KREMMLING, Colo. (KDVR) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife says a hunter was found shot and killed in a very remote area near Kremmling.
CPW was notified at 11:30 a.m. Monday of the shooting but it took responders several hours to get there.
“The incident probably occurred about an hour and a half earlier, around 10:00 a.m.”, said Randy Hampton with CPW. “It took awhile to get cell signal, but the caller knew about the incident immediately.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is working with the Grand County Sherriff’s office, the District Attorney, the coroner and Colorado Bureau of Investigations to determine if criminal charges apply in the case.
“There’s a lot of elements in this investigation and we want to make sure that everything is done as cleanly as possible,” Randy Hampton. “This is a tragic situation, for everybody involved in it.”
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has identified the victim as 26-year-old Simon Jacob Howell of Ridgeley, West Virginia. The coroner’s office is currently conducting an autopsy.
CBI says Howell was part of a hunting party and another member of the group shot him. The alleged shooter has been cooperative with investigators and no arrests have been made.
“This tragic case highlights the need for people to take into account all the safety measures that you learn, but when you get into the field it’s easy to forget, and we hope this reminds people it’s really important,” said Hampton.
CPW said hunter fatalities are very rare since they implemented a mandatory hunter education course in the 1950’s.
In 1960, hunter fatalities averaged about 10 a year. Now, that average stands at less than one a year. The last time a hunter was fatally shot in Colorado was two years ago, Nov. 5, 2018. That incident was also in Grand County.
Once the investigation is complete it will be reviewed by the 14th Judicial District Attorney to determine any possible criminal charges.