Elk Guide shot & killed in NM unit 16

[spectr17]

Posted by crazyaboutcoues,

This is what the local paper said:

An Alabama man is being held in the Catron county jail charged with involuntary manslaughter following the shooting of a hunting guide wednesday. William Brent Camp, 60, allegedly shot and killed Michael (Trampas) Najar, 28, of Reserve NM.

State Police and Catron county sheriffs dept. set up road blocks in the Apache Creek area after Camp fled the scene following the shooting. Camp who was a member of Najars party turned himself in at the catron County sheriffs office this morning. Narar was reportedly holding up the head of an elk that had been killed and admiring its antlers when Camp allegedly fired, according to sheriff Cliff Snyder.

"We are not sure if Camp thought the elk was getting up or just didn't see the victim." Snyder Said.

Camp was arraigned this morning before magistrate James Blancq. He is being held in the Catron County jail under a $25,000 unsecured bond.

Involuntary manslaughter is fourth degree felony punishable by a maximum fine of $5000.00 and 18 months in prison.

A family friend of Najar who spoke on condition of anonymity called the shooting " a shock to the whole town of Reserve."

"He had a wife an year old baby" she said.


End article

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More info on post at Bowsite

http://www.bowsite.com/BOWSITE/TF/thread.c...ages=10&forum=5

 

[Lankyman]

I am sorry that this or any other hunting accident happen. Now someone's son, someone's father & someone's husband is dead. He is gone, never to return from his beloved hills of elk country. Everyone may not agree with me on this, but here is my opinion on it.

This is such a sad thing to happen. His family & friends are in our thoughts & prayers. In the heat of the moment it is so easy to do something as a knee jerk reaction. Also, I pray for the family & friends of the man that shot him. I am not excusing his actions, but he has to live with the fact that he killed someone. I hope that myself of none of my family or friends are ever in a situation like this. All of us need to make sure that we don't rush into a shot without making sure that we know where the bullet or arrow or whatever we are using will land. It is easy for someone that is new to an area (for example - someone coming from a different part of the US to hunt out west for the first time) to get over come with emotion & wanting to get that elk or deer. Also, it could be pressure from hunting buddies or friends to get a bigger trophy or a higher total number of kills per year. The person can be the best & most cautious person, but things happen. I am not excusing this shooting event or any other hunting accidents that involves someone getting shot, killed or disable. In my 20+ years of being in the woods, I have been in situations that make me wonder after happens. I have seen it from both sides & I honestly think that if each hunter looks back at their own hunting career, they to will find similar situations. On one occasion, I had 2 rounds from a 12 ga. 3" Mag fired at my hen decoy during the spring turkey season here in SC. Both loads ripped through the trees and hit within 8 to 10 ft. of me. Needless to say, I was just ready to go hunt that day. It still makes my hair stand on end when I think about it. I came close to getting killed that day. On another occasion, I was deer hunting at Parsons Mt. here in upstate SC. It was probably 15 years ago. I was up my tree & never heard the shot. All I heard was the bullet tumblin' & whistlin' as it passed me. I don't know if the bullet was fired up in the air or what. I have passed on a couple of nice bucks, 2 good bulls and a few turkeys so far. I was not sure about the shot so I didn't take them. I made the right choice in each situation. On the other hand, I have shot a deer that I jumped before, as I know a lot of other people have. I have regretted taking shots like that. Now, I try to force myself to take time and make sure that I can safely take a shot before I pull the trigger. It is not an easy thing to do, I'll admit that, but it is something that ALL of us must do. With the numbers of people in the woods at record levels, we need to be the first line of defense to stop these hunting accidents from happening. Whenever we pull the trigger, release an arrow or what ever we do while hunting, we all need to realize that we CANNOT stop the bullet or arrow once we release it. There is NOT a trophy in the woods worth killing someone over. Please be careful in the woods & Good Luck & Hunt Safe.

 

[spectr17]

Reseve NM local News Paper "The Messenger"

Several local resident's expressed concern over Willard Camp's bond being set at $2500.

Camp is accused of shooting to death Michal Najar a local contractor who was guiding Camp on an elk hunt. One local outfitter said "It costs the hunter at least three times as much to come hunting here as it did for him to shoot a man and leave."

THE MESSENGER learned (name withheld) the mother of Nanjar's son is looking into filing a wrongful death suit. Magistrate Judge Jim Blancq stated during Camp's arraignment that "this cries for a little bond the court is willing to set bond at $25,000 and require 10 percent of that or $2,500."

James Chilton, who was also hunting with Camp and Brandon Gaudelli at the time Najar was killed, is constructing a home for Camp in Summers, Montana. Camp stated he recently retired from his business in Alabama and moved to Montana.
Camp was represented via telephone by lawyers Bill Parnell of Albuquerque and John Duttis from Montana.

Several callers wanted to know why other charges were not brought against Camp such as concealing evidence and conspiracy.

 

[spectr17]

New Mexico Shooting Rumor

Buckmasters Press Release

10/25/02

"Rumors are circulating that a Buckmasters employee was involved in a hunting accident in New Mexico. This is a false rumor. NO Buckmaster employee has been involved in an accident," according to Buckmasters pubic relations director Ann Lewis.

"Buckmasters, which is an Alabama limited partnership, has a large number of investors," Lewis said, "who, by definition, have a financial interest but no involvement in the day-to-day operation of the business.

"We have learned that Mr. Willard Camp of Selma, Ala., one of a number of investors, was on a personal hunting trip in New Mexico when he was charged with involuntary manslaughter in a hunting accident. Mr. Camp is not employed by Buckmasters and was not representing this organization in any way," Lewis said.

"This was a very unfortunate, very tragic accident and our hearts go out to the families involved in this accident," Lewis said.

"We continue to remind hunters to follow the safety rules at all times and to remind their hunting buddies to do the same."

 

[spectr17]

Posted by Mammath on Monster Mulies

Here is part of the main story also from THE MESSENGER vol. 5 #20 Oct 22, 2002. The previous was a small artical on the back page. I'll try and catch where the allegations came from as best I can.

......................According to the arrest warrent prepared by New Mexico State Police Agent Robert Gomez, "at approximately 5:10 AM Affiant conducted a taped interview with Willard Camp and informed he was on a guieded Elk hunt with James Chilton, Brandon Gaudelli, and Michael Najar. Willard Camp fired two shots at an Elk. James Chilton, Brandon Gaudelli, and Michael Najar went down into the canyon where they last saw the Elk. He informed Affiant he lost sight of the Elk, and all three men when they enterd the canyon. He walked to his right side, knelt down an began to pray. While praying he clamed to be facing in a westerly direction when he heard gunfire over his left rear shoulder. He heard Brandon screaming and watched Brandon and James run in his direction. When they arrived at his location Brandon informed him the Michael Najar had been shot in the head........

Camp did not confess to Najar's killing until 9:15 PM on October 16. Then according to the arrest warrent Camp, "confessed he did not provide accurate information when first interviewed. He admitted he was sitting down when looking through his rifle scope attempting to locate the Elk. He rememberd hearing a third shot from his weapon and then heard Brandon Gaudelli screaming. Willam Camp informed Affiant he did not intentionally shoot Michael Najar."
Several individuals stated they visited with the hunters before Camp's confession and they denied knowing anything about Najar's death or location where the bullet came from. The hunters described standing by Nanjar when he was shot.

 

[JohnJohn]

As tragic as this was, it sounds like a dumb accident. If he had of watched the proceedings with a pair of binoculars instead of using his rifle scope it wouldn't have happened.