Salem man's hunting death is ruled accidental by coroner

RAVENNA -- The Portage County cororner's office has ruled the hunting-related death of a Salem man as accidental.
Tom Decker, the coroner's chief investigator, said the death of Arthur J. Tasker, 64, of 913 W. Pershing St., is the first hunting-related death in the county this year.
Decker said Tasker was pronounced dead about 9:45 p.m. Friday in a wooded area of Deerfield Township near Watson Road. He said Tasker died about 8:30 p.m.
Decker said Tasker, who was hunting alone, apparently tripped or otherwise lost his footing, causing his crossbow to accidentally discharge. Decker said an arrow entered Tasker's side and traveled through his body, causing his death.
Portage County Sheriff Duane Kaley said Tasker died because the arrow pierced both his lungs. The arrow was found several yards from Tasker's body and matched one Tasker had in a quiver, Kaley said.
Kaley said deputies found Tasker's body on private farmland in an area where deer are known to be active. He said Tasker had hunted in the area for years and often emerged after dark.
Kaley said the property owner knew Tasker was hunting and called the sheriff's department when Tasker had not returned from the woods several hours after dark.