SKEET SHOOTING MISHAP LEADS TO BIG HOLE IN BIG TOE Published Dec. 2, 2009 By Various Media Sources Torch Magazine RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- When a young man broke two commandments of gun safety while skeet shooting, the big toe on his right foot paid a high price. The man nearly blew off his own toe when he rested the shotgun barrel on his foot while reloading. Not only did this act violate common sense, but it also went against a couple of rules of gun safety: Always handle a weapon as if it's loaded, and never point a gun at anyone (including yourself). As the graphic pictures on this page show, the mishap left a large hole in the victim's toe. While skeet-shooting mishaps may not be as common as hunting accidents, this certainly isn't the first time someone has been injured. In July 2008, the Associated Press reported that a man in Modesto, Calif., was skeet shooting when another member of the range accidentally shot him in the head. The shooter mistakenly put his finger on the trigger and wasn't paying close enough attention to where he had the gun pointed. The shotgun blast killed the other man. In a more bizarre incident, two Colorado men suffered serious injuries while skeet shooting during dangerous weather conditions in May, according to the Weld County Sheriff's Office. Ignoring an approaching thunderstorm, the duo continued to target practice. Apparently shotguns make good lightning rods, as a bolt struck the barrel of the rifle, which exploded in one of the men's hands, a sheriff's spokesman said. Both men were rushed to the hospital, but their condition was unknown because of patient confidentiality. The bottom line is don't get complacent when handling a weapon ... and, remember, sometimes Mother Nature shoots back.