Man Shot While Turkey Hunting

May 02, 2014
Contact: Elise Schaffer, PIO Phone: (608) 284-6142
Sheriff's Office

Dane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to public hunting land on County Highway A near State Highway 14 in the town of Rutland just after 7:00 am on Thursday, May 1st.

 

Robert Ruth, age 46 of the town of Rutland, was out turkey hunting with his 15-year-old daughter.  Another hunter, William H. Tepp, age 50 of Stoughton, was also turkey hunting in the same area, but neither party was aware the other was there.  Tepp fired one round from his shotgun at what he thought was a turkey and struck Mr. Ruth from approximately 50 yards away.

 

Tepp immediately rendered aid to Ruth, who was transported by EMS to a local hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

 

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Tepp on a charge of Endangering Safety by Use of a Dangerous Weapon, he was booked and released.  The WI DNR is investigating the incident.