The Dog Shot Me, A Wild Story of a Dog, a Gun & a Trip to the ER!

This is a hunting gun safety story you won’t forget. We sit down with John Berger to hear one of the wildest hunting stories you’ll ever come across. It involves a hunting dog, a loaded shotgun, and an unexpected trip to the emergency room. You won’t believe how this hunting dog accidentally discharged a firearm and shot John in the hand. We talk about safety, recovery, and future hunting adventures.

Related: Cummings Creek Retreat weekend.

Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just love a good story, this episode is packed with laughs, lessons, and jaw-dropping moments.

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How It Happened

John Berger had beached his duck boat under a low fir tree and tied off. He turned around to find his friend’s dog climbing toward the bow, using John’s shotgun as a brace to get out. The dog’s paw caught the safety. John grabbed the barrel to push it away. The gun fired with his hand wrapped around the muzzle end.

The Response: ABCs Under Fire

Decades of fire service training kicked in immediately. Airway, breathing, circulation: John ran the checklist on himself in real time. Shattered fingers went back into the wound to control them. A grip on his own radial artery stopped the bleeding. Curling into the fetal position in the boat helped slow his heart rate. On top of all that, he talked a friend who’d never run the boat through operating it, mid-emergency.

The Long Road Back

Multiple surgeries and an eventual amputation followed, along with a genuinely hard emotional toll, including the simple, permanent loss of being able to hold his wife’s hand. But John’s outlook never broke. He was back on duty 18 hours after walking out of the hospital. Within a year he was building Cummings Creek Retreat with the same hand he calls “Stumpy.”

The Real Lesson: Animals and Loaded Firearms

Never leave a firearm where a dog, or anyone, can use it as leverage to climb on or brace against, loaded or not. A safety is a mechanical device, not a guarantee, and a paw or a stray hand can defeat it exactly the way John’s did.

FAQ: Firearm Safety Around Dogs in a Boat or Blind

Where should I store a shotgun when a dog is in the boat?

Keep it out of reach of where a dog could climb on it, brace against it, or paw at the safety or trigger area. Ideally, keep it cased or pointed safely with the action open when not actively hunting.

What should you do immediately after a serious gun-related injury in a remote area?

Control bleeding with direct pressure or pressure on the relevant artery. Stay calm to keep your heart rate down. Get help moving toward you, or move toward help as fast as safely possible. Minutes matter for blood loss and shock.

If you want to hear more from John or check out his retreat, visit cummingscreekretreat.com. Thanks for listening.