MILNOR, ND (iNewZ.TV) An Official tells iNewZ a man was accidentally shot while trapping. Another man using a rifle with a thermal scope thought he was shooting at a Coyote near Milnor, North Dakota.

He mistook a human figure for a coyote in thermal? Hmmm, sounds fishy. Always be sure of your target.

Sounds off to me. Will be bad for thermal Hunters and fuel for restrictions/elimination

People are shot ever year by other hunters during the daylight, even with shotguns at close range. Why could it not happen at night with thermal?

You see through brush and fog shapes are clear and defined against the background. Much easier to pick out. Hard to believe someone can't tell the difference in shape of a dog vs human.

I am sure that depends on how much you spend on the thermal. If not, why is some $300 and some $3000. I thermal hunted some and wasn't impressed enough to spend the money on it.

I remember some years back when two MN yote hunters were in ND and one shot the other in day hours. A good sunny day what I remember of the details.

Published: Jan. 7, 2026 at 8:01 AM MST|Updated: 3 hours ago
MILNOR, N.D. (Valley News Live) - Authorities in Ransom County are investigating a shooting incident that occurred Friday night, January 2, near Milnor.

Deputies from the Ransom County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for medical assistance around 8:30 p.m. in the 7500 block of 145th Avenue Southeast.

Upon arrival, officials located a 23-year-old man who reported being struck by gunfire.

According to the victim, an unknown vehicle drove past his location and fired shots. The victim was treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel and subsequently transported for further medical care. His current condition has not been released.

The Ransom County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident. They are receiving assistance from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NDBCI), the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Ransom County Sheriff’s Office.

Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.

Had a similar incident here several years back.

https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2010/03/08/fatal-shooting-ga-game-officer-under-investigation/14611066007/#:~:text=They%20later%20told%20investigators%20they,Department%20of%20Natural%20Resources%20records.

The shooter pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and got prison time.

I think ND had a thermal fatality the first year they were legalized?

It was kept pretty hush hush if I recall.

If they can’t ID a person from a coyote you really have to wonder how many deer or livestock they are killing.

Here is the repot and I see no where the word trapping or thermal equipment in any report I have seen.

Boone I heard about that one too. It was swept under the rug and there was never much said about it.

My original post is a copy paste and it says the victim was trapping and the shooter was using a thermal scope.

I see your post not saying it isn't a fact I just find anything on this shooting that has what you have found. Not saying you haven't or that is what happened but every article I have found on it has said anything of the kind.

MJM if you got the article of the shooting and talks about what you described post it up. Thanks

He probably was a trapper. We all know how women constantly chase us rugged outdoor types. Shooter was probably either the father or husband of some poor woman who couldn't resist chasing the victim.

I don’t see anything about trapping or thermal either.

I posted the entire write up. I copied and pasted the entire thing. There was a video and I did not watch it. It came off you tube from a TV News from over in that area. I heard, but no idea if it is true, that he was in a cattail slough when shot. Maybe trapping muskrats in houses. Shots were fired and the pickup drove off, and then came back and the cops and medical were there. I don't see much on it, maybe because of the investigation.

Hope they catch the idiot(s)

Need prison time

I think they know who was in the PU that shot, but they can't get in trouble. So they are looking for someone that does not exist.