As some know, we had an Upstate Bowfishing Club tournament on Lake Murray, SC this last Saturday night. My team and I had only been on the lake one time before, and that was quite some time ago. We didn't scout any, just showed up to have a good time as it was about 2 hours away from where we live. After blast off, we randomly picked a main lake cove to start out in. As we fished the left side bank going towards the back, we came across a house having a huge party. We swung out wide so as not to disturb anyone, but a few people came out on the dock to see what we were doing. It was a party, so there was a lot of loud talking and shouting, but nothing that we saw was aimed at us. With the kicker wide open, we quickly passed that house and fished the back. When we started coming out on the right side bank, we heard loud voices again, but passed it off as the party. We kept coming to the main lake point and followed it on around. As soon as we made the turn, BOOM!! No warning or anything. We look to the bank, and there is a guy hiding in the bushes with a shotgun pointed at us. The guy is about 30 yards away and the wad lands right at the boat. Before we can even process whats going on, he racks another and shoots again. My two teammates jump in the floor of the boat as I throttle to turn away. He waves the gun in the air and screams, and then unleashes two more rounds. All four shots were when we were between 30 and 50 yards. I grabbed my pistol but didn't shoot. His backstop was open water, mine were million dollar homes. Once we got to a point where we felt safe, I dialed 911 while my friend used Google maps streetview to get an address of the guys house. We met an officer at the ramp where we put in at to file the report. They sent a different cop by water that night to the house, but the shooter wouldn't come to the door. We still wanted to press charges so they turned the case over to investigators. The detective called me today after she went to the guy's house. Turns out that he admitted to doing it because he was tired of having lights shined in his house over the last several weekends. He said he was sorry, and that nothing like this would happen again. When the detective told him that we could have shot and killed him and it would have been self defense, his reply was "Well I've been shot at by boats before". I took that as he has been harassing other boats in the past, and he has not learned his lesson. That's why we are continuing to press charges and they are going with "Pointing and presenting a firearm" which has a max sentence of five years in jail. We are going later this week to pick him out of a lineup (which I don't know why we have to do that after he admitted to it) and to sit down with a judge. I'll keep this thread updated in case anyone finds themselves in a similar situation.
Update on getting shot at...
scoutlover
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Geez what a mess. I had a similar incident a number of years ago. Drove by a party and some drugged up a-hole was outside with a sawed off 12-guage. Mistook my truck for someone he apparently hated and emptied all 5 rounds at my truck while I was 40-50 yards away. Some of the pellets chipped paint and thank God no one was hurt. Immediately called it in and they guy got arrested for possessing an illegal firearm and also possession of meth.
I hope this yuppie gets what he has coming for him. Some people have no regard for others that bother them.
I hope this yuppie gets what he has coming for him. Some people have no regard for others that bother them.
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I never had problems
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That's odd...3 boats at least had issues...
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Good thing this wasnt in Texas, he woulda been shot after the first shot he put towards my boat.
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I respectfully choose to disagree with you. If someone fires a shot at me, or in my general direction, I take it as a threat on my life. Warning or not. When you threaten my life, you forfeit your own to chance. That chance is whether or not I hit you when I return fire. I don't disagree that the man was right not to shoot back in this situation, but should he have, I would not have begrudged him for it. Whether or not the guy that popped off shots deserved a bullet between the eyes is relative. He threatened another man who was not threatening him. I'm of the opinion that when he made the decision to do so, he was fully aware of the consequence that may have arisen from his actions, including a lethal return. Deserve has nothing to do with it. He took fate into his own hands, and got lucky. That's my take on it anyway. :tu:
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:cf:
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I have not had troubles like these bowfishing.....But reading some of the threads on here make me want carry my weapon with me !!!!!!!!!!!!
Most places around here we fish are not around homes. Most people around here are glad to see use and even tell us were they have seen fish. Not that, that helps all the time but we are always polite. I hope that his money doesn't get him out of trouble and they send a message to others by making him an example....
Most places around here we fish are not around homes. Most people around here are glad to see use and even tell us were they have seen fish. Not that, that helps all the time but we are always polite. I hope that his money doesn't get him out of trouble and they send a message to others by making him an example....
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We had someone walk out on there porch with a pistol on us but they didnt shoot ...and also had someone come out waving there hands and yelling a few houses down...and we actually try to stay away from houses for the most part...we just happened to cut accross a cove and went past a few docks to get to the other side away from the houses...
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Airboat
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Sorry, still a little drunk from last night so I'm a little slow today. Thanks for the clarification. :tu:
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LIKE BCBOWFISHING said i have never been shoot at or any thing like that and for the most part where we fish at there are no homes. People around here are normally nice about it and will help you find some fish but mainly they are want to know more about the sport and how it bennifets the lakes and rivers in our area witch i am more than happy to explain to them and even invite them to come out and shoot with us one night so they can see just how many fish are actually out there and that we are not doing it just for the he\\ of it we are trying to help control some of the invasive spicies of fish in our waters
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seriously the most trouble ive had is some guy yell at me for shooting his fish
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I concur
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Some people are just idiots. I am sure your lights really messed up their party. I hope he pays!!!
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Not only a 1911 but I'm pretty darn sure a berretta m92 woulda been doin some talkin, bout 14 words worth
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You should have blown daylight through him.I pussed out on a situation similar.Couple jack asses tried running me off the road multiple times so I pulled over.The ran like scared rabbits so I ran them down.The driver pulled a rifle and I told him I would shove it up his ass.He tried to kill me about 3 different shots before I got the gun out of his hands.I should have killed him right then but I slung the gun over a fence and out into a field and we hooked it.The passenger went and got the gun.I told him to go ahead if he had the balls.He worked me over with the gun tearing all the wood off of it in the process.They lit out and rolled the truck about 20 miles down the road, slinging them both out.The truck rolled on top of the one that shot at me and ground him into the pavement.Karma is a biotch I reckon.:laugh:
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Killing someone is not an easy thing and something a guy has to live with. That said, sometimes it is the best thng to do. Years ago, someone kept breaking into my house. Never stole much just went through my wifes stuff. poured he makeup out and crap like that. we had the law out four or five times. One night i was watching tv when i heard a gunshot. i ran out side and my neighbors teen age daughter was sitting in the truck with her boyfriend when a guy sneaked up to my bedroom window and started taking the screen off. It was dove season and he let the guy have it with a load of 8s at about 40yds. thsi stopped it for several months.
One night about 3am, i heard the dog barking so i sneaked to the window and saw a guy on my porch. I eased the door opoen and he heard it and took off running. I chased him down with the truck and held him at gunpoint. He was crazy as a loon. Black guy about 40 years old that had his brain fried. I accused him of being the one breaking in my house. Said he was wanting to sell me some firewood. I explained to him that if I ever saw him on my property again, I would presume he was there to do harm and kill him on sight.
I never had another problem but about a year later he broke into a ladys house a few miles from me. Raped her and chopped her up horrible with a machete. She somehow managed to get outside and her 81yr old mother heard the screaming, called 911 and grabbed her glock 9mm. She emptied the mag at the guy and he jumped into the daughters car and took off. Mom ran back into the house and reloaded, jumped in her car and gave chase. he made it about a mile before he passed out and veered off the road. When the popo got there she was standing by hois car with the gun still pointed at him.
He was hit 7 times. 5 of which were mortal! He had an entry hole over his left ear and an exit through his right temple. Noone knows how he drove a mile with that wound LOL!
I can tell you ,I took it hard when i heard it. I knew that dude was dangerous. That beautiful lady wouldnt have had to go through that if I had done what i should have done i guess.
One night about 3am, i heard the dog barking so i sneaked to the window and saw a guy on my porch. I eased the door opoen and he heard it and took off running. I chased him down with the truck and held him at gunpoint. He was crazy as a loon. Black guy about 40 years old that had his brain fried. I accused him of being the one breaking in my house. Said he was wanting to sell me some firewood. I explained to him that if I ever saw him on my property again, I would presume he was there to do harm and kill him on sight.
I never had another problem but about a year later he broke into a ladys house a few miles from me. Raped her and chopped her up horrible with a machete. She somehow managed to get outside and her 81yr old mother heard the screaming, called 911 and grabbed her glock 9mm. She emptied the mag at the guy and he jumped into the daughters car and took off. Mom ran back into the house and reloaded, jumped in her car and gave chase. he made it about a mile before he passed out and veered off the road. When the popo got there she was standing by hois car with the gun still pointed at him.
He was hit 7 times. 5 of which were mortal! He had an entry hole over his left ear and an exit through his right temple. Noone knows how he drove a mile with that wound LOL!
I can tell you ,I took it hard when i heard it. I knew that dude was dangerous. That beautiful lady wouldnt have had to go through that if I had done what i should have done i guess.
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I've always played out all these scenarios in my head that if "this" happened, then I would shoot to kill. The problem is that all my scenarios in my head were cut and dry self defense. Scenarios like I'm pumping gas and someone tries to rob me. Or I'm asleep and someone knocks out a window and comes in the house. You know, all the basic self defense scenes you see played out on tv. The problem I have is this is the second time I've been in a situation where lead was flying, and it didn't seem as cut and dry to me. The first time was when I was on the way a bass fishing tournament and we stopped at a Hardee's for a biscuit. The local "club" left out and some real winners had a shootout in the parking lot while my partner and I were walking to the door. Same situation. I didn't know if I was in the right since I didn't know who was shooting and who they were aiming at. We took cover until it was over. The fact that I hesitated and had to think, "Can I legally do this?" bothers me, but at the same time maybe that has kept me outta jail.
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