CANTON – A Canton man was seriously wounded Tuesday morning while hunting turkeys on his property with a friend.

Steven Wills, 51, was shot in the chest and face between 8:30 and 9 a.m. with No. 4 bird shot, which are smaller that BBs, from a distance of about 40 yards, said Maine Warden spokesman Mark Latti.

“The shooter believed he was shooting at a turkey,” Latti said.

The shooter was George Jamison, 70, of Canton. Investigating Warden Dave Chabot wasn’t sure any charges are pending.

“Maine does have a target identification law and people need to be absolutely certain what they’re shooting at and what’s beyond that,” Latti said.

Mills was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for treatment. A hospital spokeswoman said Mills was in serious condition in the intensive care unit Tuesday afternoon.

The accident – the first of the 2004 spring wild turkey hunt – occurred on the side of Staples Hill between Route 108 and Staples Hill Road.

Sgt. Norm Lewis and Wardens Chabot, Kevin Anderson, Rick Mills, Dave Stone, Dan Scott and Brian Tripp, and his dog Marley were at the scene reconstructing the shooting by mid-afternoon.

Latti said they were hunting in the woods on an incline and Wills told Jamison to stay at a spot while Wills went downhill.

“George states that he saw a turkey and shot at a turkey but struck Steve,” Latti said.

But the seven wardens and the dog couldn’t find the turkey that Jamison shot at.

During the season, which began on May 3 and ends June 5, hunters can only bag one bearded (male) wild turkey.

Latti said that during last year’s spring turkey hunt there was only one accidental shooting.

In that incident, a hunter was mistaken for game by another hunter who heard the man using a turkey calling device and allegedly fired at movement, Latti added.

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