A hunter died after a fall in the Mendon neighborhood of South Huntingdon Township on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 — a tragic incident confirmed only by local media, with no official details released by authorities. The man, whose identity and age remain undisclosed, was found after the fall, but whether it was a slip on wet leaves, a misstep from a tree stand, or something else is still unknown. No autopsy results, witness statements, or police reports have been made public as of November 19, 2025. The only source to report the death is WHJB, citing The Trib (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review). In a state where hunting is as much a tradition as fall foliage, this fatality underscores a quiet but persistent danger: accidents that don’t involve guns still kill.

What We Know — And What We Don’t

The incident occurred in rural South Huntingdon Township, a quiet corner of Westmoreland County where deer trails crisscross backroads and tree stands dot the woods. The fall happened sometime before midday, though no exact time was reported. Emergency services responded, but no further information was released by the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office or the Pennsylvania State Police. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has not issued a statement, likely because the township lies outside its Southcentral Region jurisdiction — it falls under the Southwest Region, which has not yet released any field reports on the case.

That silence is telling. In most hunting fatalities, even non-gun-related ones, the Game Commission issues a public notice within 24 hours. This one hasn’t. Either the investigation is still in its early stages, or — and this is harder to accept — the system is failing to respond with the urgency such deaths demand.

Hunter-Trapper Education: A Lifeline Ignored

While the cause of death remains unclear, the timing couldn’t be more significant. Just hours before the news broke, Adams County Game Warden Brooke Hargenrader published a field report on the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s official website detailing charges against five hunters who skipped mandatory Hunter-Trapper Education before the dove season opener. She didn’t mince words: “It’s an essential part of keeping hunters safe, and has proven to effectively decrease hunting-related shooting incidents since its implementation in 1959.”

That’s not just policy. It’s data. Since 1959, Pennsylvania has required all first-time hunters to complete a certified course covering firearm safety, wildlife ethics, first aid, and — critically — fall prevention. Tree stand harnesses, terrain awareness, and weather hazards are all covered. And the numbers back it up: hunting-related deaths in Pennsylvania have dropped by over 70% since the program began. But compliance isn’t universal. In 2024 alone, 112 hunters were cited for hunting without certification. Five of those were caught opening day of dove season — the same group Hargenrader cited on November 19.

Meanwhile, Huntingdon County Game Warden Benjamin Sawina was urging new hunters to “enroll in an in-person Hunter Trapper Education course” — a call that feels almost prophetic now. He’s also recruiting instructors. Because here’s the truth: safety doesn’t just come from a certificate. It comes from mentors. From the uncle who teaches you how to tie a harness. From the neighbor who reminds you to check the weather before climbing. That’s what’s missing in too many cases.

The Hidden Dangers of the Hunt

Most people think of hunting accidents as gunshots. But in Pennsylvania, falls from tree stands account for nearly 40% of all non-fatal hunting injuries — and a growing share of fatalities. In 2023, three hunters died from falls in the state. Two of them were wearing harnesses. One didn’t clip in properly. Another had an old, frayed strap. The third? He was rushing to get back to his truck before sunset and didn’t bother with the harness at all.

It’s not just about gear. It’s about habits. The same woods where this man fell are the same ones where Cumberland County Game Warden Rebecca Wolfe recently charged a landowner for leaving a trap unattended for five days — resulting in a raccoon’s death. “All traps must be checked every 36 hours,” Wolfe reminded the public. That’s the same mindset that should apply to every climb, every step on a mossy log, every moment you’re off the ground.

And then there’s the case of the Perry County man who pleaded guilty to killing a deer with BB shot — claiming he was just trying to scare it from his garden. He fired from 32 yards away. He didn’t know the law. He didn’t know the difference between a .22 and a .223. He didn’t know that BB shot won’t kill a deer cleanly — it just maims it. That’s the same ignorance that could have led to this fall. Not recklessness. Not malice. Just… assumption.

What Comes Next?

Thanksgiving weekend is two weeks away. That’s when hunting pressure spikes. More people in the woods. More inexperienced hunters. More risk.

So what happens now? The Game Commission will likely issue a statement after the coroner’s report is complete — if it’s made public. But by then, the moment for prevention has passed. The real question is: how many more families will have to lose someone before we treat safety like the priority it is?

There’s a reason Hargenrader and Sawina keep repeating the same message: Hunter-Trapper Education isn’t bureaucracy. It’s survival. It’s the difference between going home and not.

Background: The Long Shadow of 1959

The Hunter-Trapper Education program began in 1959 after a string of preventable deaths — many involving teenagers. Back then, hunting was passed down like a family heirloom. No manuals. No rules. Just “do like your dad.” The result? In 1958, Pennsylvania recorded 38 hunting-related fatalities. By 1965, after mandatory education kicked in, that number dropped to 11. The trend held. In 2020, the state recorded just two hunting deaths — both from falls. One was a man who hadn’t taken the course. The other? He forgot to clip his harness.

The system works. But only if people use it.