Despite Garrison Keillor's experience at Lake Wobegon, half the population is 
below average in intelligence.  Folks from the lower half are into every 
imaginable activity, including birding.  But there does seem to be a disproportion 
in the hunting ranks.  

Regarding shooting a whitetail thinking it were an elk, it is even worse than 
Jerry outlines.  A very good whitetail buck in PA would weigh in at 175 
pounds.  A few might hit 200.  I doubt that any recently, if ever, would be 
anywhere near 300 pounds.

On the other hand, there has been a legal elk season in PA the last few years 
if I am not mistaken.

Another true "hunting" story: decades ago when I hunted, I was out for 
turkeys on the first day of spring season at McKee Beshers WMA.  A guy shot a Barred 
Owl when it flushed from a tree.  Looks a great deal like a turkey, I am 
sure, if you have a really bad hangover...and cataracts in both eyes.

Bob Mumford
Darnestown