In a tragic incident in Florida's Highlands County, two unnamed Miami-area hunters, aged 38 and 31, along with their dogs, were killed by what authorities believe was a lightning strike during a dove hunting trip. The grim discovery was made on Wednesday of this week, when the men failed to return from their outing.
According to reports, officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission located their parked vehicle near a canal and found the bodies on a nearby levee, marking a yet another somber moment for the hunting community.
"Our area gets more lightning than just about anywhere else in the country, especially in the summer,” Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman said on Wednesday, emphasizing the region's extreme lightning risk. “If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike, even if the sky doesn’t look too bad yet."
Florida leads the nation in lightning-related fatalities, with 95 deaths recorded since 2006, far outpacing other states like Texas (42) and Colorado (27), according to National Weather Service data.
This tragedy follows closely on the heels of another lightning-related incident, where two 25-year-old hunters, Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, were found dead in southern Colorado’s San Juan National Forest just last week. In that case, the Conejos County coroner noted injuries consistent with "a pretty intense electrical jolt," including minor burn marks and singed hair, with autopsies still pending.
Nationwide, lightning strikes about 40 million times annually, yet fatalities remain rare, with an average of 20 deaths per year and a less than one-in-a-million chance of being killed. Still, outdoor activities amplify the risk. Between 2006 and 2023, the National Lightning Safety Council recorded 480 lightning deaths, with 62% tied to leisure activities - mostly among males aged 10 to 60. Fishing leads with 41 fatalities, followed by beach activities (29) and boating (26). Hunting-specific data is less distinct but falls under broader leisure categories, where open fields and remote terrains heighten exposure.
Sheriff Blackman urged vigilance, offering critical safety tips: Seek shelter in a building or hard-topped vehicle at the first sign of thunder, avoid trees, water, or open areas, and once indoors, steer clear of windows, corded devices, and plumbing. The "30-30 Rule", which dictates that if thunder follows lightning by 30 seconds or less, or if storms persist over 30 minutes, you likely need to take cover.
As the hunting season continues, the Sheriff’s plea resonates: Plan ahead, respect the weather, and prioritize safety. According to the sheriff’s office, the District 10 Medical Examiner is now on the case and is expected to determine the official cause and time of death over the coming days.
