On Saturday, November 11, 2023, a hunting accident occurred in Guthrie County, Iowa, resulting in the death of a 26-year-old man from Chesterfield, Illinois.
Seth Egelhoff was participating in a waterfowl hunting excursion at Bays Branch Wildlife Area, located about two miles north of Panora, Iowa, and 40 miles from Des Moines, when he was accidentally shot in the face by his colleague.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 emergency call around 1:00 p.m. about a hunter who had sustained a gunshot wound to the face. In response, Panora Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the scene. Despite the efforts of the EMS personnel, who administered lifesaving measures, Egelhoff was pronounced dead while en route to an air ambulance.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Bureau is actively investigating the circumstances of the incident with the assistance of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, Panora EMS, and the Iowa State Patrol.
In light of the incident, the DNR is urging all hunters to exercise utmost caution and adhere to safety guidelines to prevent similar accidents. Egelhoff was the second hunting fatality in Iowa in the past month. The Bays Branch Wildlife Area remains open to the public, but the DNR emphasizes the importance of following safety protocols while hunting.
