Hunter Shot

Montana hunter recovering after being shot

   KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) -- A Montana hunter says he's lucky to be alive after
an attempt to sneak up on elk went awry when he tripped and fell, shooting
himself in the abdomen and leg.
   The Daily Inter Lake reports that 63-year-old Dan Risland of Paradise was
recovering Friday at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center after the accidental
shooting Thursday morning.
   Risland says he was hunting on a mountain and spotted four elk about 50 feet
away. He says he switched off the safety on his rifle while moving forward, but
hooked his foot on a stick.
   He says he somersaulted and landed on the rifle, and it went off. Risland says
he used his cellphone to call for help and was picked up by a helicopter about
an hour after being injured.
   ------
   Information from: Daily Inter Lake
   AP-WF-11-17-12 1651GMT