Hunter dies after encounter with deer

ALBION, Ind. (WANE) - A Fort Wayne man died Monday while participating in a reduction hunt at Chain O'Lakes State Park. Officials say he suffered an injury to his liver that possibly happened during an encounter he had with a deer he shot.

Indiana Conservation Officers have closed the investigation into the death of Paul J. Smith, 62, after the Noble County Coroner’s office ruled it was due to a lacerated liver.

Officials from the Department of Natural Resources tell NewsChannel 15 this is the first ever fatality in any state park during a deer reduction hunt.

According to the DNR, Smith called his son shortly after 9 a.m. and left a message that he'd shot a buck. When Smith’s son returned the called around 10:30 a.m., Smith told him that after coming down from his tree stand to field dress and tag the deer, he discovered it was still alive and that he scuffled with the animal before killing it with a knife.

Smith called park officials by cell phone at about 12:30 p.m. to request help in transporting the deer to the reduction hunt check-in station.

A park employee who went to retrieve the deer found Smith unconscious and seated against a tree. The park's property manager and an off duty conservation officer tried to revive Smith with a portable defibrillator and CPR but got no response. Medics arrived and pronounced Smith dead at the scene.

An autopsy showed lacerations on Smith’s liver that were in line with internal bruising.

DNR officials believe Smith's family took possession of the deer that caused Smith's injuries.