Man in woods was shot by another hunter

WEST FARMINGTON — A Trumbull County man who was rescued from a wildlife preserve Friday had been shot by a hunter, an investigator says.

Darrell Bontrager, 42, of Farmington Township, was found about 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Grand River Wildlife Management Area after spending the night in the woods.

Authorities had been saying that Bontrager accidentally shot himself before the search was launched Thursday night.

Sheriff’s Detective Michael E. Yannucci said Bontrager told him during an interview at St. Joseph Heath Center that a hunter shot him in the left leg.

Yannucci said Bontrager was in the thickly wooded area when he felt pain.

“He looked up and saw a man running,” the detective said Bontrager told him. “Darrell strongly believes it’s an accident.”

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