Police said one person was transported to the hospital and described the shooting as “accidental.”
deer lick shelter (Photo: jezacon (CC BY-SA 2.0, photo cropped))
Published on July 28, 2026 11:15 am
One man was hospitalized Monday after an accidental shooting on the Pennsylvania section of the Appalachian Trail, local authorities said.
In a Facebook post, The Washington Township Police Department said it received a call On July 27 at approximately 6:30 p.m. in reference to a shooting on the AT near Rattlesnake Run Road. The incident occurred 10 miles south of the Deer Lick Shelters, about mile 1,070 of the trail.
In emergency radio communications from the time of the incident, reviewed by backpackerFranklin County Dispatch described the victim as a 58-year-old male. It said a child was attempting to apply a tourniquet at the scene.
Police said the shooting was accidental and the passenger was taken to a local hospital. According to the department, there is no threat to the public; It declined to release further details at this time.
Accidental shootings on the Appalachian Trail are rare, but not unknown. In a page on hunting safety, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) Said that in 2002 and 2003Two hikers suffered serious injuries after being shot by hunters during deer season that runs from October to late January in Pennsylvania. Both hunters faced prosecution.
according to Trek’s 2025 Appalachian Trail thru-hiker surveyOnly 4 respondents, 1.4 percent of the total surveyed, reported carrying a firearm on the Appalachian Trail. Carrying a gun is challenging for hikers. As written by Liz “Snorkel” Thomas backpacker, Thru-hikers who choose to arm themselves must contend with varying state regulations, safe storage challenges, and the fact that many facilities along the way ban firearms.
