DNR: 11-year-old Iowa City boy shot while hunting

IOWA CITY - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said an 11-year-old boy was shot while hunting near Iowa City with his grandfather and brother.

According to the DNR, two Iowa City boys - ages 11 and 13 - were hunting on Sunday with their grandfather on private property near the intersection of 320th Street Northeast and Prairie du Chien Road NW in Johnson County. Authorities said the boys were standing along a fencerow between a wooded area and a field and were roughly 160 yards apart. Their grandfather was in the timber trying to direct deer out into the field toward the brothers.

Authorities said the boys both shot at a doe standing in the field. The deer ran between the boys and the older brother continued to shoot. The 11-year-old was shot in the hip, the DNR said.

The boy was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The shooting remains under investigation by the DNR.

Authorities warned that hunters should be aware of the whereabouts of other hunters at all times and to make sure there is a safe backdrop before taking a shot.

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