hunter

An 80-year-old Muskegon County man accidentally shot himself during his annual gun-cleaning tradition before hunting season.

(MLive file photo)

DALTON TOWNSHIP, MI - An elderly man's annual hunting tradition turned tragic earlier this week when he accidentally shot himself to death, police say.

The 80-year-old was cleaning a .22-caliber pistol Tuesday when the gun accidentally fired, hitting him in the chest, said Michigan State Police Lt. Chris McIntire.

"It was a horrible accident," McIntire said.

The Muskegon County man who had mobility issues could no longer get into the woods to hunt, but he continued his annual tradition of preparing his guns, McIntire said.

"It's tradition for him to have his guns brought to him around hunting season so he can get them out and go through the whole process of cleaning them and getting them ready," McIntire said. "And then the guns are put away until the next year."

On Nov. 8, his wife brought several of his guns to her husband, who spent most of his time in a chair, McIntire said.

Emergency responders were called around noon to the home on Johnston Street in Dalton Township after the fatal accident, McIntire said. There was no indication it was a suicide nor a homicide, he said. The wife was present in the home at the time, he said.

"He was an 80-year-old who was in fair health," McIntire said. "He got a lot of enjoyment spending time with his children and grandchildren."