The 14-year-old bear hunter who shot and killed a hiker on Sauk Mountain in early August has pled not guilty to first-degree manslaughter charges. The teen entered his plea yesterday in a Mount Vernon juvenile court. If convicted, he could be in a juvenile detention facility until his 21st birthday. Along with accepting the teen's plea, the judge put a no-contact order on him and his family--legally barring them from speaking to the slain hiker's family or her friend who witnessed the shooting. more ›

The 14-year-old (unsupervised-by-adults) hunter who shot and killed a local hiker after mistaking her for a bear will be charged with first degree manslaughter. The Skagit County Prosecutor's office points out that the boy broke no laws by hunting in the popular hiking area or for hunting without adult supervision, since there is no minimum age limit for hunting in Washington State...which still boggles our mind. Hopefully, the manslaughter charge will bring about conversation and change in regards to children hunting bears and gun control, and some part of this tragic fiasco could be redeemed for the positive. more ›

In yet another story that gets more disturbing with every detail, we learn that the underage hunter accused of killing a hiker after he mistook her for a bear was 14 years old. And, contrary to previous reports that said the young hunter was with an adult, he was actually only with his 16-year-old brother. According to KING 5's report, the two boys from Concrete, Wash., were dropped off by their grandfather earlier in the day to do some hunting on Sauk Mountain. Both are licensed to hunt bears, and supposedly the 14-year-old has been licensed since he was nine. Which begs the question: nine-year-olds can register to hunt with firearms? Surely there has to be a parental or adult supervision clause with that license. Or have we just decided it's fine to arm pre-teens if it's for hunting? more ›

A 54-year-old avid hiker from Snohomish County was killed this weekend, when an inexperienced hunter mistook her for a bear and fired a single fatal shot. Pam Almli was hiking with a friend on Sauk Mountain in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Saturday morning. Reportedly, Almli was bending down and putting something in her backpack when she was shot. The name of the tragically mistaken hunter has not been released, as he is under 18 years old. Turns out, the Vice President mistaking an old huntin' buddy for a quail is funny, while this hunting-mishap story just strikes us as tragic and sad, for everyone involved. more ›