A hunter was shot and killed during a ‘deer drive’ in Illinois, officials say

A hunter was fatally shot during a “deer drive” in Illinois, media outlets report.

Brian Busker, 39, was shot in the head while hunting Saturday in Joe Daviess County, in far northwest Illinois on the border with Wisconsin, KWQC reported. He died at the scene, according to KWQC.

A “deer drive” is a hunting technique in which a group herds deer within firing range of armed hunters, WREX reported.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources officials say Busker was participating in a deer drive with 10 other hunters when he was shot, WREX reported.

According to Outdoor Life magazine, hunters are posted on the edges of a property and other hunters, sometimes with dogs, push the hiding deer to the outside of the land to be shot.

“A successful drive doesn’t just happen,” according to Outdoor Life. “It takes a knowledgeable drivemaster, a good plan, and, most of all, a primary emphasis on safety for all involved.”

A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources didn’t immediately respond to an email Monday from McClatchy news group asking whether Busker was part of the group pushing deer toward hunters or waiting with a firearm.

The department said the death was an accident, WFIR reported. Illinois Conservation Police are leading the investigation into Busker’s death, according to WFIR.

Busker was a resident of Scales Mound, Illinois, according to an obituary. His funeral will be on Friday.

This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 3:31 PM with the headline "A hunter was shot and killed during a ‘deer drive’ in Illinois, officials say."