A 26-year-old hunter died after a fellow group member accidentally shot him while aiming for a buck in Juniata County, officials say.

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A hunter was killed during a deer drive deep in the snowy mountains of Pennsylvania following a chaotic moment when a buck burst through a line of drivers, the Game Commission announced on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The 26-year-old man was part of a 24-person hunting group conducting a deer drive a mile or two off Vincent Tram Road in Milford Township around 8:20 a.m., according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He was helping push deer toward the “standers” when a buck suddenly jumped up and ran back through the line.

Two hunters fired at the deer, and one of the shots struck the 26-year-old in the right hip as he stood in the direct line of fire, PGC said. He was approximately 127 yards from the shooter.

A massive rescue effort followed as game wardens, Pennsylvania State Police, Port Royal EMS, and multiple fire companies — including crews from Mifflintown Hose Co. #1, Friendship Fire Company No. 1, and Junction Fire Company — navigated steep, snowy terrain to reach the victim near Denholm. He was carried out of the remote woods and taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.

The victim’s identity has not been released.

The shooting remains under investigation and is being classified as a fatal hunting-related incident. No charges have been filed.