WINDHAM – According to the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department, a Standish man hunting turkeys with his son Monday morning in Windham was seriously injured.

Joseph Kennedy, 61, of Deerfield Circle in Standish, was hunting off Anderson Road in Windham with his son, Kevin Kennedy, 29, of Elmwood Avenue in Westbrook.

According to authorities, the father and son were hunting turkeys together and decided to separate and stalk two different flocks of turkeys in an area off Anderson Road. After hearing a gunshot, the younger Kennedy assumed his father had shot at a turkey so he began walking in the direction of the shot. While walking, Kevin Kennedy observed two turkeys and fired three shots at one of the turkeys. When he fired, authorities say the shot trajectory was unknowingly directly toward his father who was in a nearby wooded area. Joseph Kennedy sustained a bird shot pellet to his left eye and was transported to Portland for eye surgery. Ironically, authorities added, Joseph Kennedy had been blind in his left eye since birth.

Several Maine game wardens responded to investigate the incident. The wardens included Sgt. Jason Luce, Sgt. Dave Chabot and his K-9, pilot Dan Dufault (who conducted aerial survey photos), Eric Blanchard (forensic mapping of the scene), wardens Seth Powers, Neal Wykes, and the primary investigator, warden Peter Herring.

The incident remains under investigation.

Copy the Story Link