A 32-year-old Poplar Bluff man died at a Cape Girardeau hospital New Year's Day after being wounded in the left shoulder and neck from a gunshot wound while duck hunting Monday morning in the Conservation area of Otter Slough southwest of Dexter.
The death has been ruled accidental.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was in a boat at Pool 22 the slough when the hunting incident occurred,
The initial call to Stoddard County EMS came in around 8:20 a.m. Monday stated that the victim's wounds were to the neck. It was later learned the shot entered the man's shoulder, but that there was pellet damage to the area of the neck. The victim was given CPR in the boat until emergency personnel could arrive.
He was taken by ambulance to Missouri Southern Healthcare where he was stabilized before being airlifted to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau for further treatment.
It was learned Tuesday, Jan. 1, that the hunter died of his injuries at St. Francis Medical Center early Tuesday.
Stoddard County Sheriff's Dept. was first on the scene at Otter Slough and assisted in the EMS transport of the victim. Also on hand were officials from the Mo. Dept. of Conservation. As is customary, that department will conduct an incident investigation.
According to Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner in a statement Wednesday morning, the death has been ruled as accidental. The department will continue to gather information regarding the incident.