Hunting Accidents

Vacaville Turkey Hunter Killed By Friend

A Vacaville man is dead after a member of his hunting party mistook him for a turkey and shot him.

Tehama County Sheriff Clay Parker says Larry Gene Pendley was hunting on the opening day of turkey season in the Paynes Creek area off Highway 36 with five friends. Pendley was on his hands and knees crawling through a bush when his friend, Stephen Henderson of Fremont, mistook him for a turkey and fired.

Pendley was in camouflage, the usual dress for turkey hunters.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Parker says Henderson and the other members of the hunting party have all been hunting turkeys for 30 years. Pendley had been hunting with them for 10 years.

***This just reinstates the fact that we as hunters need to always be aware of our surroundings. This is a really sad story of something that could have been easily prevented. This is not the first nor will it be the last accident to happen, but with that, we all need to take the time to educate and promote safe hunting activities. No matter how long you have hunted and how experienced you are, you can never be complacent