Hunter shot during deer drive in Wascott

A hunter who was shot in the town of Wascott on Sunday morning remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Nicholas Bitz, 32, of Madison was shot in the shoulder during a deer drive, according to Jim Bishop, public affairs manager with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Spokeswoman Kim Kaiser said Bitz is listed in serious condition at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center of Duluth.

Preliminary information indicates Bitz was out of sight of the shooter when the shot was fired. The shooting occurred at 11 a.m. Sunday on private land, Bishop said.

The incident remains under investigation by the DNR. According to Bishop, Bitz was the only hunter shot in the 18-county northern region of the state during the opening weekend of the 2010 deer gun season.

However, the department is investigating four other non-fatal shootings involving deer hunters on opening day. Those incidents occurred in Marathon, Wood, Door and Marquette counties, according to information from the Associated Press.

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