Note: This story was originally published in November 2017.*
A 14-year-old Missouri girl, Abby Wilson, mistakenly shot a protected elk during deer season, thinking it was a large buck. Her father, Don White, immediately reported the incident to conservation officials, who confirmed the animal was indeed an elk—unusually far from its typical range.
Though the hunting was legal, elk are protected, and the family faced online backlash after the story went viral. Critics called for punishment, while others defended Abby as a young hunter who made an honest mistake. Authorities said the elk’s meat could be donated, but the family wouldn’t be allowed to keep any parts.
