Hunting Season Begins

(CNN) -- Sheriff's deputies are investigating the killings of five hunters Sunday in northwest Wisconsin -- bloodshed apparently sparked by a dispute over a hunting spot. A suspect has been arrested.

"This is completely nuts," said Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle of the Sawyer County Sheriff's Department. "Why? I mean, five people dead because somebody was trespassing on property. It makes no sense."

Three others were wounded, said Julie Veness, an emergency medical technician in Exeland, Wisconsin.

Chai Vang, 36, was arrested in the case, Sheriff's Deputy Jake Hodgkinson told The Associated Press. Vang is from St. Paul, Minnesota, a police spokesman told the AP.

Saturday marked the opening of the nine-day deer season, and Veness said the shootings appeared to stem from a dispute over a deer stand -- an elevated position from which hunters can target deer.

"Apparently, the person was asked to leave and get out of his deer stand, and he didn't take it very well and he fired away at them," she said.

The dead included a a teenage boy and a woman, and a father and son, Zeigle told AP. Some of the victims were shot more than once.

Zeigle said the suspect was led out of the woods after getting lost by a pair of hunters who were not aware of the shootings.

"We were very thankful to take him into custody. No one else got hurt," Zeigle said. "When he was taken into custody, his gun was empty."

Jennifer Greshowak, a spokeswoman for Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake, said three men from the same hunting party were brought to that facility after suffering gunshot wounds. One of the three was transferred to a hospital in nearby Marshfield, she said.

The other two -- identified by relatives as Denny Drew and Lauren Hesebeck -- were recovering from surgery at Lakeview. Drew was in serious condition, while Hesebeck was listed in fair condition, their families said in a statement issued Sunday night.

"Our families certainly appreciate the thoughts and prayers of this close-knit community, and encourage you to think and pray for the other families involved," the statement said.

Veness said the killings have shocked Exeland, a village of 219 people about 135 miles northeast of Minneapolis.

"It just doesn't happen in this neck of the woods," she said. "We don't expect any of this to happen."

Keith said:
I'm a little surprised nobody shot back.

dspsg said:

Anyway, "Chai Vang" sounds more than a little south-east asian. I can imagine race might have been an issue here...

dspsg said:
This is why hunters need assault weapons. You use your bolt action hunting rifle to kill the deer. You use your AR-15 carbine to defend yourself from humans.

Anyway, "Chai Vang" sounds more than a little south-east asian. I can imagine race might have been an issue here...

woody420 said:
oops

s5 said:

duck season

Koenigsegg said:

wabbit season!

InfernoMDM said:
By the way if your bitching about Assult weapons Im sure its been brought up before. A assult weapon isnt any more then a shiney rifle that looks cool. Both do the same thing. Infact like I said be scared of the guy with a true hunting rifle being pissed.

Koenigsegg said:

wabbit season!

SoEffinHappy said:
I am so fucking sick of ignorant assholes putting down hunting and hunters. Replace the word "hunter" with any other group of people and this thread would be full of those little puking smileys and people saying "That is so sad". Fuck you and your ignorance.