Missouri man injured hunting

WIOTA, Iowa -- A Missouri man was injured when he was accidentally shot by another man while pheasant hunting in western Iowa on Saturday, officials with the state Department of Natural Resources said.

Sammy D. Burke, 40, of Joplin, Mo., was taken to Cass County Hospital and then transferred by helicopter to Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha, Neb., officials said.

Burke was hunting near Wiota when a pheasant flew up in front of Burke's hunting companion, John L. Yates, 42, of Rogersville, Mo.

When the bird cleared a ravine, Yates fired and saw Burke fall to the ground, officials said.

Pellets from Yates' gun hit Burke between his knees and head, officials said.