Russell Stillwell, 77, of Goshen, Indiana, died on the morning of Saturday, November 11, 2023, while hunting on family property on Poor Ridge Pike in Garrard County, Kentucky. He had traveled to the area to hunt on the opening day of modern gun deer season.

The Garrard County Coroner reported preliminary evidence indicates the fatal incident was accidental and self-inflicted: Stillwell had been using his deer rifle as a makeshift walking stick while negotiating a steep embankment when the firearm discharged, causing a fatal injury. A relative who was with him that morning called for help. Garrard County Sheriff’s Office, the Garrard County Coroner, Kentucky State Police and Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife responded; the death was classified as a hunting accident and no arrests have been made. His death was one of two unrelated hunting fatalities in the county that opening weekend.

If anyone was hunting with or near Russell that day or has information about conditions on the property, please share what is known.