# Teen Dies on Hunting Trip After Being Mistaken for a Squirrel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 3, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639 "2025-10-03T14:40:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/1 "2025-10-03T14:40:44Z")
This isn’t _The Onion_. This is real life. Other sites are reporting it. I suspect Carson’s hunting buddy is so upset he won’t even be able to attend his next Mensa meeting. > Carson Ryan, 17, died last Saturday after being mistaken for a squirrel on a hunting trip. He was shot in the back of the head by someone in his own hunting party who thought his head was a squirrel. > **[US Teen Dies on Hunting Trip After Being Mistaken for a Squirrel](https://www.vice.com/en/article/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/)** > > A 17-year-old Iowa high school student died on a hunting trip after someone in his party mistook him for a squirrel. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/2 "2025-10-03T14:52:29Z")
This article has a picture of him, you can see it was an easy mistake to make. > **[Iowa teen dies after being mistaken for squirrel during hunting trip,...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iowa-teen-dies-mistaken-squirrel-hunting-trip-carson-ryan/)** > > A 17-year-old hunter died in rural Iowa after he "was mistaken for a squirrel by a member of his hunting party," state officials said. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/3 "2025-10-03T14:56:13Z")
Terrible for the family, grist for those with less than total empathy with hunters. _I was in no mood to trifle, I took down my trusty rifle And went out to stalk my prey What a haul I made that day_ - Tom Lehrer ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/4 "2025-10-03T14:56:38Z")
Good grief. This is why saner gun laws are needed. I can’t think of any 17yo I’d trust with a gun, more than a paint ball gun. The mistaken for animal hunting accidents happen all the time. Every year during deer season we hear about 2 or 3 locally. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/5 "2025-10-03T15:04:23Z")
They violated one of Col. Jeff Cooper’s Four Safety Rules for gun handling: 1. Treat all guns as if they are loaded. 2. Never point a gun at anything you aren’t willing to kill or destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. 4. **Be certain of your target and what is around and behind it.** ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/6 "2025-10-03T15:08:08Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > This article has a picture of him, you can see it was an easy mistake to make He probably should have chosen a better hunting outfit. [![](https://i.imgur.com/nxQvTmO.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/nxQvTmO.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/7 "2025-10-03T15:17:22Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I suspect Carson’s hunting buddy is so upset he won’t even be able to attend his next Mensa meeting. 🤣 … Forgive me God 😳 … 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/8 "2025-10-03T15:17:55Z")
To be honest, I had no idea people actually go on hunting trips for _squirrels_. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/9 "2025-10-03T15:19:20Z")
Seems like a convenient excuse for getting rid of your less desirable “friends”. It almost worked for Dick Cheney… ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/10 "2025-10-03T15:20:09Z")
They call it “fragging” in the military. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/11 "2025-10-03T15:22:16Z")
Note to self: do not have a ponytail when going squirrel hunting with my friends Instead wear a coonskin cap when going racoon hunting. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/12 "2025-10-03T15:51:19Z")
I always feel bad for the grieving family of people who died in a ridiculous way, or any way that is going to lead to internet mockery. You can’t properly grieve when your loved one has become a punch line. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/13 "2025-10-03T16:05:10Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I can’t think of any 17yo I’d trust with a gun, more than a paint ball gun. I owned my first rifle at age 12. The first rule of hunting was “Make sure of your target. If you’re not 100% sure, do not pull the trigger” (or what Crafterman said). Also, we didn’t wear camo like everyone does today. It’s foolish and dangerous in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/14 "2025-10-03T16:19:47Z")
This is a child who died, and I’m not sure memifying it with silly jokes is a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/15 "2025-10-03T16:24:11Z")
Comedy is one of the ways we cope with tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/16 "2025-10-03T16:25:18Z")
sure, that’s what you’re doing here, “coping”…these jokes are in pretty bad taste in my opinion ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/17 "2025-10-03T16:28:03Z")
It’s also a way that people who aren’t affected by a tragedy trivialize it. I’ma go out on a limb and say that none of Carson Ryan’s relatives and friends are making AIslop graphics of him wearing a silly squirrel suit. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/18 "2025-10-03T16:28:20Z")
A very high majority of comedy is based on pain, either physical or emotional. Without it, the pain eats away without release. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/19 "2025-10-03T16:30:58Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I owned my first rifle at age 12. The first rule of hunting was “Make sure of your target. If you’re not 100% sure, do not pull the trigger” (or what Crafterman said). I give a hearty thank you to the person (your dad?) who instructed you. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639/20 "2025-10-03T16:31:03Z")
Just stop with this BS please. No one posting on this board feels the slightest tinge of pain related to this shooting. They’re making tasteless jokes at the expense of a stranger. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teen-dies-on-hunting-trip-after-being-mistaken-for-a-squirrel/1023639.md?page=2)