Palatka man shot in hunting accident

Palatka man shot in hunting accident

A Palatka man was shot Monday afternoon at a private hunt club in Putnam County. Eric D. Altman, 43, was shot at the White Hill Hunting Club off of County Road 214 and Old Bostwick Road.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators, Gregory Cutrer, 50, also of Palatka, and his wife were hunting deer with dogs in the hunting club. Cutrer was parked on Old Bostwick Road alongside a clear cut when he saw a deer running across.

Cutrer got out of his truck with his 308 cal. scoped rifle and took a shot at the deer as it approached the dirt road. At the same time, it appears that Altman was getting out of his truck approximately 220 yards away when he was struck in the right side of the head by the 308 cal. projectile.

Altman was lifeflighted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville where he was admitted in serious condition.

The investigation of the accident is ongoing, according to FWC officials.