Found Deceased WV - Wyatt Ray Eaves-Nibert, 10, with great grandfather hunting, became separated, Two Mile Salt Creek, Point Pleasant, 9 Sep 2023

[cocomod]

The boy was hunting and had a .22 rifle with him.

Missing child dead of gunshot wound in Mason County - WV MetroNews

Investigators haven't indicated if foul play is suspected in death of a 9 year old boy

wvmetronews.com

Yes, I know he had a .22, but what caliber was the gun that shot him? That would be a determining factor if it was his own gun or another hunter.

Unless they were hunting illegally, it’s too early for deer season. I think if it is someone else It will be another squirrel hunter. imo

https://wvdnr.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023-24.Seasons.Dates_.Limits_06.28.23.pdf

It was opening day for squirrels according to the link. I can’t speak for West Virginia but I would bet it’s similar to Louisiana in hunting traditions. People in areas of the country still hunt to put food on the table. I know 10 seems young but it is relatively common in my area and hunter education courses are available for young hunters. Opening days are usually big days for hunters and it’s a tradition for father-son hunts. I’ll add that squirrel hunts are relatively easy hunts for kids and it’s the way most kids start. imo

Thank you so much for that! I didn't know they had a season for squirrels. Hunters Ed is big in Utah too. I just do not know very many people in Utah that hunt squirrels for food. There are different hunting seasons here in Utah for deer depending on what area of the state you are hunting - whether it is a "draw" unit or general season.

 

[neesaki]

WCHS Eyewitness News

Investigators said Monday the boy was found dead with an apparent gunshot wound.

www.facebook.com

Interesting comments by AN Click on newest posts and then scroll down opening up all the convos. HTH

I didn’t see any comment by AN, but a couple others that make me go,
“oh no”.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I didn’t see any comment by AN, but a couple others that make me go,
“oh no”.

It’s a reply to a comment by MS.

 

[gliving]

Yes, I know he had a .22, but what caliber was the gun that shot him? That would be a determining factor if it was his own gun or another hunter.

RSBM Because of Wyatt's age, there should only be one rifle with them that afternoon. Perhaps they were unaware of this rule:

Youth hunters ages eight to 14 must be accompanied by an unarmed, licensed adult (21+ years old), but they don’t need a hunting license, stamps or a Hunter Safety Education card. Youth from 15-17 must comply with all license requirements but do not need a Class N or NN stamp.

Youth Hunting - WVDNR

It takes a hunter to make a hunter. Research indicates that initiation into hunting usually needs to occur before the age of 20 to instill a long-term

wvdnr.gov

 

[ttcRider]

I am trying so hard to follow what is going on here. Are 'we' thinking some person who has a gun license and an experienced hunter mistook this young child as a squirrel?

 

[bombardier]

I am trying so hard to follow what is going on here. Are 'we' thinking some person who has a gun license and an experienced hunter mistook this young child as a squirrel?

Hunters can stake out from far away, and shoot at any signs of movement that may be an animal. It's happened before, especially when the victim is wearing camouflage.
My one hang-up, though...this little boy would have been lost, right? He would have likely been walking around, or yelling, or trying other ways to get grandpa's attention. If this shooting was before he was officially 'lost', grandpa (or great grandpa?) would have heard the gunshot. So... how likely is it that someone's mistakes him for an animal when he's making noise or waving his arms around?

 

[ttcRider]

when you are squirrel hunting, are you looking up in the trees or on the ground? I imagine its harder than shooting at deer or moose. I'm not a hunter so I am only guessing.

 

[LadyL]

WCHS Eyewitness News

Investigators said Monday the boy was found dead with an apparent gunshot wound.

www.facebook.com

Interesting comments by AN Click on newest posts and then scroll down opening up all the convos. HTH

can't see this in Canada unfortunately
I googled the news page and found an article but there was only one not very nice comment

 

[musicaljoke]

Sorry - gun safety and hunter safety are two different animals. The child was not wearing hunter orange was he?

Correct. The child was wearing camoflage. See link at post #14 above.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Yes, I know he had a .22, but what caliber was the gun that shot him? That would be a determining factor if it was his own gun or another hunter.


Thank you so much for that! I didn't know they had a season for squirrels. Hunters Ed is big in Utah too. I just do not know very many people in Utah that hunt squirrels for food. There are different hunting seasons here in Utah for deer depending on what area of the state you are hunting - whether it is a "draw" unit or general season.

Just curious if anyone knows if LE will do ballistics testing in this case?

 

[asmi106082]

I am trying so hard to follow what is going on here. Are 'we' thinking some person who has a gun license and an experienced hunter mistook this young child as a squirrel?

MOO but I don’t think you need a gun license to own a hunting rifle.

In my state, (VA) we only need a license if we want to carry a concealed firearm. You can have a rifle at home for hunting and/or protection.

You need a license to hunt too. IME

 

[LaborDayRN]

RSBM Because of Wyatt's age, there should only be one rifle with them that afternoon. Perhaps they were unaware of this rule:

Youth hunters ages eight to 14 must be accompanied by an unarmed, licensed adult (21+ years old), but they don’t need a hunting license, stamps or a Hunter Safety Education card. Youth from 15-17 must comply with all license requirements but do not need a Class N or NN stamp.

Youth Hunting - WVDNR

It takes a hunter to make a hunter. Research indicates that initiation into hunting usually needs to occur before the age of 20 to instill a long-term

wvdnr.gov

I notice that the young person pictured in the article was wearing blaze orange.
The article say's this: Wearing an orange hat or vest is always a good idea when hunting small or big game.
I personally think that if it were my loved one, I would want whatever I could find to protect them be it a bright orange hat or clothing.
I've never been around anyone who hunts so I imagine my opinion won't matter much. I'm just so very sad that Wyatt lost his life.

 

[DeDee]

.22 CALIBER RIFLE​

The preferred weapon for most experienced squirrel hunters is the .22 caliber rifle. It is more accurate than a shotgun, allowing for precision kill shots that keep the meat intact. It also offers more of a challenge for hunters looking to keep their skills honed before deer season kicks off. Aim for the head, when possible, to preserve the hide and meat. The ammo for a .22 is about half that of shotgun shells. Good to know if you have a young hunter not afraid to pull the trigger.

Squirrel Hunting 101

"They may be small, but squirrels are one of the most exciting small game animals you can hunt. With their unpredictable movements and gigantic leaps through the tree canopies, squirrel hunting offers a challenge for both beginners and seasoned hunters. Squirrel hunting is both challenging and fun."


WV is known as The Mountain State. Where the fatal incident was located is rugged terrain loaded with trees laden with nuts which is the perfect squirrel's diet, especially when near water (Ohio River). There apparently was an ATV accident involving the boy's grandfather and a cliff, according to Wyatt's mother, but the two had been separated [about an hour?] when that happened. If so, how much time of the hour was spent cleaning up and packing after lunch and how much of the hour was spent searching for Wyatt?



The dark bleu line indicates Huntington Rd in Mason Co of WV.
MSM states incident occurred at Huntington Rd near Gallipolis Ferry

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze
Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mounty mamma
Take me home, country roads ~ john denver

 

[Cinister09]

It’s a reply to a comment by MS.

I see her comments.
The thing that caught me was this bit:

<modsnip - you can point people at interesting comments, but you can't post them on the thread and should remember that they can't be verified for accuracy, and are considered rumor here. Please see link below:>

Rules - Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, etc.

ALLOWED SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES Individuals Victim (missing or murdered person) Suspect (as officially named by LE) Links may be used to direct members to posts made by a victim or a suspect. Paraphrasing is okay, but direct quotes, copying/pasting, screenshots from these pages is not allowed...

www.websleuths.com

Edit to add: if you don't click the "all comments" facebook hides a good chunk of the comments and replies.

 

[Cedars]

I am trying so hard to follow what is going on here. Are 'we' thinking some person who has a gun license and an experienced hunter mistook this young child as a squirrel?

I am confused too. (ETA, I can't see the FB because I'm not in US).

To begin with, how did authorities, who began searching for a living boy late in the afternoon, find a body at 7 am (sunrise) in a brushy area, apparently quite distant from where they were looking?

IMO, if those facts are true, it's highly unlikely they randomly started the search in the morning right where he happened to be. I think, over night, someone told them they knew where he was, and showed them where at first light.

JMO

 

[DeDee]

Wyatt and his grandfather had gone squirrel hunting Saturday morning, authorities said, when they received a call from the grandfather saying he had been in an ATV accident and needed help.

When police arrived, the man said he had been using the ATV to try to find his grandson, who had gone missing about an hour before.

He is survived by his parents, two siblings, two grandparents, three great-grandparents and a great-great-grandmother. He was in fifth grade...

Sept 14 2023 - KIRO - Child shot while hunting

https://twitter.com/x/status/1702070667699540162

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Adrienne, told WCHS that her son was best friends with his grandfather and that the pair went squirrel hunting. She told the outlet that Wyatt and his grandfather were eating lunch when Wyatt said he was going to go for a walk to look for squirrels. When Wyatt’s grandfather yelled out for him after cleaning up, he could not find him, Adrienne said.

10-Year-Old Who Vanished on Hunting Trip with Grandfather Found Dead from Gunshot Wound

Investigators have not yet said if they suspect foul play. The boy's mother told a local media outlet that he was well-trained in gun safety.

people.com

 

[nyvictoria]

I am trying so hard to follow what is going on here. Are 'we' thinking some person who has a gun license and an experienced hunter mistook this young child as a squirrel?

Why was this child not wearing orange? Not sure if it’s a law but isn’t it just common sense?

 

[LaborDayRN]

Why was this child not wearing orange? Not sure if it’s a law but isn’t it just common sense?

Sadly you're correct. It's been reported upthread he was wearing Camo.
ETA: I just saw the post below with Wyatt in orange gear. If that was the case here (that he was wearing orange over his camo), I can accept that.
Sometimes MSM is wrong. They reported he was wearing camo.
I'm not sure which is acccurate at this point.

 

[gliving]

He has hunter orange gear. Still don't know if he was wearing it that day.

Virginia boy dead after going missing while hunting with grandfather

Wyatt Eaves-Nibert went on the trip with his grandfather on September 9 in the area of Salt Creek in Mason County. He was carrying a .22 rifle with him and his body was found around 7am the next day

www.dailymail.co.uk