A hunter was arraigned on a felony charge after shooting his friend Monday near the top of Gun House Hill Road in Harpersfield, state police at Margaretville said Tuesday.
James J. Morrone, 44, of Purchase, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, prohibited use of a weapon and hunting without a license, Sgt. Andrew Leahy said.
Morrone and Steven Triano, 41, of West Harrison, were hunting about 11/2 miles from the road when Morrone shot at a deer and hit Triano in the left leg, Leahy said.
"They were both wearing camouflage instead of red or orange," Leahy said.
Hobart Emergency Medical Services personnel used all-terrain vehicles to travel a mile uphill and through a swamp to bring Triano out of the woods, Leahy said.
"If they didn't have the four-wheelers, I think we would have had to have used a helicopter," Leahy said.
Triano was taken to A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta and was transferred to Westchester County Medical and Research Center in New Rochelle, according to Maggie Barnes, Fox spokeswoman.
The public relations spokesperson at the Westchester hospital did not immediately return a call Tuesday to provide information on Triano's condition.
Morrone was arraigned in Harpersfield Town Court and was released to return to court at 7 p.m. Monday.
Leahy said the investigation by the state Department of Environmental Conservation police and the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is continuing.
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
