A 27-year-old man suffered an eye injury on Sunday night (June 23) after setting off a shotgun shell with a knife near Mission.
According to a Mission RCMP news release, the man and his friend discovered a pile of shotgun shells while camping off a forest service road. The man used his knife to poke at one of the shells, activating the primer and setting it off.
The man suffered minor injuries to his face from shrapnel and attended Mission Memorial Hospital for treatment.
"This is an important reminder that ammunition can be dangerous even if not loaded into a gun, and safe handling practices should also be used. Also, anyone discharging firearms in the backcountry is reminded to do so lawfully and safely, and to clean up all spent and unspent shell casings before leaving," Mission RCMP said.
Police were also called to Farms Road in Hatzic the previous night (June 22) for reports of a group shooting guns.
RCMP chatted with a group of men from Surrey, Abbotsford, Coquitlam and Langley about the dangers of shooting in the area and advised them it was a no-shooting zone.
Mounties encourage potential firearm users to review the No Shooting Areas with the Fraser Valley Regional District.
