Teen shot in Newaygo hunting accident

HART, Mich. (WOOD) - A 15-year-old was hospitalized Thursday in Grand Rapids after he was accidentally shot while hunting.

It happened around 9 a.m. Thursday in Newaygo County's Denver Township, a Thursday evening release from the Michigan State Police said.

The teen was shot in the lower leg by someone with whom he was hunting as the two sat in an elevated hunting blind.

MSP said the discharge of the gun -- a high-powered rifle -- was accidental.

An MSP sergeant from the Hart post told 24 Hour News 8 the victim's injuries are serious, but not life-threatening.

The teen had to undergo surgery and is being treated at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids.

MSP has not released the victim's name. The incident remains under investigation.

Hunting in Michigan has become much safer in the years since hunter's orange and hunter's education became mandatory, 24 Hour News 8 found.

According to the DNR, there were 12 hunting accidents and four fatalities in all of the 2011 hunting seasons. Most were related to careless use of firearms.