A hunting trip in Iowa took a tragic turn, ending the life of 26-year-old Seth Michael Egelhoff, a male from Chesterfield, Illinois. On the afternoon of Saturday, November 11, 2023, Egelhoff was waterfowl hunting with friends at the Bays Branch Wildlife Area near Panora when the unthinkable happened.
Around 1 p.m., a 911 call was made to the Guthrie County Sheriff's Office reporting that a hunter had been shot in the marsh.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Egelhoff was shot in the face by a member of his own hunting party. The group of friends, who had known each other since high school, were on a "guy's hunting trip". The fatal shot was reportedly fired as the individual was attempting to shoot a duck.
Emergency personnel from the Guthrie County Sheriff's Department, Panora Emergency Medical Services, and the Iowa State Patrol arrived at the scene. Paramedics began life-saving measures and were transporting Egelhoff to a location accessible to a Life Flight helicopter. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries en route and was pronounced deceased shortly after leaving the scene of the incident.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau is leading the investigation into the shooting, with assistance from the Guthrie County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa State Patrol. A conservation officer with the Iowa DNR stated that the shooting appears to be accidental. The officer also noted that there was no evidence to suggest any malicious intent by any member of the hunting party and that he anticipated no legal action from the state. The individual who fired the shot was described as being extremely distraught. At the time of the reports, the investigation was ongoing, and an autopsy was planned.
