A man out target shooting on public land near Helena, Washington was shot at by another man who "mistook him for Bigfoot," reported the Helena Independent Record on December 17th.

The incident occurred the previous Sunday, but the man waited until Monday to report it because he “didn’t think it was necessary.”

The 27-year-old man reported to dispatchers that he was setting up targets on land controlled by the Bureau of Land Management in the North Hills when a bullet struck roughly three feet to his left, followed by another to his right, and then he heard even more shots fired as he ran for cover.

He reportedly confronted the shooter, who told him he "was out hunting Bigfoot" and that he "should be wearing orange," according to Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.

"[The shooter] said, 'I was out hunting Bigfoot.' Thought he was Bigfoot, and he said no he wasn't Bigfoot, and then the guy said you should be wearing orange. It seemed like a non-emotional approach to something that's extremely serious,” said Sheriff Dutton.

The Helena man described the vehicle as a black Ford F-150, but did not provide further information, such as a license plate number or description of the alleged shooter.

He asked that the area be checked for the shooter, and, if found, that he be instructed on safe shooting practices, but he did not wish to pursue charges.

Sheriff Dutton emphasized that the allegations were serious, despite a desire not to pursue charges, and that the shooter's actions could warrant a charge of attempted negligent homicide. Deputies who searched the area could reportedly find no vehicle matching the description.

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