Hunter mistakes jogger for deer, opens fire

BARNSTABLE, MA -- A man out for an evening jog in the woods ended up in the hospital when a hunter mistakenly thought the runner was a deer.

Jonathan Way, 39, was seen staggering out of the woods near Barnstable Municipal Airport shortly before 5:00pm on Monday, the Cape Cod Times reports. He was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was reported in stable condition with pellet wounds.

Police say Sean Houle, 47, was the hunter who opened fire. Houle told officers he saw deer and only opened fire after hearing another hunter fire shots.

After being hit, Way claims he yelled "stop firing, stop firing," before being shot again.

Houle says he later apologized saying, "Man, I am lucky 'cause if I would have killed you, I would have just shot myself."

Houle now faces several charges, including careless and negligent use of a weapon causing injury. The Cape Cod Times reports Houle has a record that includes hunting violations. He's pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.