bullets that allowed the lion to take Rolf Rohwer temporarily out of the hunting game, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday against the bullet manufacturers, one of which is the Federal Cartridge Co. of Anoka.

 

Rohwer, of Scotland, is a wildlife biologist who has more than 30 years of African hunting and wildlife management experience, according to his Web site. He suffered permanent damage to his legs, arm and back, said his attorney, Louis Franecke. Rohwer was trying a new type of ammunition on Aug. 11, 2000, the day of the attack, he said.

 

"We think the company makes good ammunition, but not all of it is good for every application," Franecke said from his office in San Rafael, Calif. "Therein lies the problem. This bullet is not suitable for all big game."

 

Although the bullet might be good for hunting the majority of big game animals -- including rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo and hippopotamus -- the lion's thin skin allowed the bullet to pass through with minimal damage, he said. On a thicker-skinned animal, the bullet -- a .458 Winchester Magnum, 500 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw -- would expand, killing the animal quickly, according to the suit.

 

A lion shot with the bullet is still a dangerous and "harmful beast capable of causing severe personal injuries to human for a substantial period of time," the suit said.

 

Officials at Federal Cartridge hadn't seen the suit and were unable to comment on it, said Rod Bitz, spokesman for Alliant Techsystems Inc., Federal's parent company. The other company named is Trophy Bonded Bullets Inc. of Houston, according to the suit.

 

"This bullet is not suitable for killing a charging lion," Franecke said. "It's suitable for killing a lion over a period of time."

 

Before the lion reached Rohwer, who has since returned to hunting, he shot it a second time, Franecke said.

 

"The lion died basically while chewing on my client."

 

[Guest NoCalMike]

"profressional big-game hunter" huh? More like a scumbag in my book.

[Guest CED Ordonez]

Isn't the potential of getting mauled by the animal you're shooting at one of the big risks of hunting big game? I love frivolous lawsuits for they always give me something to bitch about.

[Guest NoCalMike]

Anyone who is "trophy" hunting in the name of "sport" probably deserves to be mauled and chewed on by a lion.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Anyone who is "trophy" hunting in the name of "sport" probably deserves to be mauled and chewed on by a lion.

Can't say I disagree.

[Guest JHawk]

Let me get this straight. This guy went to the bullet company and went, "I shot at a wild animal, it got pissed and attacked me, and it's your fault!"

 

Who the fuck lets these people out of the home?

[Guest CED Ordonez]

Somebody should make this case extra ludicrous by countersuing on behalf of the dead lion, claiming it attacked it self defense.

[Guest EricMM]

This is pretty funny.

 

You're suing a bullet company for the fact that you shot a lion.

 

Unbelieveable.

[Guest JHawk]

If it wasn't for the fact that I know people that stupid to actually do the same thing, I'd think this was off The Onion or something.

[Guest DrTom]

Let me get this straight. This guy went to the bullet company and went, "I shot at a wild animal, it got pissed and attacked me, and it's your fault!"

 

Who the fuck lets these people out of the home?

Preach on, Brother JHawk.

 

I would think a hunter with "30 years of big game experience" would know which kinds of bullets are good for killing which types of animals. It's nobody's fault but his own that he's a dumbass, and now he's a maimed dumbass.

[Guest Anglesault]

That's it. It's time to initiate my world plan. Everyone in the world must take a mandatory IQ test at the age of 18. If they fail, they get blasted into the sun. It WILL make the world a better place.

[Guest Goodear]

The guy clearly should have been hunting with a frog loaded potato gun.