Breer was one of three hunters accidentally shot during the opening weekend of dear season. Breer's friend accidentally shot him while taking his gun off his shoulder.

"The firearm discharged and hit the victim in the stomach area," Missouri Department of Conservation officer Tom Stother said.

Officials reported hunters in Adair and Macon Counties were accidentally shot while deer hunting during the weekend.

Last year, a total of five people were accidentally shot during all of deer season. None were fatal.

"Unfortunately, if you do handle guns long enough, sooner or later you're gonna have one go off when you don't intend it to," Dave Shefe, an employee at Columbia's Powder Horn Guns and Sporting, said.

Still, Shefe said the accidents during the weekend should not scare hunters away from the sport. He said they do not reflect a growing trend in hunting accidents.

"It's all about basic gun handling and gun safety," Shefe said.

Stother said hunters are required to take gun safety classes before getting their hunting permit.

"Muzzle control is by far the best safety tip that we can provide to hunters," Stother said. "Maintain muzzle control at all times just to make sure that just by chance if an accidental discharge takes place it doesn't end in tragedy."