Nappanee Man Injured In Turkey Hunting Accident In Fulton County

May 13, 2025 at 6:20 p.m.

By DAVID L. SLONE Managing Editor

A Nappanee man was injured in a turkey hunting accident Saturday in Fulton County.
According to a news release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, at 6:18 a.m. Saturday, Fulton County Dispatch received a call reporting an individual being shot while turkey hunting near CR 375N and CR 100W in Rochester.
Brian Lehman, 41, Nappanee, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and neck from a shot fired from a 12-gauge shotgun. Lehman was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.
Initial investigation reveals that Lehman and a juvenile hunter were walking a farm lane to gain access to a property when a hunter on the adjacent property mistook Lehman’s movement for a turkey and fired in his direction, striking Lehman. The juvenile was not injured.
The incident is still under investigation.
Indiana conservation officers remind hunters to always identify your target, what is in front of it, and what is behind it before shooting while in the field.
Indiana conservation officers were assisted by Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, Rochester Police Department, Rochester Fire Department and Parkview Emergency Medical Services.

A Nappanee man was injured in a turkey hunting accident Saturday in Fulton County.
According to a news release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, at 6:18 a.m. Saturday, Fulton County Dispatch received a call reporting an individual being shot while turkey hunting near CR 375N and CR 100W in Rochester.
Brian Lehman, 41, Nappanee, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and neck from a shot fired from a 12-gauge shotgun. Lehman was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.
Initial investigation reveals that Lehman and a juvenile hunter were walking a farm lane to gain access to a property when a hunter on the adjacent property mistook Lehman’s movement for a turkey and fired in his direction, striking Lehman. The juvenile was not injured.
The incident is still under investigation.
Indiana conservation officers remind hunters to always identify your target, what is in front of it, and what is behind it before shooting while in the field.
Indiana conservation officers were assisted by Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, Rochester Police Department, Rochester Fire Department and Parkview Emergency Medical Services.

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