Hunter Shoots Self in Foot, Then Sticks Same Foot in Mouth

The California Department of Fish and Game last week canceled its investigation into an alleged mountain lion attack on a Napa County turkey hunter who said the cougar pounced on him and bit his foot.

Robert Nakatani reported he had shot and hit the animal with a 12-gauge shotgun, but also hit his foot.

Wardens searching the area, near Lake Berryessa, however, couldn’t find any trace of the animal, nor could they find any evidence to support Nakatani’s claim.

“There is nothing on the hunter’s wound, boot or clothing that would corroborate a mountain lion attack,” said Jim Banks, head of Fish and Game’s forensics lab.

There also were no lion blood, hair or teeth marks on Nakatani.

Trackers did find cougar tracks 150 yards from the site of the alleged attack, but said they appeared to be old.

“The dogs would have found the trail of a wounded lion,” warden Ed Nagel said. “All we found was a spent shotgun shell in the man’s gun.”

The DFG didn’t speculate on whether Nakatani might have fabricated the story out of embarrassment over shooting himself. Nakatani could not be reached for comment.