A Montana hunter says he's lucky to be alive after an attempt to sneak up on elk went awry when he tripped and fell, shooting himself in the abdomen and leg.
    
Reports say 63-year-old Dan Risland of Paradise was recovering Friday at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center after the accidental shooting Thursday morning.
    
Risland says he was hunting on a mountain and spotted four elk about 50 feet away. He says he switched off the safety on his rifle while moving forward, but hooked his foot on a stick.
    
He says he somersaulted and landed on the rifle, and it went off. Risland says he used his cellphone to call for help and was picked up by a helicopter about an hour after being injured.